The Pastor’s Pen
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth”
I Corinthians 3:6
Itinerancy (allowing pastors with specific gifts to go and serve churches with specific needs) is a fundamental part of Methodist Christianity. We pastors are appointed to a particular church for one year at a time and God has been so gracious in allowing my family and me the privilege of living and serving among you for nine wonderful and fruitful years. Now, the time has come for us to move and for all of us to begin a new chapter in our life as disciples.
Of course, that brings a mixture of emotions for my family and me. The churches of Bethel and Clark’s Chapel are GREAT churches and we have grown to love you all very much. After all, you have shared many of the important events in your lives with us. I think about those of you whom I have had the privilege of baptizing. I remember the weddings we have celebrated and the beautiful babies we have welcomed. And I remember with thanksgiving those moments of grief and gratitude we shared at the funerals and memorial services for your loved ones. I think about how far some of you have grown in your spiritual maturity and how much more closely we both resemble Jesus.
I fondly recall the Vacation Bible Schools, the building projects and mission trips as well as the softball games, shared moments of prayer and spiritual discovery, and those visits in the hospital and in your homes. These are the things that have caused us to grow in faith and these are the ways in which you have helped to shape me and make me a better pastor.
And what about this church? Well, this is God’s church and He has raised up a dedicated and capable leadership team; both clergy and lay. And although I have a tendency to worry too much about the flock, the Lord has given me a real peace about this change because the Pastor that God is sending to shepherd this congregation is a man of many gifts and a deep faith. He loves the Lord and serves Him with both sensitivity and passion. So, on June 22nd, Dan and Krista Lyons, and their three young children (Rich, Rett & Anna Beth) will come to serve this church as your new pastoral family. I know that you will grow to love them and will treat them with the same respect with which you have always treated my family and me.
God loves you…and God loves this church. And so, you can be sure that God’s BEST is still ahead. Together,
we have participated in some remarkable ministry that has made a difference in the world and in the lives of people.
The same will be true for you and Pastor Dan. After all, God is all about growing the kingdom and His church and although we all have a part in that, it is God who gives the growth.
So, let me thank you, personally and for my family, for your friendship, your partnership. You have often inspired us and always loved us…which is, after all, the mark of real discipleship.
Pastor Al
From Pastor Dan--
Praise the Lord!
My family and I look forward to becoming a part of the Franklin and Clark’s Chapel community as I am appointed to pastor the East Macon Charge of Bethel and Clark’s Chapel. Soon we will be worshipping, learning, and growing together.
To give you a little glimpse of me: My passion for ministry is reaching new people with the grace of Jesus Christ and discipling followers of Jesus into deeper relationships with him for the building of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven. I use my spiritual gifts of teaching, prophecy, and knowledge in discipling of others, while at the same time believing that each of us has a role in the Body of Christ to build up followers and the Kingdom.
I look forward to learning about you, your passions, and your gifts. Together we will serve the Lord in our community.
To share with you a bit about my family: My beautiful, loving wife Krista is a wonderful stay at home mom (for whom there are not enough adjectives to describe her magnificence). She also owns her own business, Pride Promotions, supplying businesses and churches with promotional products and advertising specialties. We have three terrific children: Rich (10), Rett (7), and Anna Beth (4). Each is unique in their own way. They love the Lord and enjoy learning about and serving him.
Together we will be your parsonage family. We have a lot to learn about our new community. It will be good to put down roots and bloom where the Lord has transplanted us.
See you real soon,
Pastor Dan Lyons
