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

Thoughts on the Future

As we pray for God’s provision of a new senior pastor at Central Assembly, here are words from Philippians 1:6 that are relevant to us:  “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Here is a description of the “good work” that God was carrying on at Philippi, which is applicable to God’s work at Central Assembly, including:

• Sharing the gospel of Christ with people in other places and giving offerings for missionary outreach.
• Love abounding.
• Holy Spirit-led discernment.
• Being “filled with the fruit of righteousness.”
• Praying for Christian workers.
• Suffering for Christ.
• Worshipping and glorying in Christ.
• Meeting the church’s needs “according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Prayer was an important part of God’s “good work” taking place at Philippi, and it is just as important today that we faithfully call upon God to give our search committee members the assurance of His choice of the pastoral candidate that they should present to Central Assembly.  God began His “good work” in Central Assembly many years ago.  He is carrying it on to completion.

The Days Ahead

In light of the current leadership transition at Central Assembly, it’s important for us as a congregation to lean into God and each other with intentionality. At this point in the history of our church, it’s essential we:

•    Stay connected. We have a beautiful church full of authentic Christ-followers with whom we live life together. That’s reason to rejoice and remain committed to one another. Continue to invest in the relationships you’ve developed in classes, small groups and ministry teams. Pursue authentic Christ-honoring relationships. Love one another sincerely. Seek friendship with new people. This pleases God.

•    Keep focused. We have a significant and timeless mission to connect people to God, to others and to their purpose in life. Perhaps more importantly, the mission has a church. The Spirit-empowered church remains the agent through which God intends to reach the world. As a church, let’s stay focused on God’s work—leading people toward reconciliation with the Savior, revealing Jesus through our relationships with each other, and helping people find that joy-filled place of serving God and others with their unique gifts.

•    Remain prayerful. God is completely trustworthy! As we pray, we can trust the Lord to provide our congregation with exactly the right pastor. Continue to pray for the Bradfords as they embark upon a new ministry adventure. Pray for our search committee to have wisdom and discernment. Pray for the pastoral staff as they shepherd this great congregation through a season of change. Pray for each other.

We can be confident that the Lord, who began a good work at Central Assembly 102 years ago, “will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

What contributes to church health during seasons of transition?

Tough Transitions: What Now?

In this picture, Jim Bradford and I are preparing for a service. We have done this hundreds of times together but the day this was snapped marked the beginning of a leadership transition. Transitions can be tough for churches but I believe God can help us prosper. Thus the question, “What should we as a church accomplish during a leadership transition?”

1. Lean in to God
The source of our strength is the Lord (Ps. 124:8), and He strengthens us through prayer. Jim and Sandi Bradford are dear people who will be loved as they now faithfully serve the entire AG Fellowship. Soon people will understand why Central Assembly loved them so much as they served us for over 5 years. Pray for them as they serve in this new position.

Pray also that God will bring the new pastor into clear focus for us. The transition for their family, the transfer of trust of our church family to the new pastor, and the unity of vision, must all be worked through in the soul sanctuary of personal and unified corporate prayer. We must lean in to God through prayer, fasting, and full faith for the future.

2. Missionally Focused
For the last several years, missional ministry focusing on discipleship and evangelism has been the dual track on which our ministries have concentrated their efforts. This has resulted in a wonderful expansion of compassion ministries―after-school programs, ministry teams, and the overall expansion of God’s kingdom. We must maintain that missional focus and continue influencing our friends, neighbors, and world for Christ, through the power of the Spirit.

3. Servant Minded
Christianity was never intended to be a noun; it was meant to be a verb. We cannot play spiritual “defense” during this transition of leadership. Christ is our preeminent leader, and His mission does not change. Let’s play “offense” by serving our world through the year of missions and our neighborhoods by sharing His love.

4. Dependent upon the Holy Spirit
Pray for the release of Christ’s presence among us. May we depend on the Holy Spirit, advancing Christ’s finished work at the Cross to forgive, save, heal, deliver, renew, and lead. During the weeks ahead be cautious of distractions and dependencies other than Christ’s wisdom, presence, and power. Let our eyes be upon Christ, and may faith be alive in our midst.

Spirit of God, I open my heart to you this day. Come and do in me and Central Assembly that greatest of Your works — to reveal Christ’s reality and person to me and our world. Answer in me what Paul prayed: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Ephesians 1:17).

What is your prayer for Central Assembly during this transition?

Who We Are: A conversation about the uniqueness of our church

Post a comment that sums up your perspective on Who We Are at Central Assembly; you may be one who’s been around for many years, or your experience may be brand new. We welcome all perspectives. Your comments may center around one area of the church, or take in the whole picture. Length can be from a sentence to a few paragraphs. Remember the composite will reveal the total picture; each person need not see themselves as the ‘lone’ author. We are looking for perspectives that reveal Who We Are through your eyes – what you see, feel, hear and sense as a member of Central Assembly.

Central Board of Deacons