Originally published in the August 27, 2007 issue of The Evangel.
by Dr. Frank Lewis, senior pastor
Life is full of transitions. Retirement brings new opportunities and questions. A new school year marks another stage in the continuing transition for our children no matter if you are sending them out on their first day of kindergarten or packing them off for college. Transitions wear many faces: companies downsize, neighborhoods change, mergers blend, passion fades, grief invades, and hope returns. We celebrate some transitions and we mourn over others.
First Baptist Nashville is sitting in the midst of a transitional time. Our city is electing a new mayor. This marks a transition for us in the midst of Building Bridges. Even though I have enjoyed a great relationship with Mayor Purcell, I look at this transition as an opportunity for First Baptist to make another new friend. If you live in Davidson County, be sure to exercise your freedom to pray and vote. It matters.
Soon our church will hold a series of churchwide listening sessions as we begin the process of forming a Minister of Music Search Committee. This transition, the way it will be handled by our church, and the way we choose to respond to God’s leadership in the interim period will have a huge impact on the future ministry of our congregation as Nashville’s First Baptist Church. It is important that we conduct ourselves as people of faith during this transition. Be faithful in your attendance, your conversations, and your general support of your church. If you’ll do this, we’ll navigate this transition fine.
Last Sunday I began a series of messages through one of the “transitional narratives” found in God’s Word. Joshua is the transitional leader for Israel as the young nation moves into the land of promise following 40 years of wilderness wandering. No matter what kind of transition you may be going through right now, I think you will find a word of encouragement as we prepare to “cross over” with Joshua in these weeks. (See series information below.)
Blessings!
CROSSOVER TIMES
Joshua 3 - 4
SEPTEMBER 2
THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S
Joshua 6
SEPTEMBER 9
GOD IS FAITHFUL
Joshua 20
SEPTEMBER 16
THE LEGACY OF FAITHFULNESS
Joshua 23 - 24
SEPTEMBER 23
