Kingdom Partnership With Not For Sale

Over the past five months or so, God has increasingly given Pastor Kevin more opportunity on a national basis to influence the effort to ‘re-abolish’ slavery.  Several of us have spent many hours praying, talking, and strategizing about how to give room for this obvious calling, at the same time maintaining the kind of wonderful leadership Pastor Kevin provides for our Sunday morning worship gatherings.  Working with Lakeside’s Leadership Board, Supt. Matt Whitehead, and a number of others, it seems best for the Kingdom of God at Lakeside and beyond to release Pastor Kevin to work part time for the Not For Sale organization.  So, while his hours for Lakeside will decrease, he is remaining as staff pastor and is committed to leading excellent, exuberant worship for us into the foreseeable future.  I asked Pastor Kevin to write about this change in his own words for you.

Pastor Kevin writes:  “God is a creative God, shaping and changing things, transforming us in ways both mysterious and delightful.  God is transforming all of us at Lakeside, which is the message God is giving us through the Revolution 2010 focus these past months.  Change can be difficult at times, but change should best be seen as orchestrated by the Holy Spirit – a good thing!

Not For Sale | Shadowhands from Not For Sale Campaign on Vimeo.

For me, this change is the fulfillment of years of searching, preparation, and trying my best to follow God. Over the past six years I have earnestly sought a way in which to engage personally, and professionally in the fight against modern slavery.  It has always made sense to do so within the context of my Free Methodist community.  Additionally, Biblical justice work is an outflow of worship; and worship is the end to which we point all of our work.  This work is best practiced within the context of the local church – for me this is Lakeside Community Fellowship.

After much prayer, Godly counsel, and proper communications with our Bishop, Superintendent, Pastor Eric, and the Leadership Board, my position at Lakeside will be experiencing some change.  Beginning this month, my pastoral duties will include more abolitionist work on a national and global platform as a North American missionary with the Free Methodist Church in cooperation with the Not for Sale Campaign.

What does this mean for Lakeside?  I will continue to serve as a staff pastor overseeing worship and other areas.  It also means that Lakeside will have an incredible opportunity to join the abolitionist movement on the front lines both in our back yards and across the globe.  Look for ways to impact our community and world through this worship-filled activism!

I look forward to many years of service at Lakeside.  I anticipate that God will take us to whole new levels of obedience, worship, and service.   I also believe God will use Lakeside to change the world.” – Pastor Kevin

For More Information about Not For Sale, click here: http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/