The other day one of my boys blurted out something startling as we drove home.
"Mom, when I grow up I’m going to be a Pastor."
"That’s great son! (I beamed.) "I have been praying that you would use your life to serve God in some way. But why a pastor?"
"Oh that’s easy." he quipped. "All they do is stand on a stage and talk a few hours each Sunday and then they get the rest of the week off... who wouldn’t want to be paid for that?" (His comment shut the "beam" down pretty quick and reminded me I've got a lot of praying left to do.)
I’m no pastor, but I have observed enough to know that the job is not for the weak or the fainthearted and it is certainly much more involved than what meets the eye. I can only guess at the hours of study, research and prayer that have preceded Sunday morning messages and then there are the late night phone calls from the hospital, births, deaths, weddings, counseling sessions, board meetings, etc.etc.etc.
Though its rewards are immeasurable, it takes a calling and an intense dependence on God to remain steadfast year after year.
October is pastor appreciation month and too many times I let this month slip by without letting our pastors know how very much I value and respect them. So....this month I wanted to facilitate something special - something that would come from all of us, with such force that it would make a real impact in their lives.
What do you say we join together and send wave after wave of notes of gratitude to our pastors all month right here on the blog? God has blessed the BCC team with some amazing leaders who love their jobs and feel called and blessed to minister. But even so, they are not immune to the discouragement, criticism, and just plain ole spiritual warfare that comes to any leader engaged on the front lines. Let's be the antithesis of that and heap lavish love & encouragement on their plates as we share with them how much they are appreciated. It could be just a few lines, or maybe you want to make a "top 3 or top 5 list" of the things you really like about them, or maybe just write a short note of gratitude.
Proverbs 10:21 tells us "The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense."
And 12:25 says " Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up."
So there you go my "godly girlfriends".... lets do some encouraging!You can write to just one pastor or you can address all of them together or maybe you'd even want to write something to each one individually on different days during October. Come back as often as you want and leave as many messages as you can. I will make sure they know they are here.I’m gonna leave my messages one at a time so I’m going to start with Todd and work my way down the list throughout the month of October. You leave yours anyway you want to.
Thanks for your help and may God refresh you as you refresh others!
Dear Pastor Todd,
There is much to like about you but here are my "top 6":
1. You’re a strong leader - not one bent on copying trends but one willing to think outside the box and try new things that might effectively reach others.
2. Your teaching testifies that you have labored long in prayer, study & research to prepare it.
3. But you are not all about just "teaching"...you go the extra mile to show how much you care about us individually (and thats not easy when there are hundreds of us).
4. You lead by example. You don’t challenge us to do things you aren’t willing to do yourself.
5. You have a fun sense of humor (I imagine that is so helpful in your position) :) You do dish out your share but then you can take things as easily as you dish them out.
6. You are a lot smarter than you look.
(See, was I right about #5?)
We love & appreciate you so much!
Our pastors/leaders are:
Todd Alewine -Lead Pastor
Stanley Metcalf-Executive Pastor
Scott Limerick - Worship Pastor
Brent Metcalf - Student Pastor
Brad Snipes- Middle School Pastor
Marty Burgess- College Pastor
Chris Schlender- Children's Pastor
Alan Perry - Missions Pastor
Shannon Compton -- Mission's Assistant
Braxton Tesh - Life Group Pastor
Additional Staff are Tracy Pace, Kim Limerick, Heather Strickler, Siobhan Cress and Sheila Mason so love on these ladies too while you're at it.
Dear Pastor Braxton,
ReplyDeleteEvery Sunday morning there you are with a welcoming smile, a hand shake, and a genuine kindness that seems to say, "You are welcome here!" I appreciate your eagerness to help each of us find a small group to "do life" with. Thank you for your commitment, your service, and your heart for the body of Christ at BCC.
Stanley,
ReplyDeleteAs I type this you and your lovely wife Debbie are out of the country quietly serving people where missionaries are not welcome. That seems to fit so perfectly with your character. A faithful man, who quietly goes about the business of serving without any pomp or fanfare.
