Pastoral Update

As you are most likely aware, Rev. Jeff Peterson has been elected to serve as Senior Pastor of Central Assembly. Pastor Jeff will be installed by our former Pastor, Dr. Jim Bradford, on Sunday, May 16, in both morning services (9:00 and 10:30). The entire Peterson family will join him for these special services. We invite you to celebrate with us!

For more information and Pastor Peterson’s full bio, visit: www.centralassembly.org/jeffpeterson

Central Assembly’s New Senior Pastor

Over the past year the Central Assembly family has been in prayer, seeking God’s direction for a senior pastor . . . a shepherd . . . one specifically chosen for our congregation. In the providence of God, He has chosen such a person. On Sunday night, March 28, 2010, Rev. Jeff Peterson was strongly elected to serve the congregation of Central Assembly.

For almost 18 years, Jeff has been the senior pastor of Red Mountain Christian Center in Mesa, Arizona. Under his leadership, the church has experienced significant growth, reaching out to the lost, both locally and globally. Red Mountain is a body of believers that desires to bring glory to God in worship, prayer and daily living in an authentic, scripturally balanced manner.

As we have journeyed the road of losing a beloved pastor, the Central congregation is praying for the Red Mountain family as they begin their search for a new shepherd. We know God orders our steps and time is in His hands.

Jeff and Carla Peterson were both born in Chicago, where Jeff’s dad was a pastor. However, they didn’t meet until almost 20 years later. Jeff attended Central Bible College, graduating in 1983. He moved to the Phoenix area and began working with Tommy Barnett at Phoenix First Assembly, where he stayed until 1992. During his tenure, he served as youth pastor, then college pastor. Carla’s family moved to Phoenix in the ‘70’s. Carla’s mom wanted her to meet the “new youth pastor” at Phoenix First Assembly. It was soon evident that Jeff and Carla were meant to be together.

In August 1992, Jeff Peterson became the Senior Pastor of Red Mountain Christian Center in Mesa, Arizona. For almost 18 years, RMCC has experienced significant growth and expansion of ministries.

Jeff’s dad, who served as district superintendent of Kansas for many years, modeled strong godly leadership qualities for his son. Jeff is active in district work and has served as sectional presbyter, member of the World and Home Missions Committees, and has participated on the American Indian College Board of Directors. He currently represents the Arizona District as General Presbyter, in addition to his pastoral ministry.

Jeff and his wife, Carla, have been married 25 years and have 3 beautiful daughters. Whitney (21), is newly married to Caleb Williams and is completing her B.A. in Interior Design from Northern Arizona University. Mikaela (19), is in her first year at the James River Leadership College. Aubrey (17), is a junior at Highland High School.

Jeff is passionate about seeing life-change in people of all ages and backgrounds. He lives a lifestyle of worship, loves the Word of God, revels in the expansion of Kingdom work through missions, and believes authenticity and a missional-focus are keys to effectiveness for today’s church.

Some of Jeff’s sermons can be accessed on the RMCC website: www.redmountain.cc

We are ever grateful to the Lord for sending us His very special gift . . . Pastor Jeff and Carla Peterson!

Central Food Pantry Featured

Over the past few years God has been leading Central Assembly to an even greater involvement in its surrounding community. As a result of outreach ministries such as Adopt A Block, Oil Change for Single Moms, SPIN (Pipkin Middle school program), Weaver All Stars, Boyd Lunch Buddies, and the Food Pantry, God has blessed many through the generous volunteers of Central.

It was a joy to also see others paying tribute to the hard work of our volunteers. Dar Matrone was recently featured by the Assemblies of God for her efforts in leading Central’s Food Pantry. You can see the whole video entitled, “Moved by the Spirit,” online at http://www.holyspirit.ag.org/movies/movie-flash-2010.cfm

We are grateful for our many outstanding leaders and volunteers who so willingly share their love for others, led by the Spirit, so that Central’s outreach ministries will continue to have such a strong impact here in Springfield, and around the world.

