About IPC
Our Covenant
Pastors’ Page
Elders
News/Calendar
Worship Services
Sunday School
Activities
Youth
Missions
Membership
Community Groups
Home Groups
Fellowship
Special Events
IPC Mission Conference
Pastoral Search
Office
Downloads
Map
Home
André's Note
June, July, August 2010
Dear Friends,
Time goes by so fast and our first year in Zürich has passed. During this period I have learned many things and enjoyed many others. It has been a pleasure to get to know the IPC community. Renate and I have met many of you in your homes; it was a joy to listen to your stories, a privilege to get to know the places where you live and to share meals with you. IPC is indeed a church that has wide-open arms, willing to embrace, and ready to accept. When I think of our church, Luke 6:38 comes to mind: Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. My prayer is that God will return in His loving ways all the blessings that were so generously poured out onto your pastors and their families throughout the years.
It was also a year of learning. I believe that in every place that God takes me, He wants to teach me what I have not learned in previous places and ministries. What does He want to teach me in Switzerland? Before we moved to Zürich, we had travelled many times to Switzerland as we have relatives and friends here, and also we love the beauty of this country. But living here is different from just visiting. I have learned many things about the Swiss culture, but I still have a long way to go. I have been trying to learn German, which I still find very difficult, especially because I don't find much opportunity to practice the language. And I was also introduced to how the church runs with its unique style and method, and how different committees work, and how the parts come together. IPC is the first council-led church that I have served in 32 years of pastoral ministry. In this sense the elders have been very helpful in introducing me to a different style of government, clarifying priorities and focusing - among other things - on accuracy and excellence.
I owe my thanks and at the same time my apology to the council. My letter in the previous Update was interpreted by some as a personal critique of the council. This was not my intent. The text was meant first for myself. But it was also meant for all church leaders anywhere and anytime as we try to balance between the administrative activities that come with service and the spiritual obligations that lead to this service. The questions were rhetorical and not addressed specifically.
I also admit that a good part of the content was not mine, and I failed to recognize the source. Much of that text comes originally from a book called Who Are You to Say - Establishing Pastoral Authority in Matters of Faith, by Dale Rosenberger, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Brazos Press, 2005, pp. 87-89.
Let it be said that the council is selected and elected with much prayer and does much hard work in ministering to this church. If through my words and actions, the church and the council were led to think otherwise, I want to ask for forgiveness and grace.
I believe that as council and pastors we are all striving for unity. As we work together and as we serve the church, my prayer is that we will continue to aim for Christ-centeredness. It is only through Him that we can do the good work. In II Corinthians 12:9 we read, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. I am aware of my personal "unfinished-ness," but I also rejoice in the Lord's grace because it is sufficient.
The fact is that the Bible compares us to clay in the potter's hand. In Isaiah 64:8 we read, Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. There is an old melody that comes with this verse and I have enjoyed singing and lifting it up to the Lord as a personal prayer. We are all going as unfinished work to our graves, but what a joy to know that one day we will be complete in Him. It reminds me of the verse in Colossians 1:27, ...Christ in you, the hope of glory. Let that be our hope and joy: Christ in us, the hope of glory!!
This is also a time of good-bye. Tom and Lauri, Melia and Annie are leaving us. I want to express my thanks for their work. They have blessed many people in Switzerland and IPC. My prayer is that God will continue to bless them as they go and do His work. In Jeremiah 29: 11-12 we read, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come to pray to me, and I will listen to you." May God continue to reveal His plan in their lives, and may He continue to give them hope and a future.
Finally, I want to leave a word of encouragement to us as Christ's church: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Let's take Joshua 1:9 as a personal word of encouragement. Together as pastor, council, and congregation, we are walking into a second year. Each season and each period of time offers challenges that we don't yet know but we can all walk in certainty because the Lord will be with us. Therefore let us be of good courage, let us trust in His grace, and let us have wide-open arms to embrace a hungry and suffering world.
Your friend and pastor,
André