Jimmy's back...

Pastor Jim is back from his sabbatical...it was really good to see him. Things that I learned about our Goshen pastors while Jim was gone:

He has put quite a team together at our Goshen Campus...Jerimae and I LOVE working with these guys...both the pastors and elders. I was very impressed with the leaders of our church during this time. There were some tough decisions that needed to be made during his time away...the leaders stepped up and worked through it...there was not a sense of "we should just wait until Jim gets back..." No, we really moved forward during this time.

A few thoughts on the guys...
Pastor Jon is VERY gifted. (Please don't tell him I said that!) He is the children's pastor at our Goshen campus, but his fingers were in about EVER SINGLE area of the church while Jim was away. It seemed that everything we talked about...whatever area of the church...Jon had something constructive to say about it. He really stepped it up!

Pastor Jeremiah was the voice of Jim during our meetings when it came to Sunday mornings and keeping the vision "hot." It is VERY obvious that Miah has spent the most time with Jim...he oozes the DNA of Grace...he is really fun to watch and work with...

Pastor Rich is the steady one...he developed and kept things moving forward in his subtle ways...from accountability with our office time...to getting thoughts to Jon and me about the Refuel series...Rich is creative and a solid leader...he does not just JUMP OUT and lead...what he does is lead while he is moving ahead...he doesn't seem to want praise...I gained even more respect for him during this time...

Pastor Jeremy just finished his first year here at Grace...That really shocks me...because the input he gives and the ownership that he has taken with leading worship in the LINK (a 2nd venue at our Goshen Campus) and with Grace as a whole is OUTSTANDING. I feel like he has been around A LOT longer than one year. The sky is the limit for Jeremy in his leadership...can't WAIT to see what God is going to do in and through him!!!

Mitch is AWESOME...this man VOLUNTEERS as a pastor for us in Goshen...he WORKS HARD...gives GREAT input...his help during this time has been priceless!! (Pun not originally intended!!)

The elders are AMAZING...I knew this...but I watched these guys step up both at Goshen and in helping with the budget plan of our campus. Like I said...we had to make some TOUGH decisions and these men were up to the task.

I LOVE SERVING AT GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH...and I LOVE serving with those guys in Goshen! Good job stepping up me and doing more than just filling in while Jim was gone...you guys PUSHED FORWARD! I believe that God is pleased with your work!

As for Jim...MAN it was good to see him today...his passion for God...his passion for his family...his passion for the lost and his passion for the church is just contagious...Good to have you back Jimmy...you should be proud of your Goshen team!