The elders and the pulpit committee continue to prepare plans to visit the man we are considering in his current ministry. We are also making plans for a visit for the pastor to see our ministry in action. These visits will likely occur over the next 5-6 weeks.

We will continue to keep things discrete and anonymous until we have completed the investigation process in order to protect the ministries and individuals involved.

All of the decisions, logistics, questions and processes must be saturated in prayer if we are to find God’s man for CBC. The man under consideration and his wife need prayer if they are to make wise decision about this process and their place of service. The leaders of CBC need prayer if we are to make a wise recommendation to the congregation.

Fortunately, the Lord is good and He hears our prayers. He has blessed CBC in many areas. We must continue to humbly yield to His guidance and trust that He will provide all we need.

Your brother,

Jeff Peterson

Elder, Clavary Bible Church

The elders and members of the pulpit committee are of one mind that we pursue one man as we move into the next phase of our search.  With likely visits by church leaders to a candidate’s current ministry and eventual visits by the candidate to CBC, all agree that focusing on one individual at a time is now appropriate.

Therefore, we have worked these last few weeks to narrow our focus to only one of the men we have been seriously considering. After careful consideration, evaluation and prayer, the elders have chosen one man to take further in the process.

He is an experienced pastor and leader. The pulpit committee has greatly appreciated our time with this man and the experience of hearing him articulate his ministry philosophy. He has reflected a reliance on scripture and a shepherd’s heart.

We will now move into a phase where the elders and pulpit committee will get to know him better and he will have the chance to learn more about CBC, NCS and the ministry of Calvary.

Please continue to pray for the Lord’s leading in the minds and hearts of the elders and for His guidance of the man under consideration.

Your brother,

Jeff Peterson, Elder

Calvary Bible Church

Merry Christmas!

The Christmas season is such a busy time. But, even in the midst of the many holiday activities, the pulpit search process is moving forward. 

The pulpit committee and elders enjoyed a combined meeting on Sunday, 12/13 to discuss the two potential candidates for our position. Our intention is to gain a consensus on moving forward with one person as we begin 2010.

Each pulpit committee member gave their thoughts and impressions of each man to the whole group. There was good discussion about characteristics we should be looking for in a potential candidate and the attributes of the two men.

The elders have been asked to consider the materials compiled on each man, recorded sermons preached and perspective of the pulpit committee and come back with an opinion of whom we should pursue further. The decision about which man we will continue to pursue will likely come around the beginning of the New Year.

Continue to pray for the church leaders and the men we are pursuing. There is much to consider. We can only make the right choice with the Lord’s leading. I am so thankful we are able to rely on His direction and not our own wisdom.

Your brother,

Jeff Peterson, Elder

Calvary Bible Church

Tuesday evening, I was able to deliver to the CBC elders packets of information that the pulpit committee has compiled on the men we are considering. This material will give the elders introductory information about the men, their experience, andtheir current ministries.  I asked that the elders review the materials and also make time to take in some of thesermons that we have compiled from each man.

On Sunday night following the evening service, we will have a combined meeting ofthe elders and the pulpit committee. The members of the pulpit committee will present to the elders their impressions and thoughts on the two men that we arecurrently pursuing.

Pray that He will guide the conversations. Pray that the right questions will beasked. Pray that the men under consideration will have clear direction and be able to discern the Lord’s will for them.

Your brother,

Jeff Peterson, Elder

Calvary Bible Church

This has been an interesting week for the pulpit committee.  The two men under consideration have both been busy in ministry that involved significant travel. Last weekend, we were able to communicate with both men on the phone. They had many questions, concerns and thoughts to share.  Both men are happy in their current ministries and testify of the Lord working through them in their respective roles. At the same time, they are willing to consider our ministry and the opportunities it presents. It is clear that each is seeking the Lord’s leading as we continue to pursue them.

The pulpit committee is preparing to compile dossiers on each pastor for consideration and review by the board of elders.  The dossiers will include the resumes and biographical info submitted by the men, their personal doctrinal statements, answers they submitted to our questionnaire and a summary of our impressions of each man from our interviews and reference checks. We will also recommend sermons by each pastor for the elders to consider and evaluate.

Incidentally, I asked each man about their availability if they were called to our ministry. Both men indicated that a move to our ministry would be a major transition. Given our planned next steps in the process and their need to address all of the details of a move of this nature, it is clear that it will be at least 4-6 months until either candidate could be in place. Obviously, this assumes, these candidates continue to allow us to consider them and our elders and congregation approve of the pulpit committee’s recommendations.

