Together In Mission
by Pastor Augie Iadicicco | April 28, 2011
Greetings Redeemer family and friends!
Rachelle, the children and I are thrilled to finally be here with you. After several months of interviews … prayer … deliberation … prayer … waiting … and more prayer … we are together at last. It seems like a long time for us, and yet it was an even longer time for you – beginning the call process about one and a half years ago! And yet, what seems like such a long time to us is but a blink to the Lord. Even more so, He has the ability to use all those delays, obstacles and challenges to grow us in ways that we can only see in hindsight and sometimes never will see. And so we trust in Him to have accomplished exactly what He wants in us in precisely the way which will be for our greatest benefit and for the greatest good in His Kingdom.
We thank you for the warm welcome that you have extended to us. The call committee and church leadership have tended to so many details and the installation service and reception was beautiful and inspiring! I commented to a few folks that pastors and congregations should do that every so often – even when not beginning a new minsistry. It’s wonderful to consider again the way that God has called us into ministry and to consider the ways in which congregation and pastor intend to work together for God’s glory!
Holy Scripture reminds us that “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Ephesians 4:11-12) Even though I have received a divine call to be the pastor in this location, it’s clear that the Lord’s work doesn’t end with me – or any pastor, apostle or evangelist for that matter. No, the purpose of these offices is to prepare God’s people for works of service and build up the body of Christ! In order for God’s will to be carried out through us, we all have a part to play. We all must work together since we are all on God’s team and we all serve a function in the body of Christ.
I remember when I decided to answer God’s call and enter the seminary. I simply wanted God to be able to use me however He desired in His Church and in His harvest field; I merely wanted to make myself available to Him. At that time, I couldn’t dream or fathom that I would serve a congregation in Houston, start a mission congregation in Phoenix and end up in Carlsbad, CA! Likewise, as we stand on the threshold of a new chapter in ministry at Redeemer by the Sea today, we cannot dream or fathom what God will do through us – the lives we will touch and the difference we will make for eternity! However, while we may not know WHAT God is going to do through us, we do know THAT God is going to work through us – because that is His promise to us in Scripture (Gen. 12:3 & Matt. 10:20).
How exciting it is to be united together as brothers and sisters in Christ – sharing the same mission and purpose to make disciples of Christ and to glorify God! My family and I are so eager to get to know you and to join with you in serving the Lord – you are a wonderful group of gifted people who have an obvious dedication to the Lord and a passion for His people! It’s my desire that through the life and ministry of this congregation and its members, we will together see many folks come to know Christ and to grow in their walk with Him! Soli Deo Gloria (to God Alone be the Glory)!
Rachelle, the children and I are thrilled to finally be here with you. After several months of interviews … prayer … deliberation … prayer … waiting … and more prayer … we are together at last. It seems like a long time for us, and yet it was an even longer time for you – beginning the call process about one and a half years ago! And yet, what seems like such a long time to us is but a blink to the Lord. Even more so, He has the ability to use all those delays, obstacles and challenges to grow us in ways that we can only see in hindsight and sometimes never will see. And so we trust in Him to have accomplished exactly what He wants in us in precisely the way which will be for our greatest benefit and for the greatest good in His Kingdom.
We thank you for the warm welcome that you have extended to us. The call committee and church leadership have tended to so many details and the installation service and reception was beautiful and inspiring! I commented to a few folks that pastors and congregations should do that every so often – even when not beginning a new minsistry. It’s wonderful to consider again the way that God has called us into ministry and to consider the ways in which congregation and pastor intend to work together for God’s glory!
Holy Scripture reminds us that “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Ephesians 4:11-12) Even though I have received a divine call to be the pastor in this location, it’s clear that the Lord’s work doesn’t end with me – or any pastor, apostle or evangelist for that matter. No, the purpose of these offices is to prepare God’s people for works of service and build up the body of Christ! In order for God’s will to be carried out through us, we all have a part to play. We all must work together since we are all on God’s team and we all serve a function in the body of Christ.
I remember when I decided to answer God’s call and enter the seminary. I simply wanted God to be able to use me however He desired in His Church and in His harvest field; I merely wanted to make myself available to Him. At that time, I couldn’t dream or fathom that I would serve a congregation in Houston, start a mission congregation in Phoenix and end up in Carlsbad, CA! Likewise, as we stand on the threshold of a new chapter in ministry at Redeemer by the Sea today, we cannot dream or fathom what God will do through us – the lives we will touch and the difference we will make for eternity! However, while we may not know WHAT God is going to do through us, we do know THAT God is going to work through us – because that is His promise to us in Scripture (Gen. 12:3 & Matt. 10:20).
How exciting it is to be united together as brothers and sisters in Christ – sharing the same mission and purpose to make disciples of Christ and to glorify God! My family and I are so eager to get to know you and to join with you in serving the Lord – you are a wonderful group of gifted people who have an obvious dedication to the Lord and a passion for His people! It’s my desire that through the life and ministry of this congregation and its members, we will together see many folks come to know Christ and to grow in their walk with Him! Soli Deo Gloria (to God Alone be the Glory)!
Pastor Augie Iadicicco
pastor@redeemerbythesea.org
pastor@redeemerbythesea.org