This morning, I had the privilege to watch my church, Seaford Baptist, erupt in joy–God-given joy.
This morning our godly, diligent and hard-working pastor search committee announced the candidate for our next Senior Pastor.
The candidate is Michael Howard, who has been our Student Pastor for the past two years.
I wish you could have felt the joy in the congregation at this announcement. A standing ovation, and many tears shed.
Michael and his wife Katie have done a beautiful job not just holding Seaford together during this time, but God has used them to grow the church. There are so many new faces each week and that is so exciting and encouraging to all of us. He preaches Gospel Centered messages, and I would say he is one of the very best preachers that I’ve had the privilege of sitting under. Each week his message is rock solid theologically, challenging and encouraging. We are blessed to have them as our leaders.
But there is another level at work here……it’s the spontaneous joy that erupts in a body of believers when the Spirit of God strongly moves. It’s the tears of joy, knowing that God’s presence is with us. It’s just pure joy.
We as a church body were given that gift of joy this morning. And be certain of this, SBC, that this gift of joy came straight from God–yes, through the announcement of our next senior pastor candidate–but ultimately the joy came from God. Remember that experience of joy as we move forward. Be expectant of it. Be looking for it. And worship in that joy as we come together as a church body over the months and years that lie ahead.
God is faithful. God is the giver of joy. He is the provider of pastoral leadership for the church. And He loves His church immensely.
Paul’s charge to Timothy as pastor: