Prayerful Searching

Prayerful Searching
 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” -Jeremiah 29:11-13

 Yesterday the congregation at Christ Presbyterian elected a Search Committee to find the church’s next pastor. That team – nominated by the Session and confirmed unanimously by the congregation – consists of: John Myers, Shawn Bailey, Jenny Chapman, Ron Chapman, and Wayne Sasser. These five people have been entrusted with the weighty task of finding the next shepherd of God’s flock here in Daphne. Each member of the Search Committee prayerfully weighed their decision to serve. They have a great deal of important work ahead of them, so they devoted a great deal of time to prayer accordingly.
 
Jeremiah 29 reminds us that God has great plans for his children. In his grace and providence, he will use this time of transition and the leadership of CPC’s next pastor for good. But Jeremiah 29 also reminds us that God has appointed a means to these good ends. It is when the children of God pray that he hears us. It is when the children of God seek him that he is found.
 
So my encouragement to you as the Search Committee begins their work is to seek God in prayer on their behalf daily. Pray for the committee members by name. Ask God to give them wisdom, love for Jesus, and love for the church. Pray for unity, peace, and love between the members of the committee. Pray that the Lord will guide their decision making, and lead them to the right candidate for CPC’s pulpit.
 
I love you, I will miss you, and I am so excited to see what God has in store for Christ Presbyterian.
 
Your Pastor and Friend,
 
John Knox Foster