June 26, 2008

The stretch between updates indicates a period of waiting as we sought the Lord's leading regarding a particular candidate. After much prayer and waiting, God has clearly led that man to remove himself from consideration for our senior pastor position. While there is sadness as we have a great affection for him and his family we are thankful for God's hand in the process.

The search team is encouraged as we have some wonderful resumes that we are looking at and exciting conversations with qualified prospects. Please focus on the following areas as you pray for this process:

For the Grace family
-That we would be active and growing, not simply waiting for a new senior pastor
-That we would trust God and be proven trustworthy
-That we would share Jesus with our community

For our next senior pastor and his family
-That God would be preparing their hearts for change
-A smooth transition personally
-Protection - emotionally and spiritually

For the search team and their families
-Strong relationships with each other
-Protection - emotionally and spiritually
-Continued unity through the Holy Spirit

---

April 2, 2008

The search team is encouraged and enjoying the unity that the Spirit of God supplies. We are thankful for God’s provision at Grace while balancing a healthy sense of urgency and desiring to be courageous to respond to the Lord’s leading in His timing. Last weekend, three members from the search team spent two days out of state with a potential candidate and his family. While we are not yet sensing the Lord ending our search, we are greatly encouraged by how He is leading.

Here are some of the details of the search so far . . .

- Over eighty referrals or resumes have been received

- More than half were removed after a preliminary screening due to not meeting basic criteria

- Approximately thirty have progressed to additional stages, Of these:

- Five decided to withdraw themselves from the process

- Between fifteen and twenty were removed from the process by the search team following conversations and evaluation.

- Currently we are evaluating sermons and having extended conversations with a few men.

---

March 4, 2008

We've been busy meeting with potential candidates, reviewing resumes and listening to sermons. Currently there are 2-3 possible candidates that have us encouraged and very interested as we continue to walk this path. As a team we are encouraged and very focused on the fact that the Lord has our man set aside and we need to be diligent to identify him. As a result, over the last few weeks we have had couple of men step out of the process. At times our team will close the door with a potential candidate as we do not sense the Lord leading us to continue. Other times the Lord has made it clear to men we are considering that they should remain where they are serving. Please be in prayer over the next few weeks as we will be meeting with a possible candidate. Your prayer and support are so appreciated and we look forward to the day when the Grace family will meet our next Senior Pastor.

---

January 18, 2008

The Senior Pastor Search Team is encouraged. We have prayed, and ask you to continue with us in prayer, that we would be sensitive to God’s leading. At times, our team has chosen to close the process with a particular individual. At other times, the Lord has led very clearly as men have dismissed themselves from the process. There were two men with whom we had progressed through multiple phone conversations, extended written dialogue and face to face meetings. Both of those men felt the Lord leading them to step out of the process, remaining with the congregations they have been serving. While the Lord has closed these doors, we count it a great blessing to have met them and even had the opportunity to join them in prayer as they sought the Lord’s will with us. Both of these men are involved in ministry and were looking to discern how the Lord might lead . . . God used Grace to be a positive encouragement in their lives regarding their current ministries and His timing in their lives. It has been wonderful to meet some exceptional men of God spread across our country who are serving Him with all their strength. While we greatly enjoyed these moments, we are still fixed on our purpose of finding God’s man for Grace. With that in mind, please join us in prayer over the next few weeks as we continue with two additional significant potential candidates by whom we are very encouraged. Please pray that the search team would be in step with the Lord’s timing and would exercise godly wisdom and discernment. Please pray for these men that they would clearly see God’s leading and timing in their lives as they consider a possible change of ministry. Thank you for your prayer and encouragement; the Lord’s hand print is evident to us.

---

December 31, 2007

The Senior Pastor Search Team is not meeting over the holidays, but we are utilizing unique ways to stay connected while we are apart physically. The Lord is using this time to strengthen our unity with each other and dependence on His leading. As we updated a few weeks ago in services, the search team is very active. We are receiving and reviewing resumes, talking with men by phone and meeting face to face with others. One of our consistent prayers as a team has been that as we seek the Lord's will for Grace He would also be working in the hearts of the men who have contacted us. It has been a great encouragement to see the Lord's faithful guidance as we have said “no” to some and others have decided to remove themselves from the process. We are greatly encouraged by the men we have met and are eager to begin meeting again next week as we walk this exciting path in the life of Grace Baptist.