I think one of the most impactful glimpses I got of your heart was when you spoke about fasting one Wed. night. I remember that you had done more than 1 40 day fast for a young lady we all so desperatley wanted to see God heal. I was so touched by the depth of commitment, love and selflessness that it showed. Thank you Stanley for being such a fine example of godliness to all of us and for the challenge you set forth to go that extra mile on behalf of others.
Be Blessed!
Dear Alan and Shannon,
ReplyDeleteJust today I heard a newcomer say, "This church really seems to have a heart for missions." Thank you for your part in making BCC such a church - one that is willing to reach across borders to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Thank you for your commitment to our body and to the unreached, for being goers as well as senders, and for inspiring us to "go into all the world." You are valued and appreciated!
Dear Scott
ReplyDeleteThese are a few things of the many that I appreciate about you.
1. I love how you lead worship. Not just how you thoughtfully line up the songs but how you put such heart and soul into leading us to the throne.
2. But you don’t just lead worship...you are a worshiper and I love how you worship right alongside with us.
3. I enjoy your refreshing transparency and the way you allow God to speak to others through your life and the things that you share.
4. Your gifting doesn’t end with your music skills, you also have great charisma, teaching and leadership abilities. (Not to mention sports:) )
5. You are not nearly as mean as you look. I don’t care what anybody says. (something about #5 makes me do this - see Todd's list)
6. You and Kim look just as hip on the dance floor as your children do. (I witnessed that firsthand at Jordan’s wedding this summer).
7. One of the things I will never forget about you happened when we just moved here 6 years ago. We were visiting churches and I had observed you leading worship. Then we were at the baseball fields later that week and I heard you pray over the loudspeaker and the way you prayed there was no different from how you prayed in church. The fact that you were who you were whether in a church building or on the baseball field really impacted me.
Thanks for all you do Scott! We appreciate you!
When we retired and moved back to Brevard, we had hoped to find a place where we could worship and serve the Lord. We hoped to find a place where the Lord was supreme, where Christians loved and respected each other, where the messages were straight from the word of God; a place where we felt welcome. We prayed long and hard about where God wanted us to be. We are so thankful to Him for leading us to Brevard Community Church. We felt welcome the moment we walked through the doors of the church. It was apparent that BCC was where we were meant to be.
ReplyDeleteTodd you are not only an amazing teacher, you are a wonderful, loving pastor. You care about each member of the congregation. We are so blessed that you are not only our pastor and teacher, you are our friend and brother in Christ. It is so evident that you study hard, pray harder and dedicate yourself to the message you bring each service. We are blessed each time we sit under your leadership. Thank you for being you and for sharing your heart with us as you preach God’s word.
Scott we can’t say enough about your wonderful personality and the way you bring joy to our hearts with the music you select. You always seem to know exactly what we need to hear and you choose the music accordingly. It is obvious that you spend a lot of time in prayer and preparation each week. We have so enjoyed getting to know you and your sweet Kim.
We love and appreciate each member of the staff at BCC. We are so thankful for their dedication and service to each of us. We are also grateful to have the opportunity to meet and study God’s word with such loving people in our small group as well.
Lord we thank you so much for leading us to Brevard Community Church. We thank you for each pastor and staff member and the way they so diligently serve you. Please bless each of them and meet their needs as they work to serve you and to nurture each of us in our walk with you.
Russell & Kathy Lee
Dear Chris,
ReplyDeleteThese are a few things I really like about you:
1. You speak the language of children exceptionally well, but we adults enjoy being around you just as much.
2. I love how you don’t pressure any child to make a premature decision but rather you labor for as long as it takes to make sure each child understands the decisions they are making the best they can.
3. I appreciate all the “outside the church walls” work that you do with children like coaching sports teams and just meeting them where they are. It speaks volumes about how you care.
