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 

Last night, the pulpit committee voted to move forward to phone interviews with the two candidates who have submitted doctrinal statements and answers to our questionnaire. We are looking for time this week to set up calls. In point of fact, we are trying to take it to another level by conducting the conversations using webcams. We will be able to talk face to face. 

Pray that these conversations will be productive. Ask the Lord to make clear His direction for the candidates and for Calvary Bible Church.

Your brother,

Jeff Peterson, Elder

Calvary Bible Church 

The pulpit committee will be meeting this Sunday evening to review the questionnaires that were submitted by two of the candidates. We will consider moving to next steps with these candidates. If appropriate, we will invite them to submit recordings of their sermons and set up a time for phone interviews with members of the committee.

We will also be considering additional resumes and bios that have been submitted over the last 3 weeks. We will determine if there are men from these recent contacts that we would like to invite to submit additional information and complete our questionnaire.

Our plan continues to be a recommendation of 2-3 men to the session for their consideration and ultimate recommendation to the congregation of one man.

As you pray this week, consider praying like Moses in Numbers 27:16: “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation…” Pray that He will make His will very clear to the pulpit committee, the elders and the members of the CBC congregation. Please continue to pray for the men that have allowed us to consider them for our pastorate.

Praise God for how He is working. He is sovereign. He is good.

Your brother,

Jeff Peterson, Elder

Calvary Bible Church

We have received packets from some of the men that received them a couple of weeks ago. We have also received a number of additional referrals or contacts that we need to consider pursuing and contacting.

The pulpit committee has been unable to meet for a couple of weeks because of schedule conflicts but we will be meeting next week in order to continue the process of considering these men.

In the case of the men that have returned the completed questionnaire and application, we will be considering their responses and then deciding whether we will continue to next steps with them. The next steps involve phone interviews with members of the pulpit committee, reference checks and a review of their recorded sermons.

I am very glad at the caliber of men that the LORD has brought into our path. There is still much to be done but it is clear to me that he is watching over Calvary Bible Church and directing our steps.

Please pray for the men we are considering, their families and their current ministries. I encourage you to join us Friday morning at our 6:30 am prayer meeting.

Your brother, 

Jeff Peterson, Elder

Calvary Bible Church

Please consider joining us at our prayer meeting at 6:30 am tomorrow morning. It has been a blessing to gather and fellowship and pray with church family members about this specific need.

As we mentioned last week, men we would still like to consider received a packet of information and were asked to complete a questionnaire and return it to us. We have received one of those completed questionnaires back. We have also heard from some of the other men that they had received the packet and were reviewing the materials. 

In addition, this last week brought more candidates for the committee to consider. The pulpit committee will review their information at our next meeting.

I continue to be grateful for the men the Lord has allowed to come into our path in this search. The potential candidates and other men we have sought counsel from have been agreat blessing. Because of their name being considered, I have searched for sermons by these men on their church websites. I have gained additional blessing as I have had the privilege to hear them bring messages from God's word. This week was a particularly difficult week as I was struggling with some health issues and other stressful circumstances. A message by one of the men we had contacted was a great help in readjusting my thinking and forcing me to evaluate things more appropriately using God's word. Thank you Calvary Bible Church family for this opportunity to serve and gain personal blessings in this work.

We all know that the web has a lot of danger and a lot of things that are a waste of time. At the same time, the internet is a great medium for accessing sermons by gifted, godly men serving in churches all over the country.

Your brother,

Jeff Peterson

On Monday, we sent our candidate packets to men we are continuing to consider.  We have asked that they review the materials and submit a doctrinal statement and answers to a questionnaire related to doctrine and ministry.  As a group, we unanimously decided to send these packets to each of the men receiving them.

God has been good in allowing us to have contact with Godly men who have told us that they are prayerfully considering our opportunity.  Please pray that God will continue to provide guidance and leading.

Please consider joining us for our pulpit search prayer meeting at 6:30 am on Friday. Pastor Bailey has been leading this weekly gathering.

Your brother,

Jeff Peterson, Elder

The pulpit committee has completed the compilation of materials that we will be sending to prospective candidates. The materials include information about our ministry and documents for the candidate to complete (ministry / doctrinal questionnaire, application). These packets will be going to candidates that we would like to continue considering now that we have been introduced to them by personal recommendations and their resumes. We will be asking that they return the questionnaires three weeks after receiving them. 

Please pray for the men we have contacted and are pursuing. More than once, we have been told that our call or email was a great surprise. Most have told us that they are honored to be considered. Some have relayed how shocking or jarring it was to be presented with the opportunity. As you can imagine, none are taking this potentially life-changing opportunity lightly.

Some have indicated that they did not feel led to leave their current ministries. Some have said that that they were willing to be considered while others have asked for time to pray, consider and seek counsel. Praise God for giving those men that turned us down peace and a clear picture of His will for them. Praise God that there are men who are compelled to consider our burden and position further.

With all that we have heard, I continue to find myself encouraged and excited, as I have been able to talk to some of these Godly men. So far, none have indicated strong reasons or desire to leave their current ministries. At the same time, these men are communicating their desire to follow the Lord and His leading - - even if it means a change. All have said that they would pray seeking that leading and direction.

Continue to pray that the Lord will lead and make His will clear to them and to us.

Yourbrother,

Jeff Peterson

Elder, Calvary Bible Church