Getting Ready for the Future!

If you don’t know already, after 41 years of being involved in ministry and 34 years as a senior pastor, at the end of the summer I’m retiring from full-time pastoral ministry. My final Sunday here at Shrewsbury First Assembly is September 7 which is now just about two months away. I have to admit, this is a quite a bitter-sweet time as I know I’m going to miss many things about pastoring while at the same time I’m looking forward to the changes that retirement can bring, especially more time with my family. 

In the meantime, I’m getting myself and the church ready for what is to come. I’ve been working with our church board and assistant pastor, Guilherme Medeiros, who has been elected to step into my position upon my retirement, on this transition for about a year. Especially over the past six months, I’ve worked with Pastor Gui, preparing him for the role he is about to step into, hoping to help him and the church be well-prepared for the future that is before them. 

For myself, I’ve already made myself available to churches in our NJ Assemblies of God Network that may need pulpit supply or an interim pastor. Beyond that, I’ve been preparing myself for a new career as a personal trainer. This past year I took course work to be certified as both a personal trainer and senior fitness specialist. Thus far, a gym in the area has offered me a part-time position as a trainer. And, I’ve been working on starting my own business called, “Second Wind Personal Training.”  It’s a big challenge for me, a huge change, and a bit scary. After all, for so many years I’ve only known one thing: pastoring. 

In recent weeks, the theme of my life has been the importance of trusting God with my future. Many times in the past I’ve reached junctures in my life that were filled with uncertainty and that called for a heightened level of trust in God. This is another one of them. After all, I can do my part to plan for the future and to make sure things are in order, but there is so much that is yet uncertain and there are so many things I can’t control. I can do my best to prepare for what is ahead, but ultimately I can only do so much. The only thing that is then left is to trust that God will help me and lead me into the future that he has for me. I may become a bit anxious regarding what lays ahead, but that is exactly when my trust in God must rise to a new level. 

The other day I read this verse: “The LORD will work out his plans for my life—or your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever.” (Psalm 138:8 – NLT)  Those words were a reminder to me that God will be faithful to lead me and guide me into his plans for my life, just as he has always done. It doesn’t mean things will always be easy. But it does mean that whatever the future holds, I can know that he will be with me to help me and to fulfill his plans for my life. 

Let me encourage you today to trust God with your future as well. Yes, we must do our best to plan ahead. Ultimately, however, we place our future into his hands. 

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 29:11) 

Have a great day! 

-  Pastor Tim Harris 

FYI – If you’re interested to see what I’m planning you can visit my “Second Wind” website at secondwindpersonaltraining.com