Yesterday morning, our Youth Pastor, Craig Mickey, announced that at the end of the school year, he will be leaving Prince Street Church to join the staff at Emmanuel Community Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The news hit hard. We are losing a good man, and a great family. I am losing a dear friend, and a trusted colleague. Part of me wants to pretend this isn't happening. But it is. And although we will grieve their loss, I know this is God's plan for them. So I'm excited to see what God will do through them as they move on.
So, what are we going to do now? Let me share the advice I gave our Board.
First, let's pray. God will provide as we seek His face. We don't know when will be, and we don't know how that will happen. But we know it will. So let's keep praying together.
Second, let's continue to work with Ken Quick, seeking God's face in finding healing for the heart of Prince Street Church. We want to be sure that before we bring someone else on staff, that we've done all we can to find healing. This process may also show us some things that will help us identify our next staff person.
Third, let's help Pastor Craig finish well. We still need to figure out a specific ending date. When we do, we need to throw a party, celebrating the 7 years we have journeyed together. And we need to send the Mickey family off with our blessings and prayers.
Fourth, let's plan for the transition. There's no way of knowing how long it will take to identify our next staff member. So, we need to find ways to fill the holes Pastor Craig and Rhonda's departure will leave, specifically in Youth, Men's and Women's ministries. Thankfully, we already have some great volunteers already serving in these areas.
Fifth, let's identify our needs. At this point in our life together, Youth Ministry is not our only need. We could use some help in worship, small groups, guest services, etc. Obviously, no single person can cover all those roles. But what are our greatest needs? These are the places we need to invest staff resources in.
Finally, let's hire an excellent spiritual leader. It's always tempting to hire someone to do tasks. The problem with that approach is that you limit yourself to a single person's ability to perform. Excellent spiritual leaders raise up and equip teams of people to do the work of ministry. And in so doing, they create unlimited potential as they reproduce themselves in the lives of others.
Friends, God has great plans for the Mickey's and Prince Street Church. As we keep our eyes fixed on Him, we'll see those plans unfold.
The news hit hard. We are losing a good man, and a great family. I am losing a dear friend, and a trusted colleague. Part of me wants to pretend this isn't happening. But it is. And although we will grieve their loss, I know this is God's plan for them. So I'm excited to see what God will do through them as they move on.
So, what are we going to do now? Let me share the advice I gave our Board.
First, let's pray. God will provide as we seek His face. We don't know when will be, and we don't know how that will happen. But we know it will. So let's keep praying together.
Second, let's continue to work with Ken Quick, seeking God's face in finding healing for the heart of Prince Street Church. We want to be sure that before we bring someone else on staff, that we've done all we can to find healing. This process may also show us some things that will help us identify our next staff person.
Third, let's help Pastor Craig finish well. We still need to figure out a specific ending date. When we do, we need to throw a party, celebrating the 7 years we have journeyed together. And we need to send the Mickey family off with our blessings and prayers.
Fourth, let's plan for the transition. There's no way of knowing how long it will take to identify our next staff member. So, we need to find ways to fill the holes Pastor Craig and Rhonda's departure will leave, specifically in Youth, Men's and Women's ministries. Thankfully, we already have some great volunteers already serving in these areas.
Fifth, let's identify our needs. At this point in our life together, Youth Ministry is not our only need. We could use some help in worship, small groups, guest services, etc. Obviously, no single person can cover all those roles. But what are our greatest needs? These are the places we need to invest staff resources in.
Finally, let's hire an excellent spiritual leader. It's always tempting to hire someone to do tasks. The problem with that approach is that you limit yourself to a single person's ability to perform. Excellent spiritual leaders raise up and equip teams of people to do the work of ministry. And in so doing, they create unlimited potential as they reproduce themselves in the lives of others.
Friends, God has great plans for the Mickey's and Prince Street Church. As we keep our eyes fixed on Him, we'll see those plans unfold.
1 comment:
I must confess I haven't checked up on you in a couple of weeks. Been kind of busy becoming a grandma, you know. But my heart grieves with you all in the loss of Craig, and I agree with you all, in prayer, that this is, in fact, God's plan for him and his family and Prince Street Baptist...oops, I mean, UB, Church.
So I will wait with you, in anxious anticipation, to see all that God has in store for you. And Craig, God Bless you and your family!
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