I am so full of love tonight.
I am so full of love because Rafa and I were part of the privileged audience at church tonight where two wonderful men were officially recognized as pastors of our church. Our church has been around for 10+ years. The goal that whole time has been to teach people how to live for Christ, a.k.a. to make disciples. The men who became pastors tonight have been serving the church basically since the beginning of The Rock. They serve with their whole lives and are wonderful leaders of our church.
I am so full of love over the way God leads our church. We don’t require certain training for a pastor; we won’t ever need to hire a search committee. We follow the straight-from-the-Bible example of church leadership. The qualifications for an overseer/pastor/elder are spelled out in Titus 1:5-9 and we know our new pastors have these qualities because we have been serving alongside them for years. :
1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out
what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed
you.
6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose
children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and
disobedient.
7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless--
not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent,
not pursuing dishonest gain.
8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-
controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.
9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so
that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose
it.
I was just filled with love over what God has done in our lives thorough this church. When I moved to Minneapolis and didn’t know anyone, people at The Rock welcomed me with open arms. The Lord called me to serve, they discipled me. When Rafa came to church, they welcomed him too. And now, when we are moving toward our marriage, they are supporting us every step of the way.
My heart is just so full tonight and I am very, very happy. Good night!