Search Committee Update

March is a great month for the Central Assembly family.  On Sunday, March 14, the deacon board will be making a very important announcement concerning a pastoral candidate.  We ask that you keep the candidate and his family in prayer.

Search Committee Update

The search committee is narrowing down the short list of names for potential pastoral candidates and continues to make site visits. We covet your prayers as our search becomes more focused on a few individuals.

Search Committee

Search Committee Update

Central’s search committee has made two visits to other churches scouting perspective candidates. We have additional visits planned during the month of January. Please continue to hold the pastoral search process in your prayers.

Also, if you would like to contact the search committee, please feel free to use this contact page for connection. We are open to feedback and conversation during this process.

Sincerely,

Search Committee

Sunday Morning Search Committee Update

•    It is the desire of the search committee to communicate the process of the pastoral search with the congregation.

•    It is the desire of the search committee to hear from the congregation.

We are working on several ways that together, we might enhance the communication process:

1. The search committee has been expanded by five members. In addition to the board of deacons, we have included Jerry Spain, Jeff Burnett, Mike Clark, Melissa Pulis and Charity Reeb.
2. Our first combined meeting was held last Thursday (November 18)
3. The additional committee members were chosen from a list of about 50 names submitted by the pastoral staff and Sunday School teachers.
4. Search committee members will be visiting all Sunday School classes, starting today, to elicit information about how the search process can be improved and enhanced. There will be additional opportunities for the conversation to continue face to face, as well as through e-mail and blog.
5. The search committee commits to updating the congregation about the process of the search.

• Once a month, a committee member will make a report on a Sunday morning.
• Following each meeting, about twice a month, there will be an update in the bulletin

Please know that these will not be exciting, riveting reports! There is a lot of what I call “slogging” that goes on in this process, so we will essentially be sharing how much ground we’ve “slogged through” over the past couple of weeks.

You, the congregation, are a vital part of this process. We ask of you

• Prayer – prayer is a lifeline we need always, but we’re acutely aware of our need for both sustenance and direction at this time. If you are not on the prayer clock and are willing to commit to a prayer time, please leave your name and time period at the information desk
• Patience – this is a winding path we are on. There are times when something appears to be working out, then quickly turns another direction. As you read and hear the updates, do not be overly excited or dismayed. When you’re tempted to lose hope, let the Word of God and prayer sustain you, and be cautious of the buzz that is ever-present in this process. Know that we are diligently persevering until we reach our goal.
• Openness – Open hearts, spirits, minds – let’s look around and see who we are; embrace the variety of souls God has brought together under one roof. Make space for those we do not know. Let’s allow God to stretch us in our personal lives – in hospitality and friendship to others. Let’s look for opportunities to serve…and serve with gladness and joy. Let the body be strong in the power of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ – “for from him and through him and to him are all things; to him be the glory forever! Amen” (Romans 11:36)

 

You make the call.

Last Friday I spent all weekend at football games while on vacation. In the picture snapped below (taken by Meg White), Evangel University is playing their homecoming game.  You’ll see that the ref is poised and watching, ready to throw the flag on any infraction. Depending on the school, it takes four, five or six referees to enforce the game’s regulations.

The question that came to my mind is “How many refs do you need to keep you from breaking the rules?”

Maybe today is a good day for a gut-check. Maybe it’s time to ask the questions, “Do I keep the rules only when the refs are watching?”

Can I blame the ref for throwing the flag? Did I lose my license because of “that stupid cop,” or because I was driving improperly?

Maybe it’s time to own up and accept responsibility. In the secret moments, when no one else is watching, there are no referees to keep us from cheating. There are no refs behind closed doors. No referees will force you to keep your marriage vows. There aren’t any refs watching over your finances or the quality of work you offer everyday.

You make the call.

There is no one to throw the flag on your behavior but you. You are responsible for you. So accept responsibility, reject passivity and do the next right thing. No shortcuts. No cheating. No broken promises. No secret sins. If you need God’s help, accept it. Your future hangs in the balance…and one day, whether the refs caught us and threw the flag or not, we’re all going to be exposed. We’ll be judged – every single one of us.

