Welcome to the Team

When I was first hired at SRBC many moons ago, the NAB (North American Baptist Conference, whom our church is affiliated with as a denomination), invited new pastors to the then headquarters in Chicago, IL. The purpose was to get a feel for the ministry of the NAB, meet the staff, tour the headquarters, and meet with other new NAB pastors. It felt great to be welcomed in a loving and gracious way. 

Welcomes are important. Just last week, our church started a new transition… a transition that is somewhat unfamiliar to us - the hiring of a new permanent Senior Pastor. The last time we did that was 2003! Many of us were not around then and those that were, the welcome of the Lippert’s may be a little fuzzy in our memories!

SRBC, you’re off to a great start! So many of you have volunteered your time to get the parsonage ready. This church knows how to get things done! Many of you graciously gave gift cards, which will be a blessing when Pastor Ariel and his family arrive. We also had a crew take the day off and head to WI to load up the Myslak family and get their belongings back here to Steamboat Rock. All of this is the makings of a great  welcome!

In the year ahead, you’ll have other ways to welcome Pastor Ariel and his family. From one pastor to the church, here are a few that I think could be helpful:

·         Introduce yourself by name. And then introduce yourself again the next time you see them. The third time you introduce yourself, they have a shot at remembering. :) Don’t ask them “Do you remember me?” Just assume they don’t. Ha.

·         Remember their names. We have our work cut out for us here because they have a big family. Ariel and Rachel and their 5 kids: Arabella (15), Hartlynn (13), Emrie (11), Arrow (10), and Hawkins (8).

·         Get to know the Myslak family. In the first few months, consider inviting them over for a meal or for dessert at your house. If hosting at your house is not your thing, maybe offer to take them out to a restaurant that they enjoy.  Invite them to a ballgame that your child is playing in. If you see them in public, be sure to say hi.

·         Have your kids befriend the Myslak kids. Whether this is in youth group, main street, or Pathway classes, the more connections, the better!

·         Send Ariel a welcome note of encouragement in the first month.

·         Listen well. Come to Sunday mornings with a soft heart and a willingness to listen to Pastor Ariel’s sermon each week.

·         Offer grace when our Senior Pastor says something he shouldn’t. I have many reflections after I preach. When I was finished preaching this last Sunday, I thought of a couple different things that I said that were on the spectrum of “not smart” and “unnecessary.” :) When you speak 30 minutes each week, you’re bound to say something offensive. As a church, let’s offer grace. 

·         Speak positively about our new Senior Pastor publicly and privately. People in our communities and even our families will ask how our new Senior Pastor is doing, and how we respond matters.   

·         Embrace the uniqueness of your pastor. When you hear them cheering for the Seattle Seahawks or Washington Huskies (ouch), embrace that. Don’t be offended, just give them a hard time (joking and in love of course) that your team is better. :)

·         Pray for Pastor Ariel, Rachel, and their kids. What a huge transition for them as well!

·         Follow. We had a strong vote to call Pastor Ariel here as our next Senior Pastor. I’m excited how God will use him to encourage our church and our staff. I also look forward to seeing the ways that God will use him to help further shape our mission and vision here at SRBC.

SRBC, I know it well that you are a loving and encouraging congregation. Let’s continue that tradition and give the Myslak’s a warm welcome!

Blessings,

Bryce