Questions About Forefront

Due to the nature of what's going on in my life right now I am sharing on this blog what I'm sharing on our church blog ...

There are probably some very practical questions people are asking, most of which I’ve already tried to address, but let me discuss those again:

WHEN am I leaving? The honest answer is that we don’t know. The biggest factor is Forefront. We want to see what happens as we search for a new Lead Pastor, and try our best to have the healthiest possible transition. The other factor is that I have to do fundraising for the new church in Las Vegas. That’s not a big issue, because I can always move out there and get a “regular” job until we raise our financial support, then I can devote all my time to the new church. So did I answer the question? I guess not… My guess is that the earliest we would leave is January, and the latest is next July

WHERE are we going to find a new Lead Pastor for Forefront? Fortunately we (me and some of the other staff members) have lots of connections, and so it’s not like we have to out an ad in the Classifieds. Several of us have worked at other churches, have gone to Seminary, speak at other churches, etc., etc. and so while you may not know any pastors outside Forefront (or any good ones!) we do. And when I realized that this was happening, that I was really going to go to Vegas, one of my first questions was: Who would be a great fit and a great new leader for Forefront? And immediately about six guys jumped to mind. I also have been asking a few Pastors who really know Forefront, “Is there anyone you know who would be perfect?” And so we have a list of some awesome possibilities.

WHO will be looking at and deciding on these possible replacements and what’s that process look like? We have hired a bunch of staff over our ten year history, but never a Lead Pastor. And so we have some procedures we follow when we look at a potential staff person (huge questionnaire they have to fill out, checking with lots of references, multiple interviews, etc., etc.) we have never had to apply those procedures in this situation. And so we are talking to some other churches, trying to glean wisdom on the best process to use. Like, is there anything different we should do than normal? We have already learned some things and are tweaking our normal process a bit. We are also still putting together the team that will do all that, but I can definitely tell you that it will be led by our MPW (Ministry of Prayer & the Word) Team, and our Executive Pastor (Dan Pollard), and I will be available to do whatever they need.

WHAT will stay the same about Forefront after Vince leaves? Ummm, well everything important! With everything there are critical factors and non-critical factors. Every new school year we change our kid’s bedtimes. That does not change our family. Our family has occasionally picked up new hobbies, or started watching a new TV show. That does not change our family. However if we stopped going to church, or having dinner together, that would change our family.
There are some changes that would fundamentally change what Forefront is, and no one wants that. God has uniquely formed us as a church, and so we have something unique to offer God’s Kingdom and the world. And so … our being a church for people who don’t like church? Won’t change. Our being a church that reaches out to people who have stayed or strayed away from God? Won’t change. No perfect people allowed? Won’t change. No one stands alone? Won’t change. Love God, love people, turn the world upside down? Won’t change. Our dress code is: Please do. Won’t change. Wanting to start new churches and reach the Mien? Won’t change.– We won’t even consider candidates who would want to change these critical aspects of who we are.

HOW might Forefront change after Vince leaves? Well, let me tell you that I pray Forefront does change. Again, not in those critical unique factors that make us who we are. But there are so many ways that we can improve and grow. In fact, for several years I’ve felt like God’s been telling me that Forefront needs to improve and grow, and that I’m not the right guy to lead us there. And so I am very excited for us to have someone who can get us there. What might be some ways that we improve? I don’t know, we’ll have to see. Maybe our church will become more loving, or better at connecting new people, or better at serving our community, or more strategic about how to accomplish our mission. All I know is that I am confident that the best years of Forefront are ahead...