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| December 11, 2007 |
Hi,
I'm writing this to our Youth Group. If you're reading this and are over the age of 19, feel free to continue, but I'm writing today's entry to our teens.
While I'm deeply saddened to see Nathan moving on, I'm equally excited about the possibilities for the future of the EBC Student Ministry, and I'm very excited for the possibilities of Nathan's future.
Nathan and I are very good friends and I pray that each of us share our excitement and encouragement with him as he transitions into an area of ministry about which he feels passionate and in an area and church where he can serve the Lord according to His will.
I also wanted to share something with our Youth Group. As the chairperson of the EBC Personnel Committee, I want to take this opportunity to let you all know how committed I am personally, and how committed Pastor Derek and the entire EBC Personnel Committee is to finding the right person to fill our Student Ministry position.
We are praying for the Lord to send the right person to us. I'm sure He already has someone in mind and that person is going to be a wonderful addition to your group and your family. We're praying for someone who is fun and who will pick up from Nathan the awesome responsibility of leading our young people to Jesus Christ and developing the future church leaders to Christ-like Maturity.
Let NOBODY fool you. You all are the future of the church and the future of the Gospel. Us old guys are not going to be around forever and out time in leadership positions will soon pass. It's you who are the next generation of great leaders. It is your generation who will spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to areas where my generation has failed. Through Christ, it is your generation who will fix most of the mess my generation has made of the world.
Make no mistake about it. The future starts today. My generation will leave an awesome responsibility and tremendous opportunity for you. We've made so many mistakes there is plenty for you to fix. Everything from the environment, to hunger, to those in our very own communities who do not know Jesus will be left behind as opportunities for you. Yes, we are leaving plenty for your generation to clean up. After getting to know a few of the young people in our group, let me say proudly that the future is in good hands. You all are heading down the right track.
With that said, I give you my word as a man, father, and most of all a Christian that we will seek the Lord's wisdom and leadership in our search for a new Student Minister. You're a strong and wonderful group of young people and I love and respect each and every one of you. By our faith in the Lord, our entire team is going to do the right thing for our Student Ministry!
Guys, if you really are reading this, "we got your back" on this one.
Jeff Sluder
| December 3, 2007 |
Hi,
It's been a few weeks since I've posted anything. I apologize for not keeping up with this. The past couple weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. Our church called a new senior pastor, Dr. Derek Coleman. I don’t know much about him yet, but if first impressions count, Derek is going to be a wonderful pastor, shepherd and leader for EBC. My first couple meetings with Brother Derek have been positive and productive. He seems as if he’s going to be a loving caring shepherd to the flock (that’s you and me) and when a tough decision needs to be made, he’s not going to shy away from it.
I’ve been in business for 27 years and I can, with a great deal of experience under my belt, say the ability to love and care for people and at the same time being able to make the priority calls is a rare combination.
For anyone reading my blog, I would like to encourage you to spread the positives among your friends, family, and fellow EBC members (and non-members). I’ve heard the word “honeymoon” mentioned. Please (PLEASE) do not look at it this way. Brother Derek is our Senior Pastor. We all need to lock arms and support him. Not just for the short term, or until he does something that makes you angry or says something with which you disagree. No, we need so support him through good and difficult times. I believe God has chosen him to come to EBC and it’s in God’s will that Derek is here. As long as it is within God’s will for Derek to be our Sr. Pastor, and as long as he is in God’s will, we need to support him. My personal prayer is that it is God’s will for him to be here for a very long time. We need strong leadership, we need stability, we need love and shepherding, we need care and feeding, and we need a man in the pulpit who will share the good news of Jesus Christ and who will preach the Gospel of our Lord.
I also believe it is within God’s will for our church to be a bright beacon of light for the
People outside of the doors of our church look at us, they watch us, and, quite frankly, more than a few are waiting for us to fail. We HAVE to be known by how we love each other and how we love our community. That also means by how we resolve the occasional conflict. Conflicts will happen, we’re Christ followers, we are not Christ which means we’re all sinners, and none of us is perfect. Do we handle conflict maturely, in accordance with Scripture and with love, or do we let the fight spill out into the streets (gossip, talking about it in public, etc.)?
If we’re going to get people to come through the doors of our church, we have to be known and seen as different, genuine and loving. In other words, we have to do what “they” expect us not to do but to be what I believe God wants to be.
Let’s support Derek. If he wants to make some changes let’s be encouraging and celebrate new possibilities. If he wants to keep things just as they are, let’s celebrate and do the work of the Lord with excellence.
Brother Derek, if you’re reading this, welcome to EBC. Leslie, Daniel, Ernie, Judy, and I are thrilled that you’re with us. My family is looking forward to many, many years of serving alongside of you and your family.
Jeff