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Changing the Vibe

Each month, we post a series of blogs around a common topic. During May, as we continue to process the 2015 National Gathering, Nate Phillips is curating a month of blog posts exploring models of shared ministry, inspired by his pitch for an IGNITE presentation at the 2015 National Gathering. Join the conversation here, on Facebook, or Twitter!

by Nate Phillips (featuring a film by Joni James)

“We’re going to lose him.”
“She’s going to find something better.”
That becomes the mantra of almost every church when they notice they have a good pastor – especially when it comes to an exceptional younger pastor. It doesn’t take long either. Younger pastors begin hearing that kind of language in the first months of their ministry and, as soon as they do, they begin wondering if their parishioners are right. Maybe they are exceptional. Maybe they could do better. Maybe they shouldn’t stay for long.
That was certainly a possibility for John Molina-Moore.  I can remember interviewing him for Director for Youth position (eventually it transitioned to an Associate Pastor position).  Our Director of Music was at the interview because, as everyone knows, the Director of Music is the real boss, and he said even then, “Hire him right now, before he gets away.”
John could “get away” at any time and someday he will.  Wherever he goes, the church will be fortunate to have him.  In the meantime, we’ve tried to be creative about helping John stay at our church, continue to grow in his ministry and, as a bonus, develop a partnership with a smaller church in a changing community that has never (ever!) had a pastor anything like him.
The video below by Joni James tells that story of shared ministry.

JoniJamesJoni James is a filmmaker and photographer from the mountains of western Maine. When she’s not behind the camera, you can find her homeschooling her crazy kids, or outside watching her adorable chickens. See what she does for churches and families at www.photojoni.com.