UPDATE FROM: April 20, 2023
Church Family,
Again, thank you on behalf of your Search Committee team! Thank you for your prayers; thank you for your patience; thank you for your support; and thank you for your encouragement!
We have now been one month without a Senior Pastor, and yes, we’re officially a church in “transition”; however, we each have every opportunity during this transition to continue all those ministries that make us the Great Commission-minded church we have always been. Jim Richards has proven to be an outstanding interim pastor, our grow groups continue to thrive, our Wednesday “Brown Bag Lunch” Bible studies have been encouraging, and we are working together in anticipation of yet another meaningful Vacation Bible School time under Jenna Arthur’s leadership! Transition or not, we are moving forward!
Your Search Committee is continuing to meet and to prayerfully and faithfully follow the process, and we have narrowed the candidate field from the “many” to the “