Dear Centre Church,
I am humbled that you have called me as your next senior pastor. As I consider this new role, I am grateful for the time I have gotten to serve alongside Pastor Robert Howard. He has taught me a great deal, not only about the inner workings of this particular congregation, but about pastoral ministry, and life in general. In their nearly 30 years here, Robert and Cyndie both have made an indelible mark on the life of this church. It goes without saying that when they move on to their next chapter they will be greatly missed, and no one will be able to fill their shoes. Thankfully they have equipped us well and have built a solid foundation upon God’s word that will surely carry us into the future.
This week in preparation for Sunday worship I was considering John 15:9-11. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” It struck me as I read this passage that our obedience to God is inextricably tied to our love for him and for one another, but not only that, Jesus says knowing this and living it out will increase our joy. It’s not exactly rocket science, but somehow, we manage to miss it: Loving God and loving one another builds a community of Joy that faithfully lives and acts like Jesus. My hope is that we will see this reality borne out in our life together at Centre Church.
It is astonishing that the creator of the universe would love someone like me. I know I’m a pastor, but I’m still a mess. Even after all these years of daily meditation on his word and prayer, I still get caught up in so many worries and fears. I still fall so far short of my own expectations, and of course I fall short of God’s perfect law. Yet, God loves me. He sent Jesus to rescue me. He doesn’t just tolerate me, but He delights in me, he even rejoices over me. Wow! And of course, it’s not just me, that’s the way he feels about all his children! That’s the way he feels about you! When my heart is connected to that reality, there is nothing I want more than to be close to Jesus and his people.
The sheer goodness of the Gospel is what gets me excited about the future and the possibilities of our church. Over the next months and years, it will be my honor as the pastor of Centre Church to continue the legacy of preaching that message to any who will hear it, but even more than that, it is my heart’s desire that together we will come to believe it more and more, to experience it in new ways, and to share this inexpressible joy with the world around us!
To God Alone be the Glory,
Pastor Logan Keck