This time each year I'm thinking heavily and having many conversations about our pastoral staff for the coming school year. Even though freshmen won't show up for another 6 months, we've already been thinking and praying and talking since December about leadership for our campuses. Around 8 of our current pastors will be transitioning off, another group of new apprentices will be coming on, and some of our campus pastors will be making new commitments and/or changing campuses to fill key needs. With 60 pastors on the team, it's a lot to think through!
Arguably the biggest transition coming up this summer Garrett's transition to full-time church leadership. Many of you already know what a key role he has played in our mission. Besides Mandy and me, Garrett is our longest serving campus pastor on the team. He has led many of our campuses--Collin, the Denton campuses, and now SMU. He has mentored many of our key leaders. He is so very talented and passionate for the Lord. He's going to be hard to replace! But his next assignment is an outgrowth of his work with FOCUS, leading a church in Richardson that has SMU and UTD students as members. He also plans to continue some of his work with SMU athletes as the Lord has opened a key door to him on the swim and football teams, as well as with many of the coaches.
In preparation for the transition for the FOCUS ministry there, Mandy and I are investing some time and energy at SMU this semester. I'm starting to work with the men who will be on staff next year as well as coaching their preachers and leading their student leader meeting. What an amazing group! It has been so fun to work with them so far. This week, we studied through 1 Timothy 4, looking at what the Apostle Paul has to say about both legitimate and illegitimate leadership. False leaders try to take control, adding to God's commands by forbidding and forcing. True leaders speak God's truth and lead by example. These students were so eager to participate, ask questions, and learn. It gives me great confidence for the years to come! Please be praying for this transition. Garrett has only been there a few years, so there are still students who remember the last director transition when Garrett replaced Laurence. I'm praying we manage it in a way that cares for these young adults and provides stability and direction.
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| Asa is an SMU graduate and our apprentice on that campus this year. I've been helping him prepare and deliver a sermon series on Christian community, and it's been so good! He's staying on next year and will be our first SMU alum serving as a pastor there! |
Thanks for making my work possible and for being so flexible as my role flexes to the needs of our overall mission! I am still working at UTD, still meeting with student leaders, and still doing a lot of the Bible teaching there, but I will also be investing in SMU for the next year or so while we get new leadership off the ground.
Student Testimony
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