While living in Santa Cruz, California I had the joy of learning how to surf. The surf culture has its own language, customs, and knowledge base. Surfing is unique from many other sports for many reasons. One of the more difficult disciplines of surfing is learning to discern the ocean, and specifically how waves are formed. Sets of waves was always the most illusive science as it was never consistent. Sets changed due to wind speed, velocity, and consistency. One thing never changed… waves came in sets. Some guys were natural at reading sets and others, like me, never got it. One thing is certain this knowledge carries over into the concept of change. Change always comes in sets, sometimes it’s only one or two changes and other times it feels like the changes will never end.
Change is a constant. It is coming whether you are ready or not. Regardless of your attitude or preparedness, change is on the way. We are in a season of change at Pin Oaks and most of it is a lot of fun! The biggest change we will face reminds me of Moses and a talk his Father-in-law had with him while he was leading Israel.
Exodus 18:12–18 (ESV) — 12 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God. 13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.
Moses had to know things needed to change. Yet, he was stuck in a bad routine that was hindering the growth of the nation and its people. His father in law stepped in and spoke the words he needed to hear. CHANGE IS OVERDUE!
Pin Oaks is in that same place. We have lived in routine for too long and the result has not been good. So, it is time for healthy change.
Taking the lead of Jethro, slight changes to our leadership structure will be made over the next few weeks and months. Our Directional Staff team will get slightly larger, the Elder Leadership Team will expand their ministry, and our communication efforts will be more broad based.
No single change will be earth shattering in its affect or implementation. However, each change will result in us being a better church, staff, and family of faith. I appreciate your prayer and support as we walk through these exciting times. The year ahead is full of promise and we anxiously charge forward.