---

November 15, 2007

The Senior Pastor Search Team is meeting weekly and finding great joy in serving together. One of the great encouragements has been seeing the hand of God over the entire process. We have received over 50 resumes and have greatly enjoyed getting to know some of these men. We have had very positive phone and in person extended conversations with a few men and are praying for wisdom and discernment. While we are making progress and desiring to stay in step with the Lord’s timing we realize there is still much work to do and would ask for your continued prayers. Please pray for the team: Geoff Beckwith, Bill Bolde, Dave and Lyndy Cass, Kay Dobbins, Dan Fetters, Pam Haendle, Wiley Kennedy, Gene Newman, Mike Steinbock, Rebekah Trothing, Mike Wilke. Pray that we would be faithfully patient, allowing God to reveal His will in His timing. Please pray that we would exercise gentle discernment as we say “no” to many while seeking to find the one man God has already selected. And lastly, please thank the Lord for His great provision and care over Grace Baptist during this season of change.

---

October 7, 2007

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement over these recent months; it is a blessing to hear so many encouraging comments from the Grace Family. We wanted you to know of a change in the make-up of the Search Team. Devin Franchino has asked to step away from the team in order to fully focus on family, ministry and work, and we support his request. We, as a team, have shared in prayer time together as he worked through this difficult decision. Please be in prayer for Devin, his wife Michelle and their daughter Simone. Devin, thanks for your faithfulness to Grace and to the Lord. We know we have a committed prayer warrior for the process!

---

September 13, 2007

The Search Team would like to say thank you to the many people that have expressed their support and let us know they are lifting us up in prayer. The Lord has brought a number of godly men to our attention and we are enjoying getting to know them. Tuesday night we spent about 40 minutes on the phone with a man in the early stage of the process and we walked away greatly encouraged by how God is leading us as a team. While we know there is still much work to do we are confident in God’s timing and are thankful for His consistent provision. Please keep these men in prayer and we would ask the Lord to increase our discernment as a team as we begin to connect with some of these men at a deeper level.

---

August 16, 2007

What a good time we had this week as a Search Team. We are meeting weekly to review resumes and spend time in prayer for the process, each other and the men and their families whom God has led to submit themselves for consideration. As a team, we are in ongoing communication with a number of men as we work to get a better understanding of how the Lord has gifted and prepared them for a potential ministry at Grace. Please join us in praying for these men and their families. We realize that the Lord has one man set aside, and as we pursue identifying him, we will be saying no to many godly men; please pray for their encouragement and clear direction as they continue to pursue the Lord’s leading in their lives.

As a team, we want to thank the Grace family for your prayer support and encouragement. It is a blessing to see the Lord’s hand over Grace during this time of transition as we seek to find his timing in identifying the man He has chosen to serve alongside the family of Grace.

---

July 16, 2007

Thank you for your prayers throughout this process. We are currently reviewing resumes and initiating contact with possible candidates. Our last few team meetings have been very productive and it is clear that the Lord has his hand in the process. The complementing personalities and gifts of the Search Team members are a great encouragement and remind us of our God's provision. The Family Survey results are being tabulated and we look forward to understanding the data and perspectives it will provide. Please pray for:

• Continued prayer for the Search Team to be seeking    the Lord first and relying on Him to direct us according    to His will.

• Perseverance for the Search Team and our families as    the team is now meeting weekly to review resumes    and discuss possible candidates.

---

June 27, 2007

Thank you to the many who participated in the family survey last weekend. The Search Team received many encouraging comments. If you did not have a chance to complete the survey, please pick up a copy from the receptionist or the Info Center and return it by July 2nd. We are actively screening resumes right now and would appreciate your prayers during the many aspects of this process. Please pray for:

• The Search Team to be seeking the Lord first and    relying on Him to direct us according to His will.

• The men that have submitted themselves as potential    candidates, and their families. This represents a    unique time in their lives and they need our prayer.

• The entry and evaluation of the survey data. This was    a significant undertaking on the part of the Grace    family and we look forward to learning from it.

---

June 6, 2007

The Senior Pastor Search Team believes that an essential part of the search for our next Senior Pastor is to hear from the family of Grace. Your thoughts, feelings and opinions matter to us and to the Pastors and Elders of Grace Baptist. We are working on a detailed survey which will be given as part of worship services on the weekend of June 23-24, 2007. Please plan to be with us on that weekend for an opportunity to actively join in the process.

Please continue to pray for the process as we begin to receive resumes and contact candidates.

