A Season of Change

by Todd Venman, president of the CCCC

In Northwest Pennsylvania we are surrounded by signs of change. Another season has ended. Farmers are busy gathering the last of the harvest. Leaves are beautiful shades of yellow, red and brown. Days are filled with less sunlight. Temperatures are falling. Deer are chasing. Squirrels are gathering. Black bears are gorging. Geese are migrating.

I’ve got to admit… I’m not ready for winter yet! I’ve been preparing. My wood is cut, split and stacked. The hay is in the barn. The small garden is put to bed. Whether or not I’m ready is immaterial, as winter is coming! I’ve known about it for a number of months. As a matter of fact I’ve known for a long time that winter arrives every year. I’ve even made decisions years ago that prepared me for the hardships of this winter. When I made those decisions, I didn’t know I would still be in Northwest Pennsylvania for the upcoming winter. Even then, however, I instinctively knew I would be better off to prepare as if I would be here.

So how did I know how to prepare? My policy was and is to use my abilities to the utmost and trust God to provide the rest. Simply put, I will be faithful while trusting a great and faithful God.

Signs of ministry change also have been evident for years. I have been quick to voice my frustration at the change. Yet voicing frustration towards change does little to delay its arrival. Instead, I must be faithful while trusting a great and faithful God.

I’ve preached against unhealthy movements. I’ve debated and discussed eroding trends. I’ve spent time persuading people to my opinions. All this was deemed as sacrificial kingdom work in my mind. However, it is better to obey than sacrifice (from 1 Samuel 15:22). While these things have value, they should not replace obedience. I was commanded to love God and love others, all the while making disciples. I wasn’t trusting a great and faithful God; if I had been, I would have been faithfully obedient instead.

The Board of Directors has experienced change in the last few months. New leadership and new members have begun new terms. Again change has taken place. I’m grateful for the constant of an unchanging God! I’m equally grateful that His commands don’t change. Prayerfully listening to the Holy Spirit’s counsel and comfort, holding firmly to the Truth, Jesus Christ, I invite you to prepare for the ongoing ministry change. We’ve seen it coming. Signs have been evident for some time. We don’t fully know how difficult this season might be. So we must prepare faithfully with our utmost effort while trusting in our great and faithful God.

Please pray with us. Pray that the CCCC would have ears to “hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Pray that we would faithfully obey His commands. Pray that we would live out the Seven Guiding Values. Pray for the Lord of the Harvest to send forth laborers. Ultimately let’s not pray that God would bless our events and efforts but that we would faithfully obey so that we are blessing Him with our events and efforts.

Thanks for your prayers for the CCCC. Thanks for your partnership in the season of ministry change.