A new Start

So on Sunday Ray Befus (the Regional Vineyard Overseerer) announced that Ken Thomas was going to be the senior pastor at LVC. The announcement didn't come as a surprise to me (I had know that was probably the case for a while) but I still had mixed feelings about the whole thing. When I first foudn out about it, honestly, I was not excited much at all. Not because I don't like Ken, because I really love the guy and think he is awesome, but because I just didn't know if I thought it was the right step for the church to take. I thought there were some problem that might come along with Ken as the head pastor.

To start I didn't know if it was health for him to do it. I just think that because of the whole thing with Paul leaving (and other people thinking Ken squeezed him out... which he did not!) I just am not sure that it doesn't look a bit like a "take over". I think there is a reality that some people will always view it that way (even if they are wrong). Even me who know most of the behind the scenes action of the whole thing am left sometimes wondering if this is what he kind of wanted... even if I know it is not the case.

I know there will be a few people that leave because of this (as I have already heard from one) but that is ok there were a lot of really excited people too (I thought that was a good sign... it surprised me!). I am sure it made Ken feel a little better (as I am sure he was a bit nervous).

The second reservation I had was that I am not sure that teaching and vision casting is the strongest part of Ken as a leader (I think his strengths are in one on one quite time and administration). I just felt that at the time the church needed a person to really lead them... a person people wanted to follow (I guess maybe more charismatic). I also know that Ken doesn't exactly appeal to the younger generation as much... I think Dave does a better job of that (in actions and preaching).

I guess all in all it is up to God. I just have to trust that the elders made the right choice and that God is in this whole imperfect thing. I know that God is present in this whole mess... That being said Sunday was awesome and the most "Vineyardish" I have see in years. Good worship and a good response. God was moving in the church yesterday... in a big way.. it was awesome.

So maybe God was pleased with the decision whether other people were or not. What I do know is that God knows what he is doing. And sometimes he does things that we think, in are feeble minds, are a bad idea... and then it all works out. God has a mysterious way of doing things.