---

May 7, 2007

Last week the Search Team sent informational packets to over 50 ministry leaders around the country. Included in the list were pastors, Christian school and seminary leaders as well as leaders of Christian organizations. The packet included a cover letter, the Senior Pastor Search Team - Profile & Process as well as contact information for the search team. It is our prayer that these leaders will join us in prayer and pass along our opportunity to the man that God has chosen to be the next Senior Pastor of Grace Baptist.

Please join us and pray for the prospective Senior Pastor candidates and Christian leaders, local and nationwide, to whom we are now corresponding:

• That they would inquire if they believe God is leading them to consider Grace.
• That they would prayerfully pass the details to those who would consider Grace.

---

March 21, 2007

The Pastors and Elders are committed to keeping the family of Grace well informed throughout the Senior Pastor search process. The following handout titled Senior Pastor Search Team – Profile & Process has been assembled to explain some of they key aspects of the process. These are available at the Info Center, or you can download a copy of it as a PDF file below.

---

February 2, 2007

Senior Pastor Update
Our last update noted the Elders and Pastors were working on the selection of the Pastoral Search Team. We are pleased to announce this process is now complete. These men and women have willingly and prayerfully accepted the task of screening and ultimately recommending a candidate for our next Senior Pastor. It is a considerable undertaking and we ask that the family of Grace hold them up in prayer as they begin their task. The team consists of lay people, elders and pastoral staff and has the breadth of ministry perspective, wisdom and humility necessary to effectively stand for Grace. Together they represent over 200 years of ministry and experience at Grace Baptist Church.

Search Team Members:

Bill Bolde - VBS teacher, former ABF leader

Dave Cass - Men's small group leader, coordinator of various construction projects

Lyndy Cass - Worship and Music Ministries, volunteer office help

Kay Dobbins - Women of Grace leader and teacher, Resource Director, Summer Missions Team

Devin Franchino - Grace Group leader, ABF teacher

Pam Haendle - VBS leader, former staff member

Mike Steinbock - AWANA leader, ABF leader

Rebekah Traylor - Girls of Grace Director, Impact volunteer staff, secretary to Geoff Beckwith

Mike Wilke - Grace Group leader, Communications Director

Gene Newman - Missions, elder, Grace Group leader

Wiley Kennedy - ABF leader and teacher, elder

Geoff Beckwith - Executive Pastor

Dan Fetters - Care Pastor

How you can pray:

For the Search Team
-Strong relationships with each other
-Protection - emotionally and spiritually
-That they would be unified through the Holy Spirit

For our next Senior Pastor and his family
-That God would even now be preparing their hearts for change
-A smooth transition personally and from current employment

For the Grace family
-That we would be active and growing, not simply waiting for a new Senior Pastor
-Spiritual vitality, that we would trust God and be proven trustworthy
-That we would share Jesus with our community

In the coming weeks please check the Grace website, www.GraceBaptist.org, for additional info regarding the Senior Pastor Search process.

---

December 4th, 2006

Dear Friends,

In our commitment to keep you current during this transition period, we wanted to provide a brief update since our last communication in October.

Gordon Kirk: We have all been blessed and enjoyed the teaching of our interim preaching pastor Gordon Kirk. Thank you for receiving him in such a welcoming fashion. His background can be found on the Senior Pastor section of our web page. Gordon will be in the pulpit about 50% of the time with Mike Gaston about 25 to 30% and the remainder being other Grace pastors or guests. Gordon is not a candidate for the Senior Pastor position.

Search Process: We are now outlining the process we will follow for our Senior Pastor search based on all the information we have received. Key components of this process include the formation of the search team, developing timelines, search criteria and communication paths. We plan to have several family meetings for information and input and, as always, want to keep our church family informed.

Search Team: We are actively working on the formation of the search team and hope to present these individuals at our family meeting currently set for January 28. The team will consist of a mix of individuals from the congregation at large, lay elders and staff. Individuals will be selected based on their godly character, love of Grace, diversity of ministry involvement and perspective, humility and commitment to prayer Please be praying as this team is formed that God’s hand would be evident in the selection process.

Family meeting in January: We have set aside Sunday, January 28 for the next Grace Family meeting. At that time we will provide a more detailed update on the search process, answer questions and present the search team. We will outline their tasks, explain how the search process will operate, formally commission them to their tasks and lay hands on them in prayer. Please set aside this time to attend.

Thank you for your faithfulness and your prayers as together we walk through this exciting time. God is good and we continue to seek His will for this His church.

---

December 1, 2006

Bio of Interim Preaching Pastor Dr. Gordon Kirk.

