Update on the pastor search:
The search committee has 3 new candidates and are calling the references. They each have the same five questions they ask the references along with any other questions that might come to mind while talking to the references. They were to have finished those calls last week but were having trouble reaching their designated references so they hope to finish that this week.
The next step is for the committee to schedule a time for Skype interviews unless the candidate lives close enough to travel here.
Please be in prayer for wisdom, for timing of schedules to accomplish this work and for the candidates to clearly hear God's will in their life.
Shelby Alliance is committed to finding the man God has appointed to our church. The process seems slow at times but as we wait, we see God working. The people of the church continue to seek His face, to meet in small groups, to support church activities and love one another when we come together on Sundays.
After having a full house for our annual Easter Egg Hunt, we had almost a full house on Easter Sunday. The annual Easter Breakfast was well attended too.
Over the last three weeks we have heard from Mike Vayda who really turned our focus on being the church and hearing God in his word.
The next three weeks we will have Michael Brue in the pulpit and look forward to hearing what God has laid on his heart to share with us.
If you are looking for a church home, we believe you will find one at Shelby Alliance where we genuinely are seeking after God.
To update the pastor search process...
Our first candidate we had hoped to bring in to spend a weekend to get to know has turned us down.
We have faithfully asked the Lord to take us through the process as He wants, so, we go back to the drawing board.
It is easy to ask why the process might be delayed like this but then the words come to mind, "these things happened so you will know Me." What can we learn from this? Was the timing wrong for us? For our future pastor? Were we listening carefully?
For whatever reason we press on and give glory to the One who is control.
The Search Committee and the Board of Ministries met last week to work out a financial package for one of our candidates. The final package was sent to our first candidate along with an invitation to come and candidate and we are awaiting his response.
The Search Committee has completed the process of looking at four candidates. One of the four has already accepted another position. The other three were interviewed and there are two candidates that the committee is continuing to pray about considering to present to the Board of Ministries to pursue.
The Board of Ministries and Search Committee met to discuss resumes of potential candidates. Next step in the process is to do phone interviews.
At this time those involved are to keep the information to themselves but the congregation should continue to pray for wisdom for them.
At the point the committee has a viable candidate, he will be asked to come and preach for us. The Christian and Missionary Alliance recommends pursuing only one candidate at a time and following through to call or not to call as pastor. If this doesn't work out, then they will return to their pool of candidates to seek another candidate.
On December 13th, the Board of Elders and Search Committee will again meet with the District Superintendent. This time, Jeff Miller will bring a few recommended resumes for the group to review.
After the last meeting it was determined the current job description needed reworked to better reflect the current membership and vision of our church. This will also be made available to the Superintendent to use in discussion with potential candidates.
We were also reminded that the process could still be months out.
For instance, if a candidate was asked to come preach for us, it could take up to three - four weeks for that candidate to make arrangements to leave his church for one Sunday. Then, we would need to consider if we wanted that candidate and possibly invite him back for another visit. Then, if the Lord calls him to our church, it may take him 4-6 weeks to leave his current position.
Please, continue to pray that God would send the man he wants for our church.
Next steps are in place as the Church board will meet on November 17th with the district superintendent. Stay posted with updates on this meeting.
The church survey, the salary package and questionaire are all turned in the Central District office. The next step is for the Central office to send us resumes that align with the desires we expressed in those documents.
At that point, the search committee will review the resumes and make a recommendation for our first candidate.
Keep this process in prayer, especially praying for those on the Search committee and for our new pastor, that his heart would be totally yielded to the calling of tthe Holy Spirit.
Shelby Alliance believes in small group ministry! We are initiating new groups and now is a great time to get involved and encourage a friend to join you.
Small groups are happening on Sunday morning, Tuesday evening, Thursday evening, Friday evening, Saturday morning and evening.
What does that mean? Groups of 6-12 people meet together in homes to discuss a book of the Bible or a study book and get to know each other. Sharing their hearts and loving each other.
If you want to join us in one of the groups, contact Cheryl Cronbaugh, 419-571-8657.
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