Pastor’s Note:
For years, we (the church leaders) have desired to be faithful to
the biblical pattern of leadership.
Many times we’ve done well, and many other times we’ve missed
the mark. I believe that we
have, from time to time, put unbiblical expectations on ourselves, and
at other times we’ve not had high enough expectations.
Finding the balance is an ongoing challenge.
And with the constitutional changes of a couple years ago, we
have found that many things we thought clear have been found to be
ambiguous. No one likes
ambiguity, except the enemy of God.
So, we continue to seek clarification on these matters.
Your understanding in this matter is greatly appreciated.
We hope you will feel free to approach us (the elders) with any
questions or clarifications needed.
We are here to serve the body of Christ at Bigelow.
These things have caused me to reflect on my calling as an
elder/pastor. This has been
both joyous, and extremely painful.
I am continually confronted with my weaknesses and failings.
There are many things I have done well, but there are other
things that I’ve not done so well.
Yet, this is all a part of God’s growth plan for me.
I desire to be pleasing to Christ, yet I get in the way of that
at times. Again, God
graciously points this out to me through my wife, the elders, and others
who love me. I would ask that you pray that I remain faithful to my
calling, and that I not succumb to the tyranny of the urgent, but rather
remain focused on the important.
So, what’s important?
Colossians 1:28 says, “And we proclaim Him, admonishing
every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present
every man complete in Christ. 29
And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power,
which mightily works within me.”
How is this to be done?
Ephesians 4:11-16 says,
“And He gave some as apostles,
and some as prophets,
and some as evangelists,
and some as pastors and
teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of
service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until
we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son
of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to
the fulness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be
children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every
wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful
scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow
up in all aspects into
Him, who is the head, even Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together
by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of
each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up
of itself in love.”
So, speaking for all the
elders, we are committed to feeding you from God’s Word, protecting
you from those who would seek to deceive, and to lovingly lead as
servant leaders. All of this with the goal of presenting you complete in
Christ. Let us not forget
that we are mutually accountable to one another.
Though we may have differing gifts and roles, we always owe each
other a debt of love for Christ’s sake.
May God’s great work continue among us!
Finally,
thanks for your faithfulness to Christ in your attendance, giving,
praying, and use of your gifts.
Your Servant for
Christ’s Sake,
Pastor Frank