4. One thing that I have observed in you that has had a lasting impact on me is how you have a special place in your heart and really go the extra mile for the “under-dog.” But....- and here is the really tricky part - the “under-dog” never suspects he’s the “under-dog” and all the other “puppies” never suspect that you care any less for them because you do a supreme job at making every single one feel loved and special. You know just the right dose to pour on each child to accomplish that. (Boy I hope that makes sense...if not I might have to explain that in person)
5. You love soccer....that all by itself makes you awesome. (LoL)
6. You have some great hair (sorry, had to add that)...between you and Heather’s locks I think future Schlenders will have a great “in-hair-itance”
Chris, (continued from above) Thanks for all the heart you put into sharing yourself and Christ with kids!
ReplyDeleteBrent & Amanda,
ReplyDeleteNow that I have a son in High School I have had the blessing of getting to know you better and it has been such fun. I have appreciated you letting me sit in with the high school group on Sunday mornings as I learn how to navigate this age. I have learned much from you and it is very clear to see that God has gifted you to communicate Himself and His ways to these kids. I see a depth in you that speaks that you have labored and prepared so that you can fill them up with as much as they can handle in small groups and Sunday mornings. And Amanda.- girl ....you are hilarious. You bring such a contagious joy to the group that it is easy to laugh and let down your guard and have a good time. I love to watch you in action doing your funny ice breakers and I know the kids are having a great time. You two make a great team.
One thing I noticed right away is that you are in my son’s world (as well as the other kids you serve) where ever that may be. You are at his soccer games, you are leading morning Bible Study groups/FCA at his school, you are at Friday night football games, you are at the school leading devotions for various groups or teams and that’s all beside the activities you put together for these kids both on Sundays and beyond. I have watch you slip up beside these kids in all sorts of situations and give them a word of encouragement or a hug or a challenge. It is an comfort to know that you are "out there."
I am so grateful for how you care for these kids in so many ways Brent & Amanda. Thank you for all you do. We appreciate you so much!
Trudy
Dear Chris, Thank you so much for your awesome commitment to the children of our church. It thrills me every Sunday morning to see the excited and anxious faces on the kiddos as they anticipate their next hour spent in your care and the care of all the devoted volunteers. Please know how very much you are appreciated!
ReplyDeleteBrad,
ReplyDeleteThis is the perfect time to write this note to you since you just spoke at church this morning because your message embodies all that I appreciate so much about you. First, you have such a fun sense of humor! Anybody that knows you knows that you are funny! Sometimes when you are not even trying to be funny I crack up laughing at you because my mind flashes a picture of you in way too small spandex or something goofy flying across the stage in a PDKids type setting. You have made our sides split many times over!
But God has equipped you with way more than just a great sense of humor. He has given you the courage to share your own everyday struggles in such a way that those around you identify with you and learn that we are not alone in our own weaknesses. And then He has given you wisdom to speak to these issues from a Biblical perspective that gives great hope to the struggler. I have watched you grow exponentially in your own relationship with the Lord in the short time we have known you. It is encouraging to see you be a learner and a grower in Christ because our kids need role models like you to show what that looks like.
We are proud to call you our boy’s Middle School Pastor, Brad. Grant has enjoyed the journey of serving alongside you with this age group (except that thing you do to him on the football field that causes him to limp the next day:)). They think the world of you as do we. You have a beautiful wife and an oh-so-cute baby girl (you definitely got an “awwww” from me when you flashed that picture of her on the screen today).
We are so thankful for you Brad!
Grant, Trudy and boys
Marty,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that we as a church have not forgotten or neglected the college age group and I am thankful that you have been given the charge to oversee these kids in this very pivotal time of their lives. Even though I don’t have a child in that age group I am sure you are working tirelessly to encourage these kids to stay the course during this time in their lives. I am thankful for the studies and trips you put together for these kids and the extra activities you attend in order to connect. (I am always looking for a way to sneak into "Passion" since I have way aged out so I hope to have the chance to be a parent leader in this group as my kids grow into it.)
I appreciate all you do outside the college aged group as well Marty. I have watched you coach and encourage young boys in basketball (my son included) and have received plenty of care calls from you just checking to see if we have prayer requests.
