An End and a New Beginning

My time in the office of Pastor at Evergreen Church - Gurdon, Arkansas is quickly drawing to an end. This Sunday, May 22, 2011 will be my last Sunday. We loved our time at the Gurdon church. We developed many strong, lasting friendships. I consider most of the people attending there to be like family. I got the word and confirmation that it was time to go from God. I had many concerns about Evergreen. But God has been faithful. He provided a pastor with the skill-set necessary to lead the congregation into future ministry. God is good.

There was always the nagging thought in the back of my mind: What am I going to do next? I mean I have a great job at Ouachita Baptist University, I love this area, and I love the local people so I wasn't eager to move off. I also know (at least at this point) God does not want me to take an office in a church anytime soon. Not because I was burned by a church or have a bad feeling about church in general, but because I have a new calling, a new beginning.

I have always been concerned with the lack of growth in the followers of Jesus. In the church we call them Disciples and what they do we call discipleship. I have been researching the current state of discipleship and it is lousy. There does not appear to be ANY difference between those claiming to follow Jesus and those who the bible says are "enemies of God". I am going to set about to change that.

Among the personal changes I am making is:
o I am ending this blog. Most everyone who reads it can get the same personal stuff by friending up with me on facebook. Plus I almost never write here anymore because i didn't want to duplicate the stuff I was putting on facebook.
o I have started a new blog at wordpress to publish some of my research, writings, and news: Evergreen Life .

So if you are interested in the personal stuff that used to go here, friend-up with me on facebook. If you are interested in how to better connect with God and make a difference in your church check out the new blog. Or do both! I hope you will stay connected with me.
I appreciate you and pray for God to move in your life.
To God Be The Glory,
David Owens

January 2011 Chair Report for the Church of God in Arkansas

It is with great excitement that I write this month’s letter. The Transition Team has done the hard work and accomplished much. They are to be congratulated. When we began this transition no one really knew how long it would take to make the necessary changes. We believed. God delivered. Through much prayer and with wise counsel the changes are being effected.

By the time of the Spring Ministers’ Meeting, March 10, 11, and 12 at Community Park Church in Bryant, we will have a new Board in place. This Board will replace the Transition Team. The Board will be the link between the Assembly and the work of the state. They will be responsible for overseeing all operations of the state ministry and business. Powerful, yet humble…leaders of all and therefore servants of all.

Bylaws are being developed and should also be presented at the General Assembly Meeting on March 12, 2011. They will be presented to the churches for their consideration. Ratification of the new bylaws will occur at the Church of God in Arkansas Homecoming Campmeeting this summer.

The transition time is coming to an end. HALLELUJAH!!! Soon, very soon now, we will have state level leadership that will focus all of their energies on revitalizing churches, developing a culture of leadership development, and developing great expectations of expanding God’s Kingdom here in Arkansas. We will see God work again in our local
churches. We will see lives eternally changed and communities transformed. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof,” (Psalm 24.1). God is taking back what is rightfully His. We will see this fulfilled with our eyes and it will be known by our children, and our children’s children. The Lord promised in Psalm 2.8, “Ask and I will give the nations to you…” God we are asking for the nations…begin right here in our hearts, our churches and towns, and in our state.

Now Brothers and Sister the real work begins.
To God Be The Glory! Amen!
David Owens, Chair

January 2011 Pastor's Report Evergreen Church

The Lord continues to bless Evergreen Church. As many of you know, God
called me and my family to end our time as Pastor here. We struggled with the call away because we love this church and the Church of God in Arkansas. However, we know that God has a plan to love us and grow us up into the image of the Son. His will is perfect and the way we must go. So we initiated a search for a new pastor. About the same time I received my call, a pastor in Louisiana received a call to begin looking for a new church. God led us together. Our candidate and
his family came to visit in January. We loved them. God has placed in our candidate’s heart the same calling He has given Evergreen Church. It was a perfect match. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to recommend the candidate to the church. The church will vote on our new pastor January 23rd. God is tying up one loose end. The church will have a pastor that can lead the people where He wants us to go. Praise God.
My family’s path is uncertain at this point. Our desire is to stay in Arkansas, serving God. But the path is currently unknown to us. We continue to seek God and His will for our family. God has never let us down and will sustain us until He comes again for us.

Appreciation & Request

I appreciate the kind comments (on facebook). It is encouraging to us that you care about us and the adventure God is taking us on. Thanks.
I would ask that you pray for Evergreen Church. These are some of the greatest people on earth. They have been like very close family. While Karin and I have had time to pray and figure out what God would have us do, this is all brand new to the church. It is kind of a shock when a family member says they have to go.

Please pray for Evergreen Church:

*That God would comfort the church
*That God would quickly bring His prepared leader
*That God would be glorified in this transition
*That fruitfulness would result

To God Be The Glory,
David

Evergreen Resignation

There will not be peace in my heart until I do what Christ is asking me to do. I am resigning the position of Pastor of Evergreen Church. I have held on to the position for several reasons. The main reason was because I care very deeply about the people in this church. God made me realize that He knows better than I how to love you and lead you.
I am resigning for the following reasons:

* I am convinced my purpose in this church is complete.
* I believe I will be holding the church back from all God has for it if I stay.
* I am convinced God is telling me now is the time for this change.

I believe God’s purpose for me here was to restore, unify, and refocus the church on the mission field that surrounds it. Those tasks are complete. The upcoming tasks of leading the church into the mission field will be the responsibility of the new leader. I am unequipped to lead any further. If I stay I would hinder God’s plan for this church. He has your next pastor lined up and prepared for the tasks ahead. As sure as I was that God brought us together, I am just as sure our paths now diverge. However, I am filled with hope for Evergreen Church because God will make the way forward. God has someone to better lead this church for the times ahead. I am wholly committed to God’s plan for this church.
I do not know what is ahead for me and my family. We have no immediate plans to leave the area. Whatever God has for me in the future has not yet been revealed to me. We must put our trust in God who will make a way for us all in the coming days.
May God continue to bless Evergreen Church.
With love and hope for the future,

David Owens

20

Today it has been twenty years since I was burned in an apartment fire; my life irrevocable changed in the blink of an eye. I experienced the kind of loss that devastates, that kills hope. I have lived with the consequences of that fire for twenty years, half of my life. Some results were very bad and some very, very great. God has restored my life and I love it. I have a beautiful wife and three great kids. I am filled with hope and expectation that the best is yet to come. And my hope is never disappointed but grows with each new day.

God, You have been so good to me. I praise You on this day for Your sustaining grace and for Your overwhelming love that pursues...captures...and never lets go. May my lips praise You forever. Thank You. Amen.

I have learned a few things in my life that my prove useful for you. One I want to share with you now:
When you fall into a dark place in your life, the highest you will need to climb to escape...is up to your knees. God is your escape...your rescuer...your savior. May you find Him in your moment of need. He is your only hope.

Be blessed and filled with hope. God is with you.

A Sad Story Concerning Future Adoptions

We are one of the last adoptions in this court for an undetermined amount of time. That woman who returned her child has caused an international disruption in adoptions. I know there are several families that will now have to wait until this drama plays out. The waiting will cause a lot of the hard work these families have already completed to be redone, some with great expense. As usual, it is the orphans which will suffer the most bcause of the wreckless actions of one person.