Personal Update – Week ending 12 May 2012

Last updated May 12, 2012 by Matt

There hasn’t been much movement this week in terms of our next move. Most of my week has been spent reading, studying, and waiting. I’ve also had some quality time with my family, which is always refreshing. Here are some pertinent details from my week to aid you in praying.

A Church in Iowa

Sunday night I had a phone interview with a pulpit committee in Iowa. The conversation was deep throughout. I wanted to be as forthright as I could be, which meant, among other things, that I asked them as many tough questions as they asked me. It is up to the Lord to work, but I don’t see this ministry working out for several reasons: (1) They are in the “resume pageant stage” and I don’t win the pageants. (Yes, there is a bit of derision in the use of that phrase. I don’t agree with the way most churches, of which I’m familiar anyway, approach their searches. But I don’t have much choice. I must be subject to it and trust that the Lord can work even in the least ideal situations.) (2) They are very early in their process and I don’t know whether the Lord will afford the time to work through their process before I have to make some kind of move. (3) I don’t know that we are on the same page philosophically.

Harmony Baptist Church, Beaver Dam, WI

I learned that the pulpit committee in Beaver Dam met on Thursday. I have not heard what the fruit of that meeting was nor have I received a questionnaire from them; it appears as though they will deal with the questionnaire before deciding whether to bring me up. I assume that means they rescinded their vote to have me candidate. The circumstances with this church are frustrating from one perspective and encouraging from another. I don’t have sustainable income right now so I’d like the process to move along as quickly as possible, but I would also like to be as thorough as possible—haste makes mistakes. God is granting me grace in waiting for the committee to make its decisions.

Reading Regime

I have maintained a reading regime that has taken me through a couple books and kept me in the scriptures this week. God is using his word and the thoughts of his servants to firm and refine my positions on a few things, as well as encourage me in the faith. My prayer is that my relationship with my Master will remain a priority regardless of other circumstances—I am determined to make this so by God’s grace.

Serving in the Local Church

Tomorrow we will attend a church that is closer to us than the one we have been attending. I am hungry for service in God’s work and the distance we were traveling in recent weeks precluded serving. I don’t know what the nature of this attendance will be but I am determined to serve the church in any way I can.

Other Areas

We are thinking about the practical areas more as the days pass. Financially, we are stable, but severance will end at the end of this month. The pastor said he would consider extending it if we hadn’t found anything by the end of this month. We have begun planning for a physical move though we don’t have a destination in mind. We are considering moving the children into the same room so that we can use the other room for storage and staging. Neither my wife nor I like this, but we need the space. Oh, that God would let this move be quick.

I thank God for the prayers of his saints. Please continue to trust that God uses prayer as a means to accomplish his purposes.

Trusting God’s sovereignty and goodness,