Thank you Marty for all you do as you serve God on the BCC staff. We love you and promise never to cut you off on the road especially when Laura is out of town and you have a sick boy in the back seat....(smile).
Blessings,
Trudy
Chris,
ReplyDeleteWhen I firts started attending I believe I may have been looking for a reason to not be accepted somewhere in the church. My child, being of a different capasity than most, and hard to handle for some, I thought this was my chance at rejection. However, you accepted my child, me, our baggage, our family, just as we were, with all our junk, with all our challanges, and did it with love, and without even blinking an eye. Taking us, just like Jesus did, a perfect picture to us, to show that we are accepted in God's family. Just as we are.
Thank you for that. I have no idea where we would be today if you wouldn't have loved on us and took us in and accepted us picked us on your team. We love you. You do make a difference. Even in the big people. :)
Chris,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your amazing service to the children (and their parents :-)) of our church and community. Your light for Christ is amazing, and I appreciate all that you do to build the kingdom in and through the hearts of our children.
Blessings!
Angela
Brad,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your tireless service to the middle school students. I love hearing your stories and watching you use real life to teach us who we are in Christ. It is a privilege to serve alongside you!
Angela
Brent, Brad and Marty,
ReplyDeleteThank you for all you are doing for the youth and young adults at BCC. It is obvious that you are loved and respected because there are so many young folks in attendance. What a vibrant church and you help contribute to that atmosphere. Please know how very much you are appreciated!
Todd, Scott, Alan, Stan, Brent, Chris, Brad, Marty, Braxton: Thank you all for being men who love the Lord first and foremost. Thank you for loving your wives and families and for not apologizing for this! I have been blessed by watching BCC grow from a few believers gathered to a lot of believers gathered. Thank you for not compromising your beliefs, and for being "real" with us. Having pastors who live a transparent life with you means a lot. We are blessed to be in a body of believers who love each other, pray for each other, and hold each other accountable. This is because of your example and leadership! Thank you for all that you do, for all that we see, and don't see. I am blessed that you are not only my brothers, but my friends! I will continue to pray for you and your families!
ReplyDeleteOf all the different pastors I have sat under,BCC has the MOST loving, and Christlike pastors. I want to thank all the pastors for the love, the fun and the prayers they pour into us "sheep". I pray for each of you, for wives and your families God's wisdom, knowledge, discernment and understanding. Blessings
ReplyDeleteTodd,
ReplyDeleteI can hardly believe it has almost been a year since you stood at my father's bedside and prayed him home. No mere words could EVER express my gratitude to you for the way you came alongside me, and my family, during that difficult time. I had prayed for years that God would help us through losing Dad. I could never imagine finding any peace in such a hard time. But God was faithful as always! He sustained us then and still does now. Todd, YOU were His instrument. The physical answer to years of asking God to send someone who would minister to my family. Thank you so very much for being willing to be used this way. My mom has grown deeper in her faith and dependence on God through this time. I know your "Christlikeness" and the measure of His love she saw lived out in you encouraged her to seek His comfort. I can never thank you enough.
At a most difficult time in my life, you, Siobhan, Scott and the worship team, Chris and Brad reached out to me in a very tangible way and pulled together a memorial service that ministered to my family and Dad's friends. I've known for a very long time that BCC is a special church body. Last November cemented that opinion in my heart forever.
You are so very dear to our whole family for many reasons. We appreciate your wise teaching and steadfastness as you serve our church body week after week. We love you, and your family dearly. THANK YOU!
Nancy Frady
Scott, please know how very much John and I appreciate your heart for worship. Each Sunday morning you help usher us into the very throne room of God...a perfect place to prepare our hearts to continue to worship our Lord and our God as we open up the Word with Todd or another of the Spirit-filled pastors. Thank you for your faithfulness, your dedication, and your heart.
