Is It Good To Wait? Is there anyone in St. Paul congregation who is not ready for a new, full-time pastor? I think not. While we have been blessed with pastoral support from Pastor Milton Berner, Chaplin Ron Ewell, and Pastor Ken Kueker who will soon be joined by Pastor John Mueller, Pastor Michael Volk, Pastor Andrew Norris, and Vicar Fred Cordts, it is just not the same as having a resident shepherd.
On his missionary journeys we know that St. Paul commissioned elders / pastors in every town where there were followers of Christ, so there is no doubt that God wants us to have a pastor to lead, preach, teach, and correct us. So what’s taking so long? Why hasn’t He sent one yet? Is the call committee asleep?
Jeremiah writes in Lamentations 3:25-26, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him. To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” These are hard words to hear when you are waiting for God’s deliverance. Ask any of the members of the call committee. On multiple occasions we have interviewed candidates to fill our pastoral vacancy who have made a very positive impression upon us.Perhaps this is the one that God has in mind for St. Paul congregation. More than one of these men have subsequently told the call committee that they believe that God’s Holy Spirit is directing them to withdraw their name from our call list and to stay in their current ministry
This can easily lead to impatience and frustration, but as a call committee we have to continually remind ourselves that God is in charge of this process. We need to “hope and wait quietly” as we seek a new pastor. As the call committee continues its work, we ask for your patience and your prayers. We are confident that God will lead us to the right man to be St. Paul’s shepherd, and that He will do this when He knows that the time is right.
We have His promise, “the Lord is good to those who wait for Him”. Let us wait patiently in joyful anticipation of God’s gift of a new pastor.
Ken Wichman
St Paul Epistle