Facing certain death in prison and burdened for the future of the church, Paul commands his beloved son in the faith, Timothy: “what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2.2). What an urgent necessity this is! Unless the church makes disciples of Jesus Christ it has no future. And so, the command to entrust the Gospel to the next generation has fostered discipleship training for two millennia.
What a sense of privilege I feel to have been recommended to CPC by its elders to serve as the Associate Pastor of Discipleship! In one sense, the responsibility of making disciples must rest on the entire ministry of the church in its worship, nurture, and witness. But just as in any army various captains accept specific responsibilities, so mine is “to make Christ known in all of life by equipping adult believers for joyful obedience and authentic caring relationships” (Job Description). My responsibility puts me squarely in the nurturing role of CPC’s overall ministry.
Fulfilling my call will involve me in performing three basic roles. My first role is equipping. I will chair the Equipping Committee in leading staff-driven and volunteer-driven equipping ministries such as adult Sunday School, Wednesday night programs, and Men’s and Women’s Ministries. This includes taking primary responsibility for recruiting and training teachers, choosing curriculum, and overseeing logistics.
The second role I am responsible for is caring. Under the leadership of our Senior Pastor and along with our Shepherding Committee (Elders Chris Rimondi and Jon Harris co-chair) and retired Congregational Care Pastor, Eric Mullinax, I will assist in shepherding, visitation, counseling, and wedding and funeral arrangements.
My third role involves the various preaching, teaching, and oversight responsibilities that go with serving as a full-time pastor on the congregational, presbytery, and General Assembly levels. Paul’s example in the New Testament speaks to me. His call from God involved him in performing a variety of ministry related roles - each suited to his unique season of life. As I look back now on many years of pastoral ministry, I see too that God has called me at different times to perform a variety of roles (staff pastor, church planter, and solo pastor/interim pastor).
God’s blessing on CPC is evident to my family and me. How deeply grateful we are that God has brought us to you. How grateful I am in my current season of life that the Session has recommended me to the position of Associate Pastor of Discipleship!
