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Younger elders

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By Larry Short

God has blessed us here at Elim with a group of leaders, both men and women, who have a heart for God and are eager to serve others. In particular I am really thrilled right now that there are five men who are seeking congregational approval to begin two-year terms on the Elder Board.

Our church constitution allows for three consecutive two-year terms, and two of those men are completing their first consecutive term. Those two are yours truly, and also Steve Kearns, the vice chairman of the elder board. However, you may be aware that prior to a brief hiatus, both Steve and I served previously. In my case, I have served three previous two-year terms, and I’m sure Steve has done more at least that much.

We are also excited to be bringing back Dan Amos, who was elder board chairman when I came onto the board two years ago. I’m pretty sure that Dan, too, has served at least three prior terms.

What’s new this year is the remaining two candidates, Chris Pace and Nate Champneys. Both are younger men (in their late 20s … so, younger than me, anyway!). So I wanted to take this opportunity as elder board chairman to express my enthusiastic appreciation for Chris’ and Nate’s willingness to serve, and also give you some insight into our thinking about the benefits of bringing “younger elders” onto the Elder Board as a strategic move to ensure the health of our Body in the years to come.

Chris and Nate will be joining an elder board where the average age (right now) is probably 50. But, as we all know, physical age does not necessarily equate to emotional, mental, and spiritual maturity. Paul told Timothy, “Let no man look down upon you because of your youth.” Jesus Himself was a young man of 30 when he began his public ministry.

The real issues, of course, are: Does a person meet the biblical qualifications for servant leadership as elder? Has he demonstrated leadership in serving others in ministry? Does his life show a commitment to personal integrity and holiness as described in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1? Does he invest himself in growing closer to Christ and managing his family well? I believe that if you know Nate and Chris as I do, you will agree that these men fulfill these requirements and that their aspiration to leadership is a worthy one.

I have asked each of these men to share a little bit of his testimony and involvement so you can get to know them better. And, in the coming weeks, we will also be encouraging them to share more of their heart with you through this column and other venues of communication here at Elim.

CHRIS PACE

I’m 27 years old now, but I gave my life to my Savior at the age of 8. I was raised in a Baptist church and attended Awana from the 4th grade until my final year of high school. I worked as an Awana leader until last year, when I felt God telling me: “Now I want you to work with the Youth.”

I’ve taught 3rd and 6th grade Sunday School for years and have co-led college and career groups. For the past 9 years I’ve served as a camp counselor for one week each summer. Since I’ve started coming to Elim, about 3 years ago, I’ve not only served in Awana and with the youth, but I have also served as your sound tech, been involved in community groups and a men’s group.

I look forward to seeing how God intends to continue using me here in the body at Elim.

NATE CHAMPNEYS

As I have gone through life and heard many testimonies of those in the church, I have been envious. In the past I have felt that God really didn’t save me “from” much. I was a kid who grew up in a “good Christian home,” received Christ at age 6, and never really got into trouble. I always wished I had had a testimony like a Paul of Tarsus, or like my dad, whom God saved out of Mormonism.

But I have come to realize that every testimony is a good one! Every person whose life has been touched by God is an amazing story. I remember my dad talking with me about Jesus before bed one night and explaining Jesus and why he came and asking me if I wanted him to forgive my sins. It was that day that I began to fall in love with Jesus, and because God grabbed my heart at such a young age, he was able to use me despite my age.

I look back and I just can’t believe the work God has done in my own life and how He used me in the lives of others (which is not to my own credit!). One of the main things I think that had a big influence on me was my mission trips to Utah. I started going with my dad to Utah to witness to Mormons, every summer starting at age 11. Sharing my faith with others formed my faith because I had to put it into words to others.

This is true in any kind of ministry. As you minister to others, God is working in your own heart. With the one sermon I have preached in my life, I think I learned more than the people I preached it to! As I lead worship at Elim God grows me and ministers to me as I minister to others.

