current status

In regard to where we are in the process outlined below. We are currently at the stage where I have submitted my MLI and have talked to conference ministers in the areas we are interested in. Because of the private nature of this process I am very limited on what I can say further than that.
Marlena and I would just ask for your prayers as we seek God's leading as we move forward, both for us and the church that is out there for us whom ever that might be.
I must confess feelings of anxiety about our future as well as fears of inadiquecy and failure. My great hope and rock is knowing that God called my wife and I to this form of ministry and he is always thier if we are willing to rely on him instead of our own strength.
I desire continued surender to Jesus Christ MY SAVIOUR.

Church call process

Well I guess since I created this blog to talk about what is going on in our transition from school to ministry in a church it would be helpful to talk about the process. In the Mennonite church if you are leaving a seminary or program such as the one I am in the first step is to fill out an MLI (Ministerial Leadership Information). This form is similar to a resume except much more extensive. In the MLI you answer questions about your faith journey as well as some of your foundational theology as well as the basic resume items. After the MLI is filled out and submitted to Mennonite Church USA and or Mennonite Church Canada there is an interview with the denominational pastor. The next step is then submitting the MLI to the areas you choose and then contacting the conference ministers in those areas. After the conference ministers have an idea of who you are and what you are looking for in a church you together with the conference minister give the MLI to churches who would be potential matches. After the search team looks at the MLI they choose to pursue further conversation or return the MLI to the conference minister. If they are interested they have the conference minister set up an initial interview (usually by phone). Following the first interview the church and potential pastor agree to continue the conversation or decide it would not be a good fit. If the desire is to continue there is a second interview (usually in person) and another time of mutual discernment. The final step is to have a candidating weekend were the potential pastor is introduced to the church and preaches as well as having a time of question and answer with the entire congregation. The final step is then a congregational vote and offer being made to the candidate, the candidate then accepts the call or declines.
This is a long post but is the general outline of the long process we are currently involved in.

First Post

I started this blog with the desire to share as I am able about our future and what we are going through as we discern what God has in store for us in the months and years to come. In general I am not that good at keeping up with digital but I have been able to keep up with my face book for the last two years and hope to do the same with this blog.