An Interesting Interview, March 2025

You’re probably wondering how our new (nearly) full time Pastor is getting along since he took on his expanded role with Grace Church at the beginning of February. So, I had a chance to sit down with him to ask how it’s going.
 
Me: Any regrets, Pastor, since taking on a more expanded role here at Grace?
Pastor David: Only that I couldn’t do it sooner.

Me: How are things different now with your expanded involvement?
Pastor David: For one, I’ve been able to catch up on a lot of much needed pastoral visits with members in nursing homes, in the hospital, and in their homes. It was hard to do while I was working a full-time job, but I’m happy to be reconnecting with folks now on a more regular basis.

Me: What are your plans for this year?
Pastor David: The most important role for me, or any pastor for that matter, is being true to preaching the Gospel, teaching, and pastoral care. I’m very happy that I have not only more time to do all three, but also more flexibility to spend the time needed for what’s most important on any particular day. I’ve been working on the Lenten study on the Book of Revelation for the past 6 months, and I’m putting the final touches on it. I’m happy I have more time to do so and I want this to be a memorable experience for the attendees. I also plan to spend much more time at the church, usually Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, plus Sundays & as needed, so I can help with administration and be available for visitors and needs related to the building.

Me: Any other ideas in the works for the rest of 2025?
Pastor David: First, we will continue to experience and celebrate all the great things we have been doing for years, even before I got here. The rummage sales, October Fest, the Spaghetti Dinner, our community services with the other churches, the Elburn Days parade, our partnership with the food pantry, our donation of clothes, Sunday School, Ash Wednesday at the train station, Line Dancing, and on and on. We may be a small church, but we are mighty in our love for our neighbors. Our Parents Day Out preschool program has been very successful in just a short amount of time thanks to our Director, Janice Muncie, and I am hoping we attract even more kids in the fall. My dream is to get that attendance up to 50 kids someday, and of course, more kids means more young families who may want a loving church to join. I’m also very grateful to our Vision Team and our Mortgage Committee for negotiating a very favorable mortgage loan renewal with the bank. That gives us some breathing room for another 5 years. I also plan to start a door knocking campaign in the spring to introduce residents to Grace. On the administrative side, I’m working with Vision Team on some policy updates and ways to streamline the way we do things. We always have to be looking at how we can do more with less. Technology can help, but I will never use AI (artificial intelligence) in anything. You hired me; you get me.

Me: What do you see as your biggest challenges for 2025?
Pastor David: The challenges we face are the same challenges the church universal has faced for the last 2,000 years: societal indifference or even antagonism toward the Gospel message, worldliness that draws peoples’ time and attention away from the Christian walk, rising prices against a fixed income that make it harder and harder for people to give, the financial stability of the church, and maintaining a regular and steady pool of volunteers to do all the thankless, behind the scenes work to keep the church running smoothly. But as a wise evangelist once taught me, “The main thing is to make the main thing the main thing.” Our “main thing” here at Grace has always been, is today, and will always be, to preach Christ crucified as the only means of salvation, to love and serve our neighbors, and to walk humbly in gratitude for what God has done for us. We deserve nothing but condemnation; we receive nothing but glorification.
That’s what grace is all about.