Coming to the end of one pastor’s ministry and finding a new man need not be so problematic!
On February 20 2010, Winston Saunders preached his last sermon as pastor of Selhurst Evangelical Church (SEC) in Croydon.
The event marked the culmination of a 40-year ministry that has seen the establishment, and steady growth, of a vibrant evangelical congregation in this needy part of South London. Then, following hot on the heels of Winston’s farewell service, came the induction of Rob Pickering as SEC’s new pastor. This service was held on February 27.
Such a seamless transition from one pastorate to the next is not the norm for many churches. Faithful fellowships can experience long interregnums, sometimes spanning several years. In God’s goodness, this was not the case for SEC. But, while giving glory to God for his timely provision, it would be wrong to assume that the church itself had not planned ahead when Winston announced his coming retirement at the end of 2008.
Developing gifts
One of the strengths of SEC’s approach to ministry is its commitment to using and developing gifts from within its own congregation. During Winston’s pastorate, eight men were sent into Christian ministry, others went into missionary work. Indeed, it was as a result of this encouragement of ministry gifts that God raised up Rob as the prime candidate for the pastorate. After he became a member of SEC in 1995, he was given regular opportunities for service. These included youth ministry, door-to-door evangelism and outreach in the local town centre. Eventually he was invited to join the leadership team and, not long after, began his ministry of public preaching.
In 2004 the church called Rob to become the assistant to the pastor. During the next four years he attended the FIEC’s Prepared for Service course and then the Proclamation Trust’s Cornhill Training Course. These courses complemented each other extremely well and further enhanced the personal mentoring he received under Winston.
Lessons learned
What lessons has SEC learned through this time of transition and change? First, that we can always trust our loving heavenly Father to graciously provide for the needs of his people. In SEC’s case this was seen in the gift of a seamless transition from one pastorate to the next.
But, secondly, that the knowledge of God’s provision should never cause us to be lazy or fatalistic when it comes to the future of the church. So often divine provision appears as the fruit of our own prayerful planning and preparation. It was through Winston and the leadership team’s vision to encourage congregational ministry that the gift of a future pastor was conceived. If they had sat back and done nothing, the outcome might well have been different.
Reflection and advice
So, what advice would the members of SEC give to any church currently facing a time of transition as one pastorate draws to a close? What can a church do to search out God’s possible future provision in this area? Of course, no two churches are exactly the same.
Each will have its own unique opportunities and limitations, as well as challenges. But the following three areas deserve due consideration.
Be prayerful
For SEC, prayer was absolutely critical to discerning the leading of God on the calling of a new pastor. Once Winston’s desire to step aside from his role was made public, the church sought God’s wisdom in its planning and preparation for the future. The midweek meeting became critical to this process and provided a place where members could humble themselves before God in dependent trust for his future provision.
Be biblical
In choosing a future pastor the church did not club together and produce a spiritual e-fit of what they envisioned a perfect pastor to look like. Instead, they kept biblical standards and criteria central to all discussion. As Winston and the leaders led the fellowship through the various stages of calling, and commissioning Rob, the foremost question was not ‘What do we want?’ but ‘What does God teach in his Word?’
Be watchful
The providence of God became an abiding point of reference in the process. When a vacancy for the pastorate became apparent the church was open to looking within its own ranks for a possible solution. It had been aware that in recent years the Lord had raised up several men with preaching and pastoral gifts. Could it be that the answer to their prayers was staring them in the face already? Out of this came the conviction that Rob Pickering was the man for the task.
Be confident
Finally, with hindsight, the church had every reason to be confident that God was working behind the scenes to provide for its future needs. Who would have thought that the next pastor at SEC to follow on from a 40-year ministry would be found in the arrival of the baby boy born two weeks after Winston began in 1970? Rob was born into a non-Christian home and had a life plan that took no account of God. And yet this was the man that the Lord would eventually convert and lead into the pastorate at SEC. No one could have planned it — except God, that is!
And this is always the bottom line when it comes to ministry. We make our plans, but it is the Lord who builds his church. He is the one who knows the true needs of the local fellowship and he will provide for these needs in his time and way.
Still growing
During the early months of Rob’s pastorate there has been much to be encouraged over. There have been two professions of faith in Christ, as well as six new people coming into membership. There have been additional applications for membership and two people have applied for baptism. God is good. We would encourage all who read this article to find some time in your prayers for the ongoing ministry of SEC and its new pastor.
