Discipleship Pastor

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.
Titus 1:5-8

So you shall present the Levites before the tent of meeting. You shall also assemble the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, and present the Levites before the Lord; and the sons of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites. Aaron then shall present the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering from the sons of Israel, that they may qualify to perform the service of the Lord.
Numbers 8:9-11

We believe God is calling Matt to be our Discipleship Pastor and at the end of our service this Sunday we will gather around him and pray for him.  In some way, we want to present Matt and Molly before the Lord and before the congregation.

Pastors are better when they are part of a "pastoral team".  This goes for all humans everywhere, but pastors are not exempt.  Teams provide accountability and encouragement.  Paul told Titus to appoint elders (plural) in every city.  Pastor are better when they are on a team.

God is calling Matt to serve at Three Rivers as our Discipleship Pastor.  Pastors have 3 primary responsibilities: 1) teaching, 2) leading, and 3) pastoral care.  I, the Lead Pastor, have an additional responsibility:  partnership development.  We are rePlanting Three Rivers and therefore depend on the support of partners churches and individuals.  Adding Matt to the pastoral team spreads the pastoral load over two shoulders, not just mine.  In addition to taking on some of the teaching role, Matt will be responsible with the overall discipleship strategy at Three Rivers.

Matt is also in the process of being approved as a North American Mission Board Church Planting Intern.  Prayerfully he will begin in October.  It will give him the opportunity to invest more time at Three Rivers as well as really explore God's calling in his life.

And if that wasn't enough, God has also opened the doors for Matt to begin his M.Div at Midwestern in the fall.  "M. Div." is short for Masters of Divinity; a masters level theological degree.  God has given Matt and incredible opportunity to combine his classroom studies with practical ministry experience at Three Rivers.  And God has given us the incredible opportunity to be a part of Matt's journey.  It is my prayer that we will be blessed by Matt as well as be a blessing to him and his family.

With all that said, we will present Matt and Molly before the Lord and before our church this Sunday.  We want to commit to pray for Matt and to ask the Lord's blessing on Matt's ministry.  We will do this at the end of the service on Sunday.  I hope you can be there for this important occasion.

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