Over ten years ago, after 23 years as a Senior Pastor I stepped out of full-time congregational ministry to lead the Northwest Church Planting Network. I founded that ministry in 2000 and never imagined it would be my full-time work, but God had different plans. When I made that transition, I never thought I would serve a congregation as a pastor again. Facing that “fact,” as it seemed to me, meant grieving the loss of what my wife, Sandy, and I had done for decades. Thankfully, we loved our new ministry, especially caring for church planters and their families. When the opportunity arose to serve as your Senior Pastor, I was surprised again.
Our ministry life began with a love for the local church and the dream of pastoring God’s people in a congregation on a corner, as it were. Returning to that work is a humbling and intimidating prospect. I know much more about ministry and myself than I did when we planted right out of seminary. In many ways that makes ministry more comfortable. In others it serves as a sober reminder of the high calling and vulnerability of pastoring God’s people.
I am full of joy to serve as your pastor and thankful for the Lord’s grace to call me to serve his people at Covenant. You will hear many words from me in the years to come, so I will spare you more except to share Paul’s greeting to the Ephesians, as we begin a series on that beautiful epistle.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mike and Sandy
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