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From This Side of the Pulpit
Dear
friends and members of Good Shepherd,
Change is on the horizon! This month we will install our first Early Childhood
Ministry Director, Abbie Henke, a 2004 graduate of Martin Luther College,
our synod’s ministerial training college.
As we add to our ministerial staff, we are entering upon a new venture,
Early Childhood Ministry. Please read and take to heart the article written
by Tim Raster in this edition of SheepTalk. I wholeheartedly endorse the
spirit and content of the article. It shows that there are dedicated lay
people in our congregation who support the principle of expanding our
gospel outreach into the households of our community.
In August we will be blessed with another called worker, Vicar Greg Tobison.
As he and his wife, Ardis, join our Good Shepherd family, we will be in
a position to serve the Lord and his people as never before in the history
of the congregation.
Even with the addition of staff, let no member think that the role of
the layperson will be diminished. What additional staff really means is
that we are in a better position to equip the lay members of our congregation
for service in Christ’s kingdom. I personally have always felt that this
is one of the most important aspects of pastoral ministry. In fact, the
apostle Paul wrote to his student Timothy that he was to use God’s Word
for teaching and training others with this purpose in mind – “so that
the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2
Timothy 3:17).
What a joy – to teach and train lay people in the Word of God! I count
it a privilege to be able to do just that. I look forward to teaching
and training you especially in the areas of outreach and elder work. When
you are invited to such a teaching and/or training session, please consider
it seriously. The Lord needs people to serve him in his kingdom. What
greater service can we provide for others than proclaiming the Gospel
to them!
In a little more than one month changes will take place. As we add to
our staff, please welcome them with open arms. They are blessings, sent
from the Lord of the Church. Treat them with respect and kindness. They
are the Lord’s servants, sent to help you serve him better.
‘til
next time,
Pastor Dietz
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