In the four gospels, we are called into the ministry of Jesus. In Matthew 28, we are called to help others follow the teachings of Jesus. In Mark 16, it clarifies that the teachings of Jesus are inclusive. In Luke 24, we are reminded that we should be sharing our personal journey with others. In John 20, we learn that we don’t always have to wait around for God to move. If Jesus has called us and we are part of the inclusive ministry of following Jesus, then we need to just get about the calling to which we have been called.

We have many challenges right now. We should not be in a holding pattern, waiting for the new Senior Pastor to arrive, waiting for more people to be sitting in the pews, waiting for more money to flow into the bank, or waiting for the process of relocating facilities.

God called us; indeed, God still calls us. Not having a senior pastor does not give us a vacation from our call and mission. There are not as many people! There is not enough money! However, these things cannot be excuses for carrying out our calling. Even if we do not have enough money or enough people, we are called. It doesn’t matter if we have 3 or 100 or 300 people showing up. God has called us, and we have to answer daily, prepared and ready for ministry.

Have I slid over into the sidelines of the church? Am I wishing to be invisible? Did something really tick me off? We may be tempted to withdraw and wait for better times, but we cannot. The answer is not found in the solutions to our challenges. The answer comes in living out our calling and mission in spite of them. This is not always easy. I know. Me too!

I have been asked to serve on the Nomination Committee for our next Board of Directors vacancies. Please pray for these leaders of our church. I know and understand that their work is difficult and often feels overwhelmingly focused on complaints and problems. While you are praying for our leaders, also remember to be kind and thankful for the work they are doing, even if they make mistakes.

We need to elect several members to our Board of Directors this fall. We need people who can and have led from a place of love. Have you already served a term or two? Are you retired and trying to slow down your pace? Have you seen or heard too much and don’t want to be in the midst of the challenges? In addition to seeking out new members for our church leadership, we are calling out for those who have already served or have declined serving before. The church is facing many challenges at this exact moment in time. Leadership, organization, dependability, love, kindness, and people skills are the path forward. Are these in your skill set? Can you gift us with your most precious resource: your time?

The church needs you. Maybe God is nudging you at this very moment, calling you to submit your application to run for a position on the Board of Directors. Sometimes, as we read in the Gospel of John, we just need to act, do what we can do, and get moving.

I love you all very much. In February, I will reach my 20th year at RMCC. When the choir sang a few weeks ago, I Need You to Survive, it broke me. It is true that I need you to survive. You need me to survive. There are many, many people in our community who need RMCC to survive because they have not yet found us so that they can walk alongside us in this life that God has blessed us with.

FAITH, GRACE, HOPE, and LOVE are what it is about, and these are our calling. If we get it wrong, we do not give up. We keep on trying and giving our best.

Amen!

Dr. Larry Ponder

Director of Senior Adult Ministry (OWLS)

drldponder@gmail.com

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