God continues to work in our search. He is in control and He makes it clear in each step of our process. I look forward to being able to share all the ways that the Lord has led in our search and testify of the lessons we have learned.

Your brother,

Jeff Peterson, Elder

Calvary Bible Church

The pulpit committee met last evening. We reviewed the feedback received from references supplied by the candidates. Men who had contacted these references summarized the conversations they had with each individual. It made for an encouraging meeting.

The men contacted as references passed along their admiration for the men we are considering. It was good to hear. One individual commented that he had hoped that the gentleman we are considering would take his place in his ministry. Another man commented that he was very glad that the candidate he was asked about was his children’s pastor when they were teenagers. I believe both comments are examples that demonstrated great respect for the men.

At this point, we have generated additional questions for the candidates. After contacting them on these matters, we will likely recommend them to the elder board for their approval and our mutual selection of one candidate for additional consideration. This additional consideration includes a visit to the candidate’s current ministry and an eventual visit by the candidate to CBC.

Obviously, there is still much to be done in this process. Please continue to pray that God will lead our paths. Praise the Lord for His encouragement all along the way.

Your brother,

Jeff Peterson, Elder

Calvary Bible Church

The pulpit committee has spent the last week contacting references provided by the men we are considering.  It has been good to hear other men articulate their perspective about the gifts in ministry that our candidates possess and how they are used in church ministry. These references have relayed to us how the Lord used these candidate in their individual lives. That is good to hear.

We also continue to listen to recorded sermons that the men have preached in their current ministries.

The Lord is good. He is sovereign. We can rest in the assurance that He is preparing us and preparing His man for CBC.

Your brother,

Jeff Peterson, Elder

The pulpit committee met Sunday evening to discuss our impressions and reactions to the webcam interviews conducted with two candidates last week.

Both men impressed the committee with their experience,their convictions and their questions for us.  We are very blessed to have such solid men considering our position. We unanimously decided to continue to consider them.

These two men have agreed to continue the process with us and have provided references for us to contact. We are contacting their references this week. We are also taking time to listen to additional recorded sermons that the men have preached in their current ministries.

Please pray that the Lord will continue to lead and clearly guide us toward the man he has chosen for Calvary Bible Church.

Your brother,

Jeff Peterson, Elder

Calvary Bible Church 

Thursday night, the pulpit committee gathered at our home where we had an interview via webcam with a second candidate. Again, we had follow-up questions related to his answers to our questionnaire as well as additional questions about his ministry and his past experience. Other questions focused on children and youth ministries, his understanding of our church constitution, his preaching style, his view of a pastor's responsibilities, and what a church should look like.

This candidate also had questions for the pulpit committee. He asked about Northside Christian School, our leadership structure, and what we are looking for in a Sr. Pastor. It was a productive time and a lot of ground was covered. We had a good conversation about shepherding, discipling, and other important attributes of a church.

Friday, we had our weekly prayer meeting at church. A group of ten prayed for the pulpit committee, the elders, the candidates and the congregation. It was an encouraging morning even though it was dreary outside.

Your brother,

Jeff Peterson, Elder

Calvary Bible Church 

This evening after prayer meeting, we had the opportunity to interview via webcam and SKYPE one of the candidates that we are considering. We had follow up questions related to his answers to our questionnaire as well as additional questions about his ministry and philosophy of ministry. Our questions focused on his understanding of our church constitution, his ministry experience, his view of a pastor's responsibilities, and his perspective of what a healthy church looks like.

The candidate also had questions for the pulpit committee. There were questions relating to Northside Christian School, the CBC constitution, leadership structure, current staff and the general timeline of the search process. It was a productive time and we covered a lot of material. Still, for both the candidate and the pulpit committee, there is much to be considered in this process.

Later this week, we have another conversation via webcam with another potential candidate. We are looking forward to getting to know this man that the Lord has brought into our way.

Please pray for these men and their families. Pray for the pulpit committee and the elders of CBC. Pray that the Lord will continue to light our paths and guide our steps. 

Consider joining us for our Friday morning prayer meeting at 6:30 am. Pastor Bailey leads this gathering that continues to be a great encouragement.

Your brother,

Jeff Peterson, Elder

Calvary Bible Church