The First Baptist Church
of
Redlands
TA PE S T RY
Woven Together In Love: Colossians 2:2
ISSUE No. 10
OCTOBER 2017 A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR SHAWN
Pastor Deena is Retiring.. . Oh My!
Before I even arrived to begin work as pastor of the church Deena was busy, in countless ways, making sure my transition would be smooth. She has continued to be a partner in ministry, helping me to find my way in a new church, all the while amazing me at her gifts and skills for ministry. Under her leadership our church has developed a Christian Education program that is a model for other churches. Her work to enhance our worship experience, mostly behind the scenes, makes a difference every single week. I have counted my blessings on a regular basis at the opportunity I have had to work with Pastor Deena. So, you can imagine the little twinge of panic that I felt when Deena told me that she was ready to retire. October is Pastor Deena’s last month on the staff of our church. This will free her to be able to travel and spend time with Dale and their family. God will open doors for Deena to bless the wider “family” as she will be available to preach, teach and use her gifts in other places as opportunities arise. Deena will not be leaving our congregation, but her role will change significantly. She will take a couple of months away and then return as a member. She will relinquish all duties and activities as a pastor in order for us as a congregation to learn to live without her in this role. She will not be accepting any teaching invitations until her successor invites her to do so. All of this is necessary for the congregation and for Deena in order to make
the transitions that come with the retirement of such a significant leader in our church. I hope that we all will do our best to not put Deena in the awkward position of having to say, “No,” to us. And if she does say “No” to an invitation or request, we will understand that it is best for her and for our church at this time. We will miss Deena in the role as Associate Pastor, over and over again, but we will be excited to see the opportunities that arise now that Deena will have the time to serve in a broader arena of the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Deena will be preaching her final sermon as Associate Pastor on Sunday, October 22. The following Sunday, October 29, we will celebrate Pastor Deena’s ministry with a luncheon and program in Fellowship Hall. Details will be forthcoming.
Continuing to Make a Difference in the World
The First Baptist Church of Redlands has had a long history of connection with missionaries and global servants. We support world missions and we are the church home of missionaries who have
retired. Just this past month we have been blessed by visits from the Rev. Mylinda Baits and Dr. David Parajon. Mylinda shared with us about her work using art as therapy and healing for those who have been exploited and traumatized by human trafficking and other violence. She has worked in Latin America for many years and now her ministry is expanding and she will be working globally. David, along with his wife, Dr. Laura Parajon, works in the area of public health, particularly in remote rural areas of Nicaragua. These are missionaries who we have supported for many years. Also, in our midst this year we have been blessed to have Glen and Rita Chapman who are based here in Redlands while on home assignment from their work in Kikongo, D. R. Congo. Our congregation has a reputation of partnering with missionaries and global servants as an extension of the ministry of our church. It is that time again when we are called to open our wallets, get out our checkbooks or go online to give to the World Mission Offering. This offering helps our missionaries and global servants to have the resources they need to do the work that God is calling them and us to do around the world. They are our partners and representatives in ministry in places we will very likely never go. I encourage you to join me in giving generously to this offering as we receive it in the month of October. It is an important investment in God’s work in the lives of people around the world.