I am excited to be able to serve as an elder because I know that God is going to use the wise, godly men that are on the board to grow me in a way that I can then use to minister to the body of Christ at Elim. My heart is for the families at Elim to be able to draw near to the King of Kings and shake up the world for Him and His glory!
I am also excited to see such a diverse group of godly men on the board. Men from all walks of life, from those who are just starting families like Chris, to those who have finished raising their kids like Larry, Bill, Gordy or Steve. A group of men with the one desire to come together to seek God’s will for Elim. I can see God moving through this body; God has done amazing things at Elim in the last few years, but it is awesome to think that He has only just begun and the best is yet to come!

The final thing I want to share with you is something Nate touched on, when he mentioned the diversity of those on the Elder Board. I know that “diversity” (in the way the world uses it, to mean “To each his or her own”) can be a loaded word. Yet diversity (in terms of life experience) is one of the things I appreciate about Elim, and one of the things I think we should value in ministry. Yes, with younger elders, we will have the opportunity to help form them in ministry. But they will also have an impact on us! I have seen what having vital youth and young adults ministries has done for the Body of Christ at Elim. To me personally, it has brought new perspective, has helped me to see how important to the Lord it is that we remain vital, passionate, and culturally relevant in order to reach others with the Gospel.

I am excited about bringing these potential elders for a congregational vote. Young and old together, we look forward to what God is going to do in the months and years to come.

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How do we pray through this week’s events?

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By Larry Short

This week has been a difficult one for all of us, emotionally speaking, as we have all had to deal with the terrible news of the tragedy striking the Lakewood Police Department, when four of their officers were murdered in cold blood last Sunday morning while sitting at a table in a Forza Coffee Shop in Lakewood, just 20 minutes’ drive from our church.

For some it has probably been harder than others. One of the slain heroes, Mark Renninger, was a resident (with his family) of Puyallup, and my understanding is that his daughters attend a local school here. One of the young men in our college group has done weapons and tactics training with Mark. Some of our families no doubt have children who know his daughters. Another young man in our congregation is an acquaintance of one of the barristas working in the coffee shop.

I’ve been confronted all week with the question, How do we most faithfully deal with a tragedy of this magnitude? The Bible says, “Cast your cares on Him … for He cares for you.” We know that because of His love for us, God wants us to look to Him at difficult times like this. He wants to wrap His arms around us, to provide comfort and perspective and meaning in the face of a tragedy that seems to us so senseless and terrible.

It’s in an effort to do this, to look to the Lord, that we are calling our congregation to prayer this weekend, and especially next Tuesday, the day when the officers’ memorial service is scheduled. If you could fast and pray with us on Tuesday, that would be wonderful, and we believe the Lord will be faithful to help heal our hearts and also do wondrous things in our community as a result.

Here is how your pastors and elders would ask us to pray, specifically:

* Pray for grieving families, friends and loved ones deeply affected by this tragedy. All four officers had spouses and children. It’s during times like these when God has an opportunity to speak most directly to the hearts of people who might otherwise be too busy with the cares of life to notice. Ask that He would reveal himself as the Healer, Hope-Giver and Comforter to anyone wounded by this tragedy.

* Pray similarly for emotional healing and spiritual growth for the barristas and others who witnessed this traumatizing event.

Pray for a spirit of humility and wisdom for all who are dealing with and responding to this event. Pray for the family and friends of the shooter, many of whom themselves were implicated in the event and its attempted cover-up. I was once again starkly reminded this week — during a moment of anger! — that there, but for the grace of God, go I. Thank God for His demonstrated power to turn hatred to love, to forgive sinners and to reconcile the alienated. Pray for the police officers who protect us, that they would be able to put this event into proper perspective and find healing for their own emotions so they can continue to do their jobs most effectively.

And pray for us (as a church). Pray that in the midst of tragedies like these we would be a light to the community around us, that they would see God’s love and redemptive power when they look at us. Pray that God would protect our church from the evils of such a violent and twisted society and culture, but also that when we are personally impacted by this violence, that we would be prepared to respond in manner that honors and glorifies God.

The Elim church facility will be open all day next Tuesday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., to provide a place for us to pray together. Consider fasting with us, and please swing by at your convenience to connect with others and with our Savior as we “cast our cares upon Him.”

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