Who is in charge here?

By now I am sure everyone knows that Nicky and I are taking some long service leave this term. This Sunday is our last day and we will be back on the 8th July. We’re heading off to Spain to walk the Camino Frances and then we are catching up with family and friends in the UK. 

We would appreciate your prayers while we are away and please be assured that we will be praying for you. So, while I am away, who is in charge here?

I am thankful to be a part of a leadership team that is so highly competent and capable. Every member of our team works diligently to ensure that the gospel is preached and people are built as wholehearted disciples every day of the week. They do such a great job that they will hardly miss me!

But in Anglican churches, someone needs to be the Senior Minister when I am not here so Gerard O’Brien has been appointed as the acting Senior Minister for the time I am away. Please pray for him as he leads the team and assists in directing the ministry as a whole. Gerard is such a calm and thoughtful presence on our team and I am sure they will all be thankful for his leadership, prayerfulness and love. 

We have also invited Gary O’Brien (no relation to Gerard!) to come and lead Tuesday church while I am away, providing leadership in that congregation. Gary will preach occasionally, lead church and run a growth group. I am so thankful for his willingness to support the team in this way covering directly for one of the ministries I am involved in and love. 

To support Gerard, we have shifted Caroline Litchfield’s job slightly so that she has time to assist in some new areas and work at continuing to grow our next phase ministries. She will also be speaking at the Women’s conference in term 2 and assisting in care of youth leaders. This is an exciting transition and I am so thankful for Caroline’s flexibility. 

With Caroline moving, Lyn Adamson has taken up the Membership Director role and will be working alongside the Senior Leadership Team to ensure that people are welcomed warmly, cared for deeply and grow to love each other. 

And finally, as we await the appointment of a new Magnification Director Tom Pattison is holding responsibility for our church services and a small team who are helping us oversee them week to week.  

When I return we will evaluate these changes and make some decisions about what comes next.

So with all that, who is in charge here while I am away? Well, it’s the same person who is in charge while I am here. Jesus! This is his church, we are his people and we sit under him and his authority in all things. With this in mind, can I ask you to pray? 

Continue to pray that God would do awesome things in and through every single person in our church for his glory and for the growth of the gospel. He promises to hold us and care for us in a way that no human person ever could. And for that, I am truly thankful.