Raintree - Weekly Email

Hello Raintree Friends and Family,

A reminder to all of you to forward the e-mail that went out earlier from Jason Bigham the chair of our Senior Minister search committee. Please forward the e-mail pasted below to those who know of, or would serve as, a great Senior Minister here at Raintree.

See You Sunday!

Brent

Dear Friend of Raintree Christian Church, Greetings!

The PDF document found at http://www.raintreechristian.org/00_search.htm is meant to generate applicants for the Senior Minister Position that recently became open at Raintree Christian Church in Lubbock, Texas. It was prepared by our Search Committee by the authority of our Elders. It contains information about Raintree, including our history, our current staff, our approach to governance, our beliefs and values and our city. It also contains a description of our expectations for the position and the job itself, plus an outline of the process we'll be using to complete this important task.

If you've received this email as a potential applicant and would like to be considered, please review the Call for Candidates Packet PDF.

If you're not a potential applicant, we hope you'll take a moment to pray for guidance and then forward this email to those you believe may be interested in applying, or even to those you believe may know potential applicants. Our intention is to cast a wide net, so we appreciate your assistance. Who knows? Your referral might be the one that brings Raintree our next shepherd - the person who will be leading, teaching and caring for us for years to come.

If you have questions, please contact me by email at jasondbigham@gmail.com.

Thanks very much!

Jason Bigham
Chairman of the Search Committee

Announcement from August 28, 2011

I have some news to share with all of you today that may call on some of what we learned in today’s message. Paige and I have come to a very difficult decision after several weeks of prayer and conversation with the staff and the elders. We have decided to take a break from vocational ministry for a season. After 20 years in ministry, we are in need of a Sabbath. While I am not burned out, I have decided that it best to ask the elders to begin the search for my replacement before I am burned out and before it could affect the church.

Our children are all at an age where we would like to make them more of a primary focus. Any of you with children entering adolescence understand the importance of those years. Because of my corporate consulting work, I can become more of a full-time dad and still support my family.

The elders and I both agree that I will stay on in my role during the search for my successor. In fact, the elders have asked, and I have agreed, to serve on a search committee for my successor.

I know this is difficult news to hear, but I want what is best for my family and what is best for Raintree and I believe this decision is best for Raintree in the long run.

One reason I believe this is that Raintree has grown to the point where this job requires someone who is not wired bi-vocationally as I am. Many of you know that on my days off I work in corporate consulting—something that I have done for 13 years now. This agreement was necessary five years ago because the church was in a difficult spot financially. Thanks to a tremendous step of faith and creativity on the part of the elders Paige and I were able to come to Lubbock.

Thankfully, Raintree is in a much different place financially than it was five years ago. Because of Raintree’s growth and your generosity, the church is able to pay an appropriate salary for a Senior Minister. However, Raintree’s growth also places increasing demands on the Senior Minister. I feel that it is no longer best for Raintree’s Senior Minister to be bi-vocational. In order for the Raintree Family to reach her potential in Christ a more singular focus will be required—a singular focus that someone can provide better than me.

We know our decision saddens many of you, but we hope you will respect our decision and look hopefully and prayerfully to the man that God has planned for Raintree.

Five years ago Paige and I came to Raintree. We knew immediately that this was a special place. Despite coming through some difficult times, this church still had a sweet spirit, a committed core membership, and a devoted staff. God used these great fundamentals to grow Raintree numerically and spiritually. The church has flourished these last five years. And that same God is on the throne no matter who is in this pulpit—Raintree’s best years are ahead!

Paige and I want to say thanks to all of you for giving us five of our most enjoyable years in ministry. We have truly been blessed by this labor of love. We love you!

Welcome New Members
We continue to have many new individuals and families wanting to be formally
recognized as members of our Raintree Family. Go on line and look at the
New Member Board in the lobby for the pictures. As you see these folks, say
hi and make them feel welcome. (BTW: Our next Connection luncheon for
those interested in member ship will be on the calendar soon. Stay tuned for
the exact date.)

Mario Gomez & Melissa Dearth