Six Lessons I Learned in the Waiting

Originally published at Lifeway’s Pastor’s Today Blog.

Nearly five years ago, I walked into Dr. Greg Mathis’ office and shared with him that I believed God was leading me to become a Senior Pastor. That seems like a long time ago. In some ways, those years seemed an eternity. In another sense, they passed rapidly. When I first shared with Pastor Greg, part of me thought I would enter into a Senior Pastor position quickly. Well, that didn’t happen. Let me offer some of the lessons I’ve learned in the waiting process.

  1. I needed to discover that I wasn’t ready. Regularly, I face the temptations to be critical and self-confident. Oftentimes, I can find fault in a situation, decision, or circumstance. I can also rely on my wit or intelligence. In this waiting period, God showed me these faults as well as others. He revealed to me my need to depend on Him and not myself. When the process began, I wasn’t ready because I was dependent on myself and not on the Lord.
  2. I needed to discover that I was ready. Lessons one and two are paradoxical. While I felt self-confident about some of what lay ahead, sometimes I wasn’t sure I could handle the role of a Senior Pastor. The waiting period assured me of God’s calling, of His provision, His wisdom, and that He would enable me to accomplish His calling on my life. I’m more certain of His empowerment than I’ve ever been, and I’m sure I’ll need that confidence in the days ahead.
  3. God’s kingdom purposes are bigger than our desires. The time of waiting settled for me God’s calling on my life. Early on in the process, I wanted to be a Senior Pastor because I wanted to preach, because I wanted to lead, etc. As time progressed, I came to realize that my wants could not and should not be the driving factor. Rather, God wanted me to serve in the role of Senior Pastor because that fit into His kingdom purposes. Psalm 37:4 reads, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Our desires must follow God’s purposes; God’s purposes don’t follow our desires.
  4. There are things you can only learn while waiting. I wouldn’t trade the process I went through for anything. My mentor, Dr. Mathis, told me several months ago that there were things I could only learn in the waiting process. He was right. Learning to be patient, prayerful, discerning, to ask the right questions could only have happened in a process.
  5. Finding the right fit can take time. I realize this lesson might be quite unique for my experience. Dr. Mathis gave me the privilege to wait and pursue the right fit for a Senior Pastor position while I continued my ministry at Mud Creek. Some in a staff role are not afforded that privilege and some in a Senior Pastor’s role have to exit more quickly than they may wish. With that said, I’m grateful that God had me wait. Wilkesboro Baptist Church is not only a solid church, but also a great fit for my strengths and my family. God favored me by placing me here, and I’m grateful I waited on him.
  6. When God makes things clear, they are crystal. The Pastor Search Committee of Wilkesboro Baptist Church exhibited spiritual excellence. They prayed for a number of things specifically. God graciously affirmed their/our requests making His will known with clarity. To a person, they felt led to serve on the committee. Wilkesboro Baptist Church was 100% affirmative in their committee selection. To a person, the committee settled on me as their first candidate. They prayed that God would send a buyer for our house in Hendersonville, which He did the weekend I preached in view of a call and two days before the house went on the market. How’s that for affirmation timing? I could keep going, but suffice it to say, God made it abundantly clear He was leading me to Wilkesboro Baptist Church.

For me, the ultimate lesson in this process has been God deepening my faith in Him. And for me to please Him as a Senior Pastor, for Wilkesboro Baptist Church to please Him in the future, and indeed for any of us to please Him in our lives, we need faith (Hebrews 11:6). I’m only sharing with you my experience, but I’m hopeful God might use the lessons I’ve learned in the process to encourage you and strengthen your faith.

Introduction Letter to Wilkesboro Baptist Church

This letter of introduction was mailed to the membership at Wilkesboro Baptist Church this week.

Dear Church Family,

It is with a great sense of honor and elation that I accept your call to become the Senior Pastor at Wilkesboro Baptist Church. As noted in the minister and church covenant statement, I take this responsibility very seriously and recognize that I will answer to God for my leadership and ministry at Wilkesboro Baptist Church.

As I mentioned in my sermon on Sunday July 19, I am deeply appreciative and indebted to your pastor search committee. Steve Melton, James Sullivan, Pete Lovette, Bobby Parsons, Dustin Deal, Ila Baugham, Terri Delbridge, and Megan Adams have been professional, considerate, helpful, and full of spiritual wisdom. I will forever be grateful for their hard work, diligence, and prayerfulness. As a congregation, you selected a fantastic committee, and for that I am thankful.

When I first sensed God leading me to be a Senior Pastor, I shared my thoughts with Dr. Greg Mathis, Senior Pastor of Mud Creek Baptist Church and my mentor. He responded with support and encouragement. I’ve waited on God to guide me to the church where he would have me serve. I believe with certainty that God has led us together and anticipate the friendships, ministry, and kingdom influence we will experience together.

As a Senior Pastor, I see my responsibilities primarily as three-fold: preaching, leading, and serving. First, I take seriously the duty to have something to preach from God’s Word weekly. To preach God’s Word faithfully and articulately will require time in prayerful study. Second, as a Senior Pastor I have the obligation of leading the staff, church leadership, and congregation. This responsibility will entail building relationships, listening to leaders, learning about the church and area, seeking God’s vision for Wilkesboro Baptist Church, and communicating that vision often and with clarity. Third, I recognize my role as servant and minister to the congregation. I believe the pastor and staff should be accessible and care for the congregation. I will make myself available to you for counsel, ministry, and prayer as I also equip staff and other church leaders to meet needs and serve the congregation. These three duties and the direction of the church flow from Jesus’ mission for the church—making disciples. In other words, the question by which I will judge my duties and responsibilities as well as the programs and ministries of Wilkesboro Baptist Church is, “Are we making disciples?”

One of Paul’s expected characteristics of the pastor is that he leads his family well (1 Timothy 3:4-5). I will not make a good Senior Pastor if I’m not a godly husband and father. As a result, I will prioritize my wife and boys before my ministry responsibilities. I will also make time to be healthy through an active lifestyle as an unhealthy person makes an unhealthy pastor. I will continue to develop my intellectual and spiritual health through reading, writing, blogging, and teaching. The fact that Wilkesboro Baptist Church has allowed me to continue teaching at Fruitland Baptist Bible College speaks of your desire to influence the kingdom through training men and women in ministry.

Accomplishing Christ’s mission at Wilkesboro Baptist Church requires a biblical foundation, a proper reflection on our Christian heritage, and a willingness to embrace contemporary methods of communication. Twenty-first century America poses many challenges for the local church. Only biblical and discerning congregations are able to meet them. I invite you to get to know me better through my social media and writing ministry: website: chrishefner.org and Chris Hefner on FaceBook and @chrishefner on twitter.

As a family, we are excited to make our home in Wilkesboro. As your pastor, I’m overjoyed that God led us together. Wilkesboro Baptist Church is brimming with potential to make disciples of our neighbors and the nations. Thank you for your confidence in affirming me by your vote on July 26. Thank you in advance for your prayers and support. I look forward to getting to know you and becoming your Senior Pastor.

Would you pray that God would grant me wisdom, patience, discernment, and a faithful dependence on him to accomplish his purposes at Wilkesboro Baptist Church? Would you pray also for my wife Jean and our two boys, Will and Nathan, during this transition? Know that I have already been praying for you and the families of the church.

Sincerely, 

Dr. Chris Hefner