4 reasons I’m feeling pretty good about filling in for Nigel

Hey everyone, while Nigel is away we’ll have different members of the staff team blogging here, but I’ll get the ball rolling this week. Since finding out I’m filling in for Nigel, everyone around church has been asking how I’m feeling about it. And I’ve been saying I’m feeling pretty good. And it’s not because I won’t miss Nigel, I know I will, and I know many of you will. It’s not because I think I’m a great leader or anything like that. But I want to give you 4 reasons I am feeling pretty good about the next three months.

Reason 1 is because of what Nigel wrote in his blog last week. He reminded us that Jesus is in charge around here. 1 Peter 5:4 says Jesus is the Chief Shepherd. We ministers are mere under-shepherds, servants, slaves even. And Jesus promised to build his church and that not even hell can get in the way of that. So I trust Jesus to keep working by his Spirit among us and am feeling pretty good about that. Better than pretty good actually.

Reason 2 is because of all of you. I love our church for so many reasons, but one of the big reasons is because you, my brothers and sisters in Christ and fellow members of the body at Christ Church, it’s because you love the Lord Jesus and you seek to build up his body. Ephesians 4:11 and 12 says that pastors and teachers are here to equip Jesus’ people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up. And we are so blessed at Christ Church to have a great team of faithful teachers so that you are so well equipped to build up the body here. I reckon if all the staff went on long service leave for 3 months, you are all well equipped to crack on with our mission of building 3000 wholehearted disciples of Jesus without us.

Which brings me to reason 3, which is the staff team. It’s because of such a great staff team that we are so well equipped. I count it such a privilege to serve alongside such a godly and gifted group of people, whether on the ministry team or the admin team supporting the ministry. I love the diversity of gifts in our team and I love that we are united under Jesus in the mission he’s given us. I think Nigel does such a great job leading us so that we are free to thrive in the different areas of responsibility we have. Pray that we’d all be able to press ahead in those while Nigel is away and that I could helpfully support each team member in his absence.

And the fourth reason I’m feeling pretty good about things is that I don’t reckon 3 months is that long. Maybe I’ll be proved wrong, but I think it’ll fly. I can’t believe we’re already past Easter. And even if we all really start missing Nigel in June. Well by that time it’ll only be about four weeks til he gets back and we can count that down pretty quickly together.

So yeah, I’m feeling pretty good about everything. Please still do pray for me, pray for the staff team and pray for all of us as a church. Pray especially the prayer that Nigel said he’d be praying for us in his last sermon in 2 Corinthians - that in these three months we would be built up and strengthened in the Lord Jesus, and that when Nigel returns for a third time he will see noticeable growth in godliness in all of us.