Dispatches from the First Year: Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Our church is experiencing a time of great change. Our Senior Pastor is retiring from the ministry, our Associate Pastor is being located to another Methodist Church in the district and our Preschool Director is resigning. Change!  E-mails, letters and announcements have been made to all of staff and the congregation and as a result many people feel emotional, frustrated, unsure, and full of uncertainty.  The overarching feeling is that we are unsure of what the future holds for this church.

I have experienced church change especially because I was raised as a PK and moved constantly as my Dad pastored at various churches. However, it’s different when you aren’t a part of the change but you’re experiencing the change. It’s easy to become overwhelmed with uncertainty or fear because of the realization of not being in control during a time of change. Except, I think that we as believers need to understand that how we handle change is a good reflection of our Lord and Savior.  In the midst of change I think it’s most important to experience the full power of relying on Christ.  It’s when we aren’t in control that we recognize the significance of surrendering, submitting and relying on the plans Christ has for us. We can get too caught up on our feelings toward the change that we fail to realize that Jesus has something beautiful to create from it.

Samantha is a 22 year-old newbie, serving 200 students at the North Raleigh United Methodist Church in North Carolina.  She will graduate in May 2012 from Asbury University, with a degree in Communications and an emphasis in Leadership.  She is blessed with an amazing family that includes two great parents, three sisters, two brothers-in-law, and two nephews.