June 27, 2024

Dear Central Church, 

As a Cubs fan, it won’t surprise you that I am an optimist by nature. It’s the only way you survive being a supporter of Chicago’s team on the Northside. 

I've found this disposition helpful in serving the church as well. I’ll willingly admit there’s a lot wrong with the Church (capital C), but if you’re not careful, you’ll miss what’s right with the Church, and that will destroy your soul. 

Not surprisingly, one of my favorite books is entitled, What’s Right with the Church. (Also, not surprisingly, it’s a short book.) There is so much the people of God get right, and when they do, we need to stop and celebrate it. It’s in those moments that the Church gets it right that we see God at work. 

One of the things Central Church has gotten right through the years is ministry to youth and children. A little over seven years ago, we invited Rev. David Goodwin to be a part of our full-time pastoral ministry team. David and his wife Megan have served so well in this capacity and have made serious Kingdom investments in the lives of our young people. Only in eternity will we see how these seeds of David’s ministry have produced spiritual fruit, “30, 60 and 100 times what was sown.” (Matt. 13:23) 

This Sunday is David and Megan’s last Sunday at Central. The Lord is calling them to Pataskala, OH, where David will serve as the lead pastor of Pataskala Church of the Nazarene. There are so many things David has gotten RIGHT as our youth pastor, but none more important than his genuine love for students and his desire to see them become Christ-like disciples. 

I love our pastoral team, and I want to close my arms around them when these opportunities arise. Spiritual leadership, however, is learning to hold resources with open hands. Central Church must hold gifted leaders like David with open hands and send them in the power of the Holy Spirit when God calls them to new assignments.

We’ll have a time to honor David and Megan this Sunday in both services, and we’ll pray for them as they are sent from Central into the new mission that God has called them to. We’ll also have a reception in between services, where you can greet them and shower them with cards and well wishes. 

Sometimes I’m tempted to be cynical about the prospects of the Church. When I am, the Lord reminds me that he is still calling people like David and Megan to “Preach the word in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and discharge all the duties of your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:2-5) 

Now THAT’S what’s RIGHT with the Church…See you Sunday! 

Until He’s Finished,
Pastor Mark