---

September 4, 2006

Family Meeting – Please make a point of attending!
Coming up on Sunday evening, September 10, is the opportunity to join together for a family meeting in the Conference Center at 6:00 P.M. We will sit around tables, enjoy some refreshments and have a chance to receive further updates in greater detail along with a time for questions and answers. Please also use the Grace website (www.GraceBaptist.org) to stay connected.

Transition update

• Grace has been and continues to learn from and seek the advice of other churches and ministry leaders who have walked through change in large churches.
  
  
• It is common in churches our size for senior pastor transitions to take from 18-24 months.
• During our transition, Pastor Mike Gaston will serve as the leader of the preaching team.
  
  
• Pastor Gordon Kirk (formerly of two large Southern California churches and professor at Biola and Talbot Theological Seminary) will join the preaching team later in the fall to support Pastor Mike.
  
  
• Executive Pastor Geoff Beckwith will continue to lead our staff as they give leadership to the many ministries at Grace.
  
  
• Jerry Sheveland, the president of the Baptist General Conference, has joined our elders and pastors for a series of meetings. He is leading us through a review of our leadership structure, elder and pastor roles, communication, and preparation for the future. Our meetings to date have been received with across-the-board enthusiasm as the team prepares for the future.

Looking Ahead
Grace is a different church than when Pastor Tom was called to this ministry 22 years ago. As previously mentioned, Jerry Sheveland is helping us to think through who Grace is today and what role she ought to play in this valley for years to come. As a part of that process, a Search Team will be formed to work at identifying the man that God is even now preparing to be our Senior Pastor. We will keep you posted as that unfolds.

---

July 28, 2006

During Pastor Tom ’s final months the primary focus has been saying goodbye and honoring his 22 years of service at Grace. Now on the other side of farewell, many are probably asking "what is next?”

Who will be preaching while we conduct our search for a new Senior Pastor?
Pastor Mike Gaston will continue to preach and now give leadership to the preaching team. Good advice from Christian leaders outside of Grace more familiar with large church transitions has led Grace's leadership (Elders & Pastors), to look for a strong preacher to come alongside Mike during transition and shoulder a large portion of the preaching responsibility. To that end, the Elder board is actively searching for the man God might have fill this important role.

Who will be leading the staff in the interim period?
As with most large churches, the role of the Executive Pastor is to provide day-to-day leadership to the staff thus allowing the senior pastor to focus on the pulpit. Our Executive Pastor, Geoff Beckwith, will continue to provide his proven leadership as well as assume some leadership roles occupied by Tom. Pastor Geoff will be responsible directly to the Elder Board.

What will the search process look like and how long will it take?
Senior Pastor transitions in large churches tend to last between 18 and 24 months as there are several tasks that typically occur during this process. These include :

- Review the distinctive's of Grace; i.e., what do we value and want to focus on as a church body.

- Review our governance structure and leadership.

- Develop a character and gifts profile for the next senior pastor.

- Formation of a search team, committed to prayer and coming regularly before the Lord to discern His will, screening and selection of the candidates, reviewing resumes, listening to sermons, phone and personal interviews, character references, and bringing the top candidates before the elders.

- Church Family communication and the eventual participation in the calling of a new Senior Pastor to lead us.

We have been blessed with the opportunity to have Jerry Sheveland, President of the Baptist General Conference, to help lead us through part of this process. Jerry is well versed in senior pastor transitions and his considerable wisdom and experience will be a welcome addition in this transition period. Join us in our continued prayers and in excited anticipation during this transition period. May it be a sweet time of fellowship, growth and leaning directly on our great and glorious God and on the one true shepherd, Jesus Christ.

---

June 8, 2006

For those who wish to participate, a love gift is being received for Pastor Tom & Sharon. Envelopes are available in pew backs, please mark ‘Farewell Love Gift’ on the envelope or on the memo section of the check and place in the offering plate.

June 7, 2006

“Farewell and Grace to You, Tom & Sharon!”

June 1, 2006

Farewell Service and Reception for Pastor Tom and Sharon

May 5, 2006

After almost 22 years of service Pastor Tom is retiring as our Senior Pastor.  During other significant times we have always sought to keep our church family well informed, Tom’s retirement will be no exception. This portion of our web page is meant to provide you with up-to-date information as our elder and staff leadership prayerfully and expectantly seek our Lord’s guidance as we navigate this transition period.   Please check this page often as it will be updated regularly and provide you opportunities to give us feedback as our goal is to keep you well informed.




Visit this page for future updates.