commitment to pray for us;\u00a0corporately and individually.\u00a0 We need God’s provision, not our own solutions.\u00a0 Prayer is essential.\u00a0 From Braun: \u00a0“The necessity of prayer during recruitment is seen in the example of our King.\u00a0 These verses from Luke are extremely relevant for a church looking for a\u00a0pastor:<\/span><\/p>\nIn these days\u00a0he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came,\u00a0he called his disciples\u00a0and\u00a0chose from them twelve, whom he named\u00a0apostles:\u00a0<\/span>Simon,\u00a0whom he named Peter, and\u00a0Andrew his brother, and\u00a0James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called\u00a0the Zealot. (Luke 6: 12-15)<\/p>\n\n
Here was Jesus, chairman of the only perfect search committee of one.\u00a0 He had perfect wisdom and discernment.\u00a0 He was the greatest recruiter in the history of humanity.\u00a0 Yet before he met with candidates for spots on his team, He spent the night in prayer.”Similarly, prayer was necessary in the early church, as they sought elders and pastors:“They preached the good news\u00a0in that city and won a large number\u00a0of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium\u00a0and Antioch,\u00a0strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.\u00a0“We must go through many hardships\u00a0to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.\u00a0\u00a0Paul and Barnabas appointed elders\u00a0for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting,<\/b>\u00a0committed them to the Lord,\u00a0in whom they had put their trust.” \u00a0(Acts 14 :21-23)<\/i>Prayer is essential.\u00a0 Here are 5 ways we can pray for our next pastor.<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Pray that God would increase his passion for preaching the Word of God<\/i>.<\/li>\n
- Pray that God would give him a\u00a0love for CCC and the\u00a0strength to leave his current position<\/i><\/li>\n
- Pray that our next pastor would begin relationships at CCC in the right way<\/b>,<\/i> even during the search process.<\/li>\n
- Pray that God would prepare our future pastor to\u00a0shepherd the flock more effectively<\/i>\u00a0throughout the trials and blessings he has faced or currently faces.<\/li>\n
- Pray for our next pastor’s family.<\/i> \u00a0Pray that God, who knows each detail about each member\u00a0of his household, would give the members of his family strength as they consider leaving their current setting and going to a different\u00a0church.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
C<\/span>urrent Activity & Updates<\/b><\/p>\n\n- The PNC has organized\u00a0itself and elected: \u00a0Michael Marshall (Chair), Sharon Stankunas (Vice Chair), and Christian Smith (Secretary)<\/li>\n
- \u00a0Information has been gathered from the congregation, leaders and the session in hopes of completing a Church Profile Form (CPF) and online magazine by Dec 2nd<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0 A huge “thank you” to those who contributed by submitting a form. \u00a0 The CPF will be shared with\u00a0prospective candidates\u00a0and our church family.\u00a0 Reestablishing central\u00a0doctrinal commitments, reviewing the gospel and CCC’s mission statement, have <\/span>been crucial in\u00a0organizing what we are committed to in the days to come.\u00a0 Our first step in building unity has been to establish again our theological center–the gospel, the person and work of Jesus, the sufficiency of His Word, and our purpose in Gainesville. \u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Meetings are scheduled for November 18<\/span><\/span>, December 2<\/span><\/span>, and December 17<\/span><\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In Christ,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe Pulpit Nominating Committee<\/span><\/p>\n