There are no secrets. God is not mocked.

In the end, no one gets away with anything.

Psalms 82:7-8  - In death you are mere men. You will fall as any prince—for all must die. Stand up, O God, and judge the earth. For all of it belongs to you. All nations are in your hands.

- Mike McCrary

Our Journey Continues . . .

We realize that many of our church family travel and are not able to attend services on a regular basis. Here’s a recap of recent events.

In April, Rev. Don Tucker assumed responsibilities of Interim Pastor, and began preaching at the regular Sunday and Wednesday services. On September 6, Don moved from his role as “Interim Pastor” to that of “Pastoral Candidate.”  At that time his duties as Interim Pastor ceased.

On Sunday evening, September 27th, candidate Don and Deborah Tucker received slightly above the required 2/3 (67%) vote from the congregation. After prayerful consideration, the Tuckers declined the position. Their passion to see the body at Central Assembly united was a major factor in this decision.

So now we find ourselves at the start of a brand new incredible journey.  Each time we gather at Central Assembly, we leave our homes from a different address than the church family member who sits next to us.  Undoubtedly we enter the building through different doors. And, more than likely, the family member sitting next to us is wearing different clothing than we are wearing. What does this say about us?   Our Central Assembly family, as any family, is comprised of differences.

Differences make us great! It is how we as a family handle these differences that determines our strength.  Let us guard our family and only allow the differences to be respected, not misunderstood.  For example, if water on a stove is boiling over we shut if off.  If something comes up on our computer – something we don’t want to keep or don’t want to pass on, we delete it!  Similarly, this is what the Apostles Peter and Paul did.  They had differences but didn’t let them stand in the way of their zeal and love for their fellow believers. When Peter & Paul laid aside their differences, shut them off, or deleted them, so to speak, they had only one more thing left to do.  They restarted, they reset, and they refreshed their commitment to Christ as identifiable believers together.  Unity, abiding with difference, makes us unbreakable, unmovable, unshakeable, unstoppable and most of all LOVABLE, thus keeping us in line with God’s intention for His body of believers.

We will be using our present pastoral staff and guests to bring us the Word in the next few months.  There will be no interim pastor at this time.

In the weeks to come the Board will implement the following:

1. Expand the Search Committee
2. Receive feedback from, and listen to, leaders from areas in our church
3. Plan an appropriate way to recognize our recent Interim Pastors, Revs. Don & Deborah Tucker
4. In his role as senior associate pastor, Tom Matrone will oversee the pastoral staff, pulpit scheduling, facilities management, budget review, and all items related to staff administration.  We look forward to your continued partnership as we travel this journey together!

In Five Years, Our Church Will Be…

We have made progress! We have given some definition to who we are, and we have prayed great prayers for our church. We are wending our way through the difficult process of leaving behind some precious memories, and we are moving forward to new horizons. What is our future? What new friends will we make? What influence will we have on those who live in our community?

Yes, we are in-between pastors, but I connect this idea to that of a girl, or guy, looking for a life-mate. You would want that girl to live her life fully with plans for the future and productivity in her present, and then find someone in the process. You would not want that guy to spend all his time and energy just searching for a wife. As a church, we need to live life, to seek God for what he wants to do in and through us now…during transition time.

Very soon, people will be looking at our website and this blog, just as we have carefully studied dozens of other church websites. What if our future pastor found not only how we define ourselves in the past and present, but our vision for the future? What if he or she was inspired by the passion and thoughtfulness of a church that moves forward as much with an interim pastor as with one voted and ratified by the whole congregation? What if? We can find out “what if” if we open ourselves and  develop our understanding of God’s will and work for this church in the future.

I challenge you to respond to the question… “In five years, our church will be…”

We need to live as though God is ever-present and willing to do great things in and through us…today, and then we will find our next pastor.

Board of Deacons