April, Affirmation, Baptism, and planning ahead

Good Morning Friends, Family, and Internet Wanderers!

The past month of April has been a positive one, full of affirmation, and hope. Yet there is still much on the horizon that needs to be planned and prayed for. The more I serve and spend time in ministry, the more I realize just how little I have to offer. I had the opportunity this past month to listen to some missionaries back from a year of serving overseas. What stood out to me most about their stories, is that they were all stories of what God has done, sometimes with them and sometimes in spite of them. So thank you for your constant prayers and here are some of the stories this past month of what God has done, sometimes with and sometimes in spite of me.

Thankfulness

For the past two months, I have been asking you to pray about my upcoming review process with the church. As I am writing this I still have not received the feedback from this process, but what I have received is God's peace about it. Shortly after writing my last entry as I was praying on this process it dawned on me that if there was a glaring or pressing issue that I needed to respond to, I would not have to wait this long. Similarly I try my best to be proactive in seeking out feedback from team members and other church members. So while there may be one or two things I need to address, I am at peace that there is likely nothing surprising on the horizon in this regard.

Along that vein, this month I have had the opportunity to be affirmed and encouraged in a number of ways. This past month I had the opportunity to meet with and encourage someone who was having a minor crisis. While I never wish struggles on others, I feel like it is one of my strongest areas as a pastor, to listen and minister to those who are struggling. The conversation was simple, and the crisis relatively small, but I felt honoured that this person desired to seek me out to help them work through it. And more specifically this person said that they felt like I was a mentor to them. While I do not know if that is an accurate account of our relationship, I am so glad that the Lord has been using me to encourage and minister to others.

Also this past month one of my students publicly committed their life to Christ through baptism. Again I can take no credit as this was all God working through the people of the church who came before me, but it was encouraging none the less. Even more encouraging is that this student has asked that I walk with them for a while as a mentor helping them grow deeper into their faith. I am so honoured that I not only get to lead this student, but was asked by this student to help them as they seek to walk out their faith.

Prayer Requests

Despite all the encouragement surrounding those I am serving and ministering to, there are others who for whatever reason do not seem to be growing. Of those I serve a few do not count themselves as Christians, and often these are the ones who I devote most of my time to serving. Sometimes it seems as if they are moments away from being ready to follow Jesus and other times like they want nothing to do with him or the church. Please pray for these people. That God would reveal himself to them, that they would see God at work, and that I would have His words to give them as needed.

In a few weeks the lead pastor at the church is taking a short sabbatical, around a month. During this time, I will assume a few of his responsibilities, predominantly on Sunday mornings. On the one hand it is exciting to be the only pastor at the church, but more accurately I am a little nervous. So please pray for me, that I would lead and teach well, and that I would make wise decisions in his absence. Also please pray that my lead would find this a time of rest and rejuvenation.

Finally as many of you know I am looking for a new housing situation. In late June I am planning on house sitting for a family in my church and hopefully I will find a more permanent living situation before the end of July, ideally somewhere in the middle of July so I can move with ease. Please pray that I find a suitable place to live, in terms of cost, size, and location. This past year has been incredibly difficult for me in terms of home life, and I am looking forward to a time when I can be at ease at home, instead of on guard. Please also continue to pray that those I am living with experience the Lords blessings, as much as I do not like them right now, I know God loves them and calls me to do the same.

Thank you so much for your partnership in prayer

God Bless
- Stefan Klassen