Transition to the New MDC

"The time has come for my departure!"   These words, a quote from 2 Timothy 4:6, were read in the recent gathering of the TRAIN Workgroup.  While these words of the apostle Paul were referencing his approaching death, these same words were referenced at this meeting to reflect on the fact that the time has come for my departure from my role in the CRCA as the MDC (Ministry Development Coordinator).   

After more than 25 years of pastoral ministry in Canada with the CRCNA (Christian Reformed Churches in North America), on New Year's Eve 2007, we arrived down under to begin our gospel partnership with the CRC here in Australia.   With all our family on the other side of the ocean, we had anticipated that we would remain in Australia for about 5 years.  But the Lord had other plans.  I have been privileged to serve CRCA church leaders, local churches, classes, and others for 15 years.  Now after more than 40 years of pastoral ministry, the time has come for my departure from employed ministry.   In the next few months the CRCA will transition to the new MDC.

This is the exciting development that has taken place in the past few months.   After a thorough search, Rev. Clinton Berends of the South Barwon (VIC) church has accepted the call to take up the MDC role into the future.  Clinton is well known among our churches, having first served the Willetton(WA) and Redlands (QLD) churches before taken on the role of pastor at South Barwon, where he has served since 2011.  He also has served for many years on the Candidacy Committee and the TRAIN Workgroup.  Clinton comes not only with over 20 years of pastoral ministry experience, but he is passionate about gospel ministry and leadership development.   Recently I asked Clinton to share his thoughts about taking up the MDC role.  This is what he shared with me:

It is a great privilege to be offered the role of MDC in our churches and I look forward to working with you in the coming months and years. I have been greatly blessed and encouraged by Jack’s work in my work as a pastor and can see the fruit that the Lord has brought through his ministry among us.

I hope, by the grace of God, to continue on that good work of seeing pastors and elders strengthened and encouraged as they lead the church and work hard to see them healthy and growing. I am looking forward to walking alongside churches that are looking to plant new churches and develop new ministries that seek to impact their communities with the gospel. Together we have acknowledged the need to be active in raising leaders in our churches and particularly our need to train and encourage men to serve as pastors in the denomination and I am excited about working with you to see that vital work strengthened in the churches through training, internships and other ministry opportunities.

While the task seems daunting and somewhat overwhelming, I am being reminded that all our lives are done in and through Christ, who loves his church and gave himself up for her. I don’t do this in my own strength but only in that which he provides. I value your prayers as well, as I commit to praying for you also, for his leading and enabling in that work that is before us. Please also pray for South Barwon and the transition that the church and I will make over the next weeks.

So let us pray for Clinton and Tracy Berends, as well as the South Barwon congregation, during this time of transition.   Clinton will take up the MDC role on the 20^th of November.   Leading up to this date and in the weeks following, I will work closely with Clinton to ensure a smooth transition for him into the MDC role.

So what does this all look like for me in the weeks leading up to my departure?   The TRAIN Workgroup has asked me to focus my attention on making sure there is a good and effective transition for me out of my MDC role and Clinton into his role.   This means that I will not be starting any new partnerships with churches or church leaders, but slowing winding down any existing partnerships.   I still have two interstate trips already scheduled:  October - Victoria/Tasmania and November - Western Australia.  Beyond these trips, my primary focus will be on the transition to the new MDC.

As Clinton commented, the task of the MDC seems daunting and somewhat overwhelming.  There is the area of church health and guiding the 30+ churches which participated in the NCLS survey.   There is the area of growing gospel workers and seeing leadership development part of the DNA of all our churches.  And then there remains the ongoing priorities of discipleship and outreach so that our churches are truly reaching the lost for Christ!   But as I have experienced, and Clinton will as well, our Lord will go before us and build his church as he has promised(Matthew 16:18).   As we own and engage the missional vision of the CRCA we will truly know the abiding presence of our Saviour who said, "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)  In all of life and ministry, as individuals and churches, may our testimony be like that of the apostle Paul who said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)  

As I make my departure from employed ministry in the CRCA and enter into the uncertainty of the next phase of our lives, will you also pray for Jeannie and myself that we will truly sense that God goes before us and he is with us.  I will truly miss the friendships and the gospel partnership forged over many years and in every state and territory where there are CRCA churches.   God be with you until we meet again!