Milestones
By Wayne Williams --
We are approaching another milestone in the history of our church, the welcoming of a new Lead Pastor. Although he has yet to be confirmed by congregational vote, it appears very likely that Pastor Greg Lunsford will be stepping into that role by the first of the year.
As a church, we have enjoyed several years of unity, peace, stability, and spiritual maturation. As Jesus has been lifted up in our eyes, he has drawn us to himself and to one another. The community he has formed among us is unique and quite remarkable in my many years of experience in several churches. This is a good thing!
But inherent in our good thing is a great danger. Secularism, humanism, materialism, and other -isms are threats to the spiritual health of a church, but none of them are the greatest danger we face. The greatest danger we face is complacency, being so satisfied with our unity and peace that we are reluctant to move toward something even better for fear of losing what we now have. Complacency is a church killer.
I believe we were on the precipice of complacency when Pastor Jay began his ministry among us. We told him that we needed him to lead us away from complacency and toward the next, higher level of church health: greater effectiveness in taking the story of Jesus into the city around us, greater impact for the kingdom of heaven. So, Jay implemented a strategic process of renewal that will in fact lead us to that higher level that we desire. In spite of the fact that Jay was called away just as the renewal process began to build momentum, the leadership of our church remains determined to pursue it.
With a speed that approaches the miraculous for pastoral searches, our Lord brought Greg and Lara Lunsford to us. Greg’s heart burns with a passionate desire for the same things that ours do, greater evangelistic effectiveness for the kingdom, leaving the danger of complacency in the dust. He is excited to lead us to that next, higher level of church health.
There have been a number of milestones in Greater Portland’s history, moments when our Lord raised up the right person at just the right time to accomplish his purposes for us. Greg is such a person and this is such a moment.
By the time you read this, you will have received an email from me which includes our elders’ endorsement of Pastor Greg as well as instructions for voting. Please be prepared to participate in this milestone.
See you Sunday,
Wayne