Someone asked me why Pastor Shawn gets to preach so often. Here is the answer.
1. In most United Methodist Churches, it is the norm for the associate pastor to speak once per month. We have several associates but Shawn is an ordained Elder.
2. That means that Shawn could have his own church, and for that matter, has had his own church, preaching every Sunday. The conference would love to snatch him up and send him somewhere else. He is in hot demand.
3. To keep someone of Shawn's calibre, it is important that he get such opportunities. If we want great associates, we have to give them opportunities.
4. Another reason why Shawn preaches is because we have to wean our church off of the idea that Jeff is our only preacher. Jeff will not be here forever and all those who attend Woods Chapel need to begin to get used to having other preachers preach.
5. Which takes me to my final point. Shawn is an excellent preacher and an excellent man. If you have not had the chance to meet him, call him up and go to lunch. He is bright, thoughtful, funny and real.
I trust that those thought are helpful.
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
5 comments:
We love Shawn, and are blessed to have two excellent teaching pastors in our church. Thanks Jeff for posting this!!
Glad you took time to speak to this subject. Our church is very blessed to have several good preachers. We need to be thankful.
And for those of us who just love you, we understand, but there is no substitute for you! Just like some of us like a certain author because they fill us up, we read other books too, but we always come back to the one we love and so it goes with you! Sorry . . . you're still my fav!
You don't "preach" to us, you talk to us, and I hope you NEVER go away!
Thanks Jeff. One thing that I'd like to say is that, if people in our congregation have the time and the opportunity, they should visit the ten/10 Branch services downstairs. Serveral times I've gone to the 9:05 upstairs and listened to you and then booked it downstairs to listen to Shawn or Josh. God has truly annointed these people and we're so blessed to have them at WCC.
Ditto! From a recent Jeff sermon: "The church is not the building, the church is not the preacher"
I love and appreciate all of you!
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