by Pastor Patrick Cho
As Pastor John mentioned, June 6 will be the official date of the transition where I will assume the role of senior pastor at Lighthouse. It’s a bit daunting especially since I can see today’s date and that date on one screen in my Outlook calendar! There is still a lot to do in preparation as well as a lot to think through, but we are confident that by God’s grace He will carry us through. Many people have been asking me how I feel about the transition since it is so imminent. Am I scared? Am I excited? I thought it would be easier simply to write down my thoughts and share them here.
First, am I scared? Honestly, I am not. There was one day, when John first mentioned that the transition would happen on June 6 and not July 11, that I was a little scared. That would give me one less month to prepare. But I was quickly reminded about the reasons why I wasn’t really scared about the July 11 date and that comforted me. John and I have seen God’s faithfulness over the past eleven years. God has carried us through some very significant trials and we have also experienced many joyful blessings. This is the major reason why I wasn’t really scared. I don’t believe God has brought us this far only to abandon us now. I’m confident that God will continue to carry us as He has carried us in the past (cf. Isa. 40:31).
Is the weight of responsibility daunting? Yes. Being an associate pastor was comfortable. If anything got really difficult, I could run to John. There are many people who require shepherding. There are many ministries that need planning. And besides this, Sunday is always coming, so there is always another sermon that needs preparing. The weight of responsibility is definitely increasing, but I am confident that the same Lord who strengthened John will strengthen me. The same God who led LBC in the past will continue to lead LBC to the future.
Second, am I excited? Absolutely! I’m excited about what God has in store for this church for the future. So far we have been able to build wonderful relationships with churches in the Czech Republic and Argentina. Where will God send us next? We have been able to see our church family grow almost every year. How much more will we grow? We have moved into a new facility. Will we ever outgrow this building? There is so much God can do through us if only we remain faithful to Him and His Word. I’m definitely excited about this.
Not only this, but also that we’ll have another church in San Jose to work with. We can collaborate together and encourage one another. We have a trusted ministry that we can help and go to for help. It took us about ten years to finally put wheels on the Vision of LBC and plant a church. Now with two churches actively working towards that goal, will we be able to plant a third church even sooner? The possibility is exciting.
I know it will be difficult. I don’t know exactly how difficult it will be, but I’m sure it will be extremely trying at times. But God has helped us in the past and has used the trying times to build us and mold us into the ministry we are now. I’m confident He will do the same in the future.
Third, people have been asking me what the plans are for the future. What will I preach through? How will the church’s ministries be structured? We will communicate most of these decisions at the members meeting on June 6. However, Pastor John reminded the elders of one thing that was crucial. The solution for the future is not merely going to lie in greater structure and order. While that is helpful, the more important thing is that our people are growing. If the church family is growing, our attitude towards ministry will be what it needs to be. We won’t have complaining hearts, but encouraging ones. We won’t have pessimistic attitudes, but faith-full ones. A growing body is the key to the future. Structure and organization are helpful and necessary, but not the most important thing.
How can the each church member help to make the transition smoother? Grow. If you are not finding joy in the Lord, if your heart seems distant, get back to the basics and cultivate a faithful heart once again. If your service has become dry and ministry is just going through the motions, remember the reason why you serve in the first place. There is no great mystery. It is about getting back to the basics – taking time to pray, meditating on the Word, and preaching the gospel to yourself daily. This is where God-honoring service stems from, not just from addressing areas of greatest need. Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength? If not, pray and work to get your heart where it needs to be. That is the greatest help any member could offer the church during this time of transition.
I’m sure John and I will be sharing more of our thoughts as the weeks wind down. It is truly amazing to think the time is finally upon us. Let’s really seek to be faithful and usher in the transition with prayer. It will take a bit of sweat and effort, but I know that the Lord will be our strength, guide, and shield.