Shepastor: “Reflections of a Pastor, 14 years in the making…”

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Fourteen years ago today, January 15th, 2006, a small, fractured, struggling congregation called me to serve as their senior pastor. They had been without a pastor for approximately 3 years. I became their first female pastor, first African American pastor and only the 2nd female senior pastor of a mainline Baptist denomination in the Greater Cleveland area. With great anticipation, joy, excitement and hope we came together as “Pastor and People.” Hope for a new beginning, hope for a new reality, hope for multiculturalism, hope for growth, stability, ministry…

A new reality did indeed emerge, but not the one we had anticipated and hoped for. New growth meant facing thoughts, feelings, prejudices and fears that we may not have known existed. The death of a significant number of elderly members meant deep feelings of grief and loss, not only of their presence, but of an era. The emergence and involvement of new members evoked fear from others of the loss of power. We were not prepared for the avalanche precipitated by the tides of change.

Numeric growth – cancelled. Economic stability – devastated. The dream for a bright, new, thriving ministry all but extinguished. God had another plan. “Seeds planted” look a lot like a burial. Growth with deep roots takes time. Our faith was challenged to the core. We learned in new and life changing ways to “lean upon the Lord.” The small group that was left banded together. A new vision for ministry emerged.

We learned the value of collaboration and ministry outside of the four walls. We sold the old property and took the resources gained to do a “new thing.” From the ashes was birthed a book for female pastors, a blog, contributions to other books, articles, workshops, seminars, lectures, sermons and mentorship opportunities. Members have learned in a greater way the power of tithing and the overall “Stewardship of life.”

In the words of my pastor, “When our plans fold, God’s plans unfold.” Our plans folded. The congregation all but died. But God kept a remnant for Himself. On September 6th, 2019, “Covenant Baptist Church,” closed. “Restoration Ministries of Greater Cleveland, Inc.,” was born. The journey continues. Our dreams have been exchanged for God’s vision.

Read more about our journey at www.rmgrcle.org

Thank you, Lord for 14 years of Pastoral Ministry! Counting on…

In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Shepastor: “Vessels in the Potter’s Hand”

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words." 3 So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. 4 And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? says the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:1-6 (RSV)

We all are on the “Potter’s wheel.” Like clay, God in His sovereignty shapes us and molds us. Sometimes, the molding process is painful because we just can’t understand why things happen the way they happen. As humans, we tend to be “cause and effect” oriented. In other words, we tell ourselves, “…this happened because of that.” We are accustomed to attaching an explanation to every event. But there are some things in life that don’t have a clear, easy and fair explanation.

Things that don’t make sense…earthquakes devastating thousands... a wonderful young woman dies of breast cancer…a brilliant mind is struck with Alzheimer’s disease. Sometimes there are twists, and bends and potholes in the road of our lives that are painful and to our finite minds don’t make sense. But somehow, even these painful, seemingly unfair circumstances are used to shape and mold and knead the lumps and the bumps and the imperfections in our clay jars.

As we journey through life, we spend a lot of time on the underside of the tapestry, seeing only mangled, seemingly illogically patterned bits and pieces of threads and yarn and we wonder, what in the world does it all mean. But every now and then, the Lord gives us glimpses of the upper side where we can see a beautiful pattern being woven for His purposes.

Truly we are as clay in the potter’s hand. No matter how marred, broken, scarred, lumpy or imperfect we may be, the Lord is able to reshape us, break us if necessary, knead us and mold us into the new and beautiful vessels He desires us to be. But the key is that we have to be willing to allow the Lord to do as the potter did with the clay.

It won’t always feel good. It won’t always make sense. But if we trust Him, the Lord will take the marred, broken and lumpy pieces of our lives and shape us into a beautiful and useful vessel.

Allow the Potter to mold you today…

Until next Wednesday,
In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org

Shepastor: “What Are Your Prayers for this Next Decade?”

9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9, NIV

On Sunday, our congregation reflected upon God’s faithfulness to each of us over the last ten years. In preparation for crossing over into 2020 we took a moment to prayerfully jot down specific things we are believing God for in this new decade. As peaceful and meditative music played in the background, members from the eldest to the youngest took time to contemplate what the next years would bring. By faith, we wrote down our hopes, dreams and visions and privately presented them before the Lord. The instructions were given to take our list home and put it in a place where we can go back and read it over from time to time. Our faith is strengthened as we look at God’s answers to our prayers over the years!

As you enter this next decade, by faith, I encourage you to do the same. What are you believing God for in the next ten years? What are you asking God to change? From what do you or others need deliverance? What courage do you need to walk into your new season? What trials or challenges do you need the strength to overcome? What hopes do you have for your community, Nation and world?

Write it down. Put a date on it. Periodically check your list and see all that God has done. Allow room for surprises! May your faith be strengthened!

Happy New Year Shepastor Family! I stand in agreement with you for God’s best for your life!

In Faith, Hope and Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
www.shepastorchris.org