Ministry Opportunity

Hey blog friends, I want to let you know about a ministry opportunity that is a possibility for me and my family. A church in Iowa has interviewed me to be their Pastor of Congregational Development, which would include oversight over Spiritual Gifts Development, Leadership Development, Community Group Development, First Impressions and Worship Arts. Quite an extensive list, eh? Those of you who know me well probably realize that this looks like a list patterned after my deepest desires. Throw in a little preaching and I'm in hog heaven!

Perhaps the best thing about the position would be serving with a man that I consider to be a great friend, although I've known him less than four months. Do you ever meet someone and just "click?" That what happened with this pastor and me, and it wasn't just me... Tricia loves him and his wife (and the Ryan-ster) as much as I do. All in all, very exciting!

Here's where you come in...

More than anything else in this world, I want to serve my God 100%. For me that starts with my own relationship to Him as his child. Next it shows in how I love my wife and my kids (in that order!). And third, but definitely right up there, is my calling to serve him as a pastor. I've pledged my life to serve Him, especially by equipping His people and building His Church. To do that best, I want to be exactly where He wants me to be. I'd rather be called by God to sit in a box on the side of the road, than to occupy the highest pulpit in the land, but be there without His spirit.

My God has been faithful to always open the right doors and close the right doors... always for His glory, not mine. If you love me, this is what I want you to do:

Pray for God's leading in my heart, and in the heart of those who are selecting the man for this position. I believe that we are being called there by God's holy spirit and I hope that is the search teams conclusion as well, but I only want to go if it is the will of God. Is this where He wants me?

Will you pray? Nothing bad will happen to you if you don't pray (and you won't receive good luck if you forward this to 10 friends in the next 10 minutes...man I hate those chain-letter emails!) but I'd really appreciate a few more people asking the Lord of Creation to answer as He sees fit.

Thanks! I'm taking a little trip to meet with the search team and do a little worship leading in early December.

I love you guys! I'm glad to have you as family.

Corbett

My Plans or God's Plans

I find it hard at times to know when something is what God wants and when it is just what I want. One of the hardest decisions I've had to make recently came down to this. For almost a year, I've believed that my next step in ministry was to be a church planter. But for now, Tricia and I do not believe that is what God is calling us to do. The desire is there, but we don't want to be anywhere that God is not directing us to be.

For many reasons, I guess, becoming a church planter seemed like the obvious move for us. But as I read books, blogs and articles; as I listened to podcasts about church planting, the one thing (the only thing!) they all agreed on was this: Do not plant a church unless you are 100% sure that God has called you to plant the church. After much honest discussion and evaluation, Tricia and I don't believe that we have been so called. Yet! I still hope that this is in my future. I get pretty stoked at the thought of it.

So what does this mean for our family's immediate future... I'm so glad you asked.

• It means that we are planning to stay in Morris for the next 8 months or so. The kids have started school here and we'd rather not take them out. Tricia has also started her school year (teaching) and would like to be able to finish the school year if at all possible. So if you're in Morris, you might see us around.
• It means that I have to get job! Sticking around means certain bills have to be paid, but I'm not going to jump into a local ministry position just for a paycheck. I definitely want to be in my next ministry position for several years at least. In the mean time, I'll find something to do in the surrounding area. (This would be a good time to call with an offer!!!!)
• It means that we'll be plugging into a local church (local meaning with 30-45 minutes). Even if my job isn't to be a pastor currently, I'm still called (as each of you are) to plug into a local gathering of Christ-followers and use my gifts to help that church accomplish the Jesus Mission. We've visited a few churches...we may visit a few more, but one has become a likely choice.

Of course we still have lots of questions about what the future holds and we're on our knees, asking God to show us where He wants us, but we are confident that right now we are being faithful. God hasn't shown us what is coming next, so right now we will listen for His voice and follow Him however He leads us. More than anything else we want to follow His plan, no matter what that does to our plans.