Leadership

 

Introducing our current deacons:

John Gentry – buildings and grounds

Matthew Green – new converts and outreach

Mal Hardin – finance

Travis Jones – finance

Introducing our current shepherds:

Vernon Clark

Roger Fitzgerald

Dan Fraser

Janson Mauseth

Paul Pierce

Joe Stallard

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As Shepherds of this body we seek to uphold the following “Philosophy of Shepherding”

» To continually examine ourselves as individual shepherds and as a collective eldership, looking for areas of personal and collective improvement.   The first pasture that needs tending is our own!  We must be a body of introspective leaders if we indent to be successful, refining, approachable, connected, and increasing in God’s ability to use us.  (Acts 20:28  “Be on guard for yourselves…”)

» To be prayer warriors. We individually seek to be leaders devoted to prayer.  Collectively, we are fervent in our petitioning of the Father for wisdom, guidance, and blessing.  We pray for those things on our hearts and we feel honored when the sheep give us the opportunity to pray for their specific needs and situations.  (Acts 6:4   “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”)

» To Decrease administrative oversight, while increasing spiritual guardianship.  The insight and experience of shepherds may be called for in an administrative fashion from time to time, however, those occasions should be the exception and not the rule.  Most everyday administrative needs in our body can be handled within the current organizational structure.  As shepherds we would like to train the congregation to utilize that structure and not feel a necessity to burden the shepherds with administrative issues.  We are purposefully attempting to avoid micro management of those within the organization structure, while remaining committed to training and coaching our deacons and ministry leaders in handling their individual responsibilities. (Acts 6:2-4   So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.  “Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.)

»  To envision appropriate ways of equipping individual members in their service of the Savior.  As those overseeing the entire body we see ourselves responsible for connecting individuals into areas of service appropriate for their giftedness.  By making this a priority we see that our body can be built up, not upon the wisdom and vision of its leaders but upon the giftedness provided by God, and the service of its willing members.  In this way we feel a submission to God’s vision for His church rather than us arbitrarily attempting to create such a church vision.  (Eph 4:11-12   And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ…)   

»  To accept the responsibility of providing spiritual nourishment for the entire flock.  We view one of our leadership responsibilities is to provide our church family a diet of spiritual truth made available in the best possible means.  These methods currently include, LTC, Bible classes, worship time instruction, ladies’ Bible classes, men’s prayer breakfast, small group studies and special learning opportunities. We are devoted to finding the most appropriate ways to facilitate the feeding of this flock.   (Acts 20:28  “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”)

»  To attempt to imitate the Chief Shepherd by finding areas in which individual sheep are in need of our personal encouragement and touch.  The task of spiritual growth presents unique situations for every sheep.  Suffering shows itself on many levels and in many ways.  As shepherds we believe this to be one of our primary objectives.  Our ability to connect with the needs of our sheep is a central part of our shepherding duties.  (1 Peter 5:2 …shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness…)