Anyone ready for 2021?
During this year that has challenged, stretched, and generally pushed many of us to the limit as leaders, it has seemed difficult to look beyond what we need to try and do for the week ahead. With the constant changes in restrictions and expectations, I have spoken with many friends in ministry who are tired, and when we’re tired and overwhelmed, it is difficult to see beyond ourselves.
Can I ask you to take a moment, though, and step outside of your setting and take a broader look at our district family and the moments that will come as we emerge from this challenging season? As we have all been considering what is needed to lead into the new normal, our District Conference Nominating Committee has also been tasked with seeking to discern who God would be calling to serve the CPD as District Superintendent beginning August 2021.
Our District Conference Nominating Committee had its first face to face meeting in June and took a substantial amount of time in prayer and consideration of how to discern the next candidate for District Superintendent. Our heart is to walk through a discernment process with potential candidates as we seek God’s direction and will together. It is our desire that any candidate in the process will come out of this with a clearer sense of God’s call, a deeper conviction to serving his kingdom purposes, a greater desire to know and abide with Jesus, and a resilient joy that will sustain them through these days and into the future seasons of challenge and change. And in the midst of that, we trust that God will help us discern which candidate he has selected to serve as our District Superintendent for the next season.
We are excited to be a part of this process, but we also face some challenges in our task. We realize that the thought of putting in one’s name can be intimidating. Perhaps they don’t feel qualified. Perhaps their cultural roots would say that this kind of role should not be sought out. Perhaps they don’t see this kind of leadership potential in themselves.
I have been reminded over the last while in God’s Word that He is the one who calls and equips for his purposes. In Exodus chapters 25-30, God has been telling Moses all about the intricate design that will go into the Tabernacle and all of its furnishings, and I can imagine that Moses is wondering, “How are we, a bunch of shepherds by trade, going to pull this off?” But in Chapter 31, the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge, and with all kinds of skills…” (Exodus 31.2-3). God provided for the task that was before his people, calling, anointing, and preparing someone to work at it with skill. I trust that in this season, God has called, anointed, and is preparing someone to lead us well in what God is intending for this moment.
As I wrap this up, can I ask you to do a couple things for us?
First, please be praying for us as a committee and for our district. As we look at the times we’re in, we recognize there are both significant challenges and tremendous opportunities. Our district is well positioned to step into this moment and be a part of what God is doing, and we don’t want to miss out on that.
Second, if you know someone that you see has a calling on their life for this kind of leadership, and maybe they don’t see it themselves, would you encourage them to at least prayerfully consider joining us in this process? Or if that is you, seek God’s heart on this and if he’s inviting you, step into a process of discernment with us.
And finally, continue to abide in Jesus, seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and shine the light of Christ in these days. While we recognize we have a significant task of looking to the Lord for our next leader, we know that life and ministry doesn’t stop in the meantime.
May you continue to be refreshed in the Lord as you serve him in these days!
If you’d like to reach out for the information for nomination, you can contact me at dave@lakewoodalliance.com.
