I had a really good phone conversation with a senior pastor yesterday. The church is in Madison, WI, which YP is absolutely ecstatic about (Madison is about 3 hours away from where she's going, and as she put it, "If we met halfway, it would be only an hour and a half, and how often did we drive that long in the Twin Cities just to get from Point A to Point B?").
That's not the only factor in my decision, of course. I can't explain it, but it just felt right when I talked to him. He was really excited that I'm from Minnesota, because he has a lot of ties here (He actually used to attend a Bible camp in the area where DH grew up - I'm sure we know a lot of the same people!). Unlike the first person I interviewed with, he was super impressed that DH and I are a ministry team. They are big on community outreach - they have an onsite daycare that they'd want me helping in a couple of times a week, not that they need the extra staff, but just to be a presence to connect with the community kids and invite them to church, special events, etc. Community outreach is SO where DH and I are at, and we have yet to find a church that is as excited about it as we are. This one seems to be. They also have Tai Kwon Do (sp?) classes, a men's Bible study that DOESN'T meet at the crack of dawn (which DH was intrigued by ), and an actual children's ministry that is already in place - as the pastor I talked to put it, they're willing and able to invest in a children's pastor because they want someone to come in and love their kids and help them grow the ministry even more.
It's a full time position, which is what I've been looking for. The only thing that may be a drawback is that it is not an A/G church. The SP of that church has his degree with Southwestern, and they do have ties to the A/G - they just are independent. Very much contemporary, flowing in the Holy Spirit, all that good stuff. He said it absolutely wouldn't be a problem with him if I kept my A/G credentials, so the only hurdle I'd have would be convincing the district. Dan Rector told me that this is not unheard of, and encouraged me to apply to this church if I was interested.
And wow, does it sound good! Where we're at right now is that he wants to see some samples of my ministry work. So I'm having our sound booth operator make me a copy of the sermon tape from when I preached in "big church" in April (I'm not telling her what it's for; SP doesn't want to make the announcement until after the board meeting this Tuesday). I'm also sending him a copy of my ministry portfolio.
So please pray...this is the first one out of at least a dozen that I've contacted that really feels right. I believe that my "dream job" is right around the corner. SP got his; YP got hers. I truly believe that God is rewarding our entire staff for putting up with and making it through a very difficult situation.
He's right, it's not unheard of. You can pastor another church most times and keep your A/G credentials, but I do not believe you can pastor an A/G church without A/G credentials. Most make you get them as soon as you become the pastor if you do not already have them.
It sounds like this might really be something good for you. Did the pastor give you a time frame of things? When are they looking to fill the position? Will be keeping you in prayer. Love, me
Got the sermon tape...just thought of how perfect it was that my sermon was all about reaching out and bringing in kids, since their push seems to be community outreach .
Our PW said the same thing that we've been saying - everything HAS to fall into place for us, because it has for them and for YP. She, too, believes that God is rewarding all of us for dealing with our current situation.
And if it doesn't fall into place for me in Madison, it will somewhere.
SP is letting the board know on Tuesday (as well as informing them on the district supervision decision - DH and I wish we could be flies on the wall to see the look on CA's face!), so YP and I have decided to tell our kids on Wednesday night. She wanted to talk to her youth group before the big announcement was made to the entire church next Sunday, and we decided that the teenagers would come downstairs and tell all the kids, anyway.
I'm not filled with dread, or sadness, or even bitterness. Mostly excitement. Well, maybe a little sadness, only because our best friends aren't going to be right there anymore. These are people we've seen, on average, 3-4 times a week for the past three years. But I guess we're just going to have to put in a little more effort - not get lazy and let us just drift apart...
DH and I are trying to decide (if we don't have something in place by the end of February, which is our last Sunday) if we should settle into a "temporary" church, or if we should check out some of the churches in our area that we've always wanted to visit.
I'm mailing everything off tomorrow (no mail today!), so keep my in your prayers, everyone!!
), and an actual children's ministry that is already in place - as the pastor I talked to put it, they're willing and able to invest in a children's pastor because they want someone to come in and love their kids and help them grow the ministry even more. 
