Where did the podcast go? Why did I quit reading the Bible? Why has there not been a Satur-deja Vu in two weeks? Is Clark Bunch okay?

I have been the pastor at Unity Baptist Church in Plainville, GA, since 2014. It was mostly senior citizen couples that called me to pastor and for the past decade they have been aging out. A couple of times we though the momentum would change but the new people we added didn’t stay a long time for one reason or another. We have some new believers (baby Christians) and regular attenders but outside of my immediate family no one that has been “churched” for many years, if that makes sense.

I have been talking to the mission strategist at our local Baptist association about what’s next for the church. At the same time I have updated my resume and talked to some folks about churches looking for pastors; I have only emailed one church my resume, I am not pounding the pavement yet. At the same time I’ve had discussions with a few people about a full time job during the week. Technically I am bi-vocational but for several years have not had another vocation. That is too much to get into but if someone asks I will try to explain it. When people ask what I do I tell them I am a church pastor; I have a collection of things I do part time or sometimes but not work a 40 hr/wk job.

So about a week and a half ago I started a full time job. I continue to pastor Unity and will for a while but with a full time income, and a wife that teaches, it gives us some breathing room. I can actually help the church in some ways I could not afford to before and be deliberate and intentional about looking for another church. No one has to hurry, we are not going to be living in the back of my truck (that was always a joke but we do live in the church parsonage so if the church closes it’s doors…)

The job I am training for is ministry adjacent. I don’t want to say too much about it but it gives me the opportunity to show sympathy and compassion and maybe be christ-like for an individual or a family just when they need someone to be. I will be on-call 24 hours a day for 5 days at a time. Right now I am off on Sundays and Mondays. There were a couple of days earlier this week that were grueling in terms of hours and work load. Then the next two days were much less demanding but I needed at least one of the those days to recuperate.

In the coming weeks, both my family and myself will adjust to the new routine, or lack thereof. I will finish my training, be assigned a company vehicle and start making salary. Our dog that visited the vet 4 or 5 times in the past 10 days will recover from surgery and (maybe) stop stressing all of us out. And even if I don’t get to record and post every day it should be more often than none. Please pray for our family. Pray for my physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Pray for our little country church. Pray that God would receive honor and glory and that the Gospel would be spread far and wide, and to that end maybe The Master’s Table will be a part of that.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for listening. Peace, and God bless.