Dear Members and Friends of First Church,
It has been more than a year since the U.S. went into panic mode and shut down nearly its entire economy and public life for six weeks (with significant effects still lingering). We have been through hard experiences, we have suffered significant losses, our confidence has been shaken, and our pride (as a high-tech modern world that thought it had everything under control) has been humbled. But because God is still God, and the promise of Scripture that “in all things God works for the good” (Romans 8:28) is still true, we can find positives as well as negatives from the “Year of Covid.”
Necessity once again gave birth to invention, this time by forcing our congregation to shift to new technological ways of being a church family. I congratulate all of you for doing such a terrific job of being flexible and adaptable. For six long weeks (including Holy Week and Easter, the pinnacle of the Christian year) we were unable to hold live worship. But that did not stop God’s Word. You learned how to worship with us online (with pre-recorded services from mid-March through April). You embraced the livestream option once we returned to in-person worship at the beginning of May. You maintained your financial and prayer support for our church and for your brothers and sisters in Christ. You supported and participated in our new Life Academy video and audio opportunities for spiritual growth, as well as the livestream alternative for the Bonita Christian Forum and our other events and classes. I am proud to be your pastor; First Church has come through the worst of the pandemic as a strong, innovative, and growing church.
A year ago, I offered to indefinitely postpone the retirement planning that Session and I had begun together, and they agreed. We sensed that what churches need most in changing circumstances is steady and consistent leadership. I am so grateful that the pastoral, program, and support staff of our church likewise committed to maintain continuity, as did our lay leadership of elders and deacons.
In the past few months, a new idea has emerged among our pastors and elders. We believe it is time to move to a broader shared leadership structure for our church. We discussed this with the entire congregation at a town hall-style meeting in March (which many of you who were unable to attend watched via livestream). Pastor Brad Rogers has an amazing pastoral skillset and is now less than a year away from finishing his doctorate in leadership. He has served us with great effectiveness for 4½ years, and by next winter will be ready to assume more responsibilities. Since our church has effectively doubled in size since I became your pastor 17 years ago (and since, at the same time, I have not gotten younger!), it will be a wonderful benefit to share the administrative load with Brad. If all goes well, and the congregation and our local presbytery agree, it is my hope that Dr. Rogers will become Co-Pastor with me next February or March. In addition to his exemplary teaching and preaching skills, Brad has unique expertise in the areas of family and young adult ministry and oversight of technological services.
As another winter season draws to a close in Southwest Florida, your church’s leadership will continue to search for new, innovative, and effective ways to serve you and reach our community. Whether you are preparing to relocate to a summer home, or are staying where you are, I pray God’s richest blessings to be with you.
Yours in Christ’s Service,
Pastor Doug Pratt