ReplyDeleteTodd, we want to pause a moment to let you know that we've been appreciating you, not just this month, but ever since we first walked through the doors of BCC. We knew in our hearts, our minds, and our spirits that we were home. Never have we met a pastor we believed was more sincere, humble, and hungry for souls for his Jesus. Thank you for remaining faithful and true to our Lord and Savior. Thank you sharing from your heart in a way that speaks clearly of your love for Christ. After all, to quote you, it's all about Him! Thank you for being His instrument, clay in the Potter's hands. And for showing us the importance of pouring out our lives to bring Him glory. We appreciate you.
ReplyDeleteAlan,
ReplyDeleteThe thing that stands out the most to me about you is that you have an unstoppable heart to see the unreached come to hear of and know Jesus. I am humbled by the focus that you have. It is one thing to have “short term” spurts of passion for the lost but quite another thing to watch a person keep pressing on in the same direction year after year. You and Desiree model that “ long obedience in the same direction” that Eugene Peterson talks about in his book by that same title. Thank you for all that you do to put others in the place to catch that same vision. Thank you for your tireless work on behalf of BCC and the those who have not yet heard of Jesus!
We appreciate you!
Trudy
Shannon,
ReplyDeleteI am just getting to know you but already I love you, Heather and your sweet family. I appreciate the notes you send out to remind us to pray for the unreached people group that we committed to. I for one need those reminders as sometimes I let the busyness of life etch out the things that are most important. I am thankful for the work that you do alongside Alan in the area of missions.
Thank you!
Trudy
Tracy and Sheila,
ReplyDeleteIt just seems appropriate to put you two together because you compliment each other so well:) Tracy I have always been impressed by how well you have organized the pre-school area. (You and I think alike with the “label thing” and our desire that others in the house would actually cooperate with the program (lol). But your skills go way beyond just organizing. You are the warm friendly face that welcomes in the preschoolers and the nervous new parents, putting them at ease and assuring them that their “babies” will be well taken care of. I know you spend countless hours making sure all is set before anyone steps foot into that domain. Thank you for your dedication to the children. I remember feeling very confident leaving my preschoolers in your care the first time we visited BCC.
And Sheila. What a woman of strength you are. You whip those heavy chairs in the worship center around like they are cotton balls and throw things in place faster than a dozen of us could. But your strength is not just external...I see a quiet internal strength growing steadily as you have had to face many tough things and rely on the Lord to pull you through. I am touched by your journey and how you handle it. I am also thankful for how you partner with Tracy and do so much with the preschoolers. You have a knack with that age group.
Thank you both for all you do! You are so appreciated!
Trudy
Heather and Siobhan,
ReplyDeleteI owe a lot to you ladies for your willing help in getting the word out for various things we want to do. Your youthfulness gives you a much better “eye” than I have for what will draw in some interest.
Siobhan you have offered much insight in the technical side of things. You always make things look better than I imagined. I couldn’t have pulled off the 2 simulcasts that we did this year without you. Thanks for your willingness to help and train me along the way despite the heavy load you already carried. My only gripe with you is your insistence in moving your office all the way to Charlotte. (Guys do strange things to us don’t they?) I hope that changes soon and we can have you back in the fellowship here. I have missed your laughter and that funny thing you do in between laughs when catching your breath. And I know I am far from the only one that has missed all that you add when you are here.
Heather you have stepped right in to the group and have quickly become the same kind of glue that Amber and Siobhan were to keep everyone and everything in order. I love your sweet spirit and disposition!
I appreciate you ladies so much.
Trudy
Braxton,
ReplyDeleteThanks to the study on Ruth, every time I see you I think of the word “Hesed” -showing kindness to another without any expectation of return. I can’t forget hearing about how sooo many ladies named you and the things you have done to others as examples of Hesed. You had no idea how famous you had become in the women’s Bible Study arena. And that’s just what we KNOW of you. Since you are a person who does these things quietly I am sure you have done countless more acts of kindness that only the Lord knows about. Thanks for your huge heart Braxton and thanks for all you do to make sure people connect with each other and grow in Christ through LIFE groups!
May much “Hesed” be returned to you!
Trudy
Kim,
ReplyDeleteGod has definitely equipped you in the area of numbers, accounting, and given you an eye for the practical so it is perfect to have a person like you in the position you serve. But this past year as I have gotten to know you better I have found myself wanting to linger longer in your office after finances are squared and dates are set and just get to know you better. (Joy...right? Just what you need is another person hanging out in your office on a busy day :)) Somewhere along the way, God has moved our relationship from "business" to friends and I have enjoyed getting to know you better and learning more about your family and your life and how you are doing. I have been thankful for the times when God crossed our paths at the gym or other places and your willingness to lend a listening ear and let me work through some problems out loud with you. I have admired your parenting skills and have been glad to learn from you as I think you and Scott have raised 2 very fine children. I have appreciated your words of encouragement and your positive attitude about things.
And now you are off in a land far away where elephants roam and rice is supreme serving the Lord alongside your family. (Have you heard any of them rearrange Jesus’s words to say “I am the rice of life, yet?) I love your willingness to do whatever it takes to make that happen and I hope the Lord uses this time to seal the bond between you three even more deeply and give you special lifelong memories with Carmen as she prepares to leave the nest.
Thanks Kim for all you do as you serve the Lord both inside and outside the walls of BCC!
I appreciate you bunches!
Trudy
I do not know where to begin to thank all of our Pastors, except to just Praise God! We are so blessed at BCC with each of you. Todd, I will never forget how excited I was, I guess years ago, when I found out that you would be the Pastor of our new church! That excitement has not faded but continues to grow. Funny the things we remember...The first time I ever heard you speak was at a 5th quarter youth meeting, several years before BCC, you were still with FCA. What impressed me the most was your confidence, confidence in Christ and how boldly you shared with the students. You shared the "coloring book", you did a great job getting the kids attention, as well as mine. My husband ask me later, who the "speaker" was, I told him some guy with FCA? lol I remember telling him how good it was and how you were almost "cocky". I promise no disrespect intended by that comment. Actually I do not really care for that word, but it has its place in this story. I had a new perspective about confidence & boldness. Being a sports nut all my life, I once heard the comment about a team being "cocky" but they had reason to be that way, some others were "cocky" and had no reason. Us "sports" people will understand this; the ones with reason were that good, the others just thought they were. You have taught us that as Believers we have every reason, we have all confidence:
ReplyDelete2 Corinthians 3:4
Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God.
Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
Being a part of BCC has been an incredible journey. Thank you Pastor Todd, for taking that huge step of faith to lead us. Thank you for not just loving us but telling us so often.
I love you!
Signed.
Anonymous
*I was just commenting Sunday on Todd. It amazes me how he seems to remember everyone. I always see him greeting new people each week, something I need to improve on. I think he does an amazing job of welcoming people and making them feel at home.
ReplyDelete*Stan was such a blessing to us when Jason had cancer 6 years ago. He was ALWAYS checking on us. If you have ever been in a tiny hospital room for months you know how nice it is to have a visitor.
*Chris works ALL the time, preparing for the next Sunday or a new ministry. Not sure how he does it all, but the kids love him!
*Scott has a way with the kids too. Thank you for jumping in when they need coaches and Christmas play's. The worship music each week so lifts my spirit, puts my mind and heart in the right place for the message from Todd.
*Alan just keeps on going and going. Makes me think of the Energizer Bunny. Thanks for helping us remember our world is bigger than little Brevard and God told us to go!
*Tracy does miracles in the pre-school. Somehow she always pulls it together, even when more workers are needed.
*Sheila, Wow, THANK YOU ! So many behind the scene things you do, Thanks for keeping the church spic-n-span and all the special touches you add !!!
* Brad, Thanks for being silly with the kids and teaching them about God at the same time!
*Marty, Thanks for working with the lost age. I know I felt lost through the college years. They need support and encouragement. So easy to be swayed in college, thanks for keeping them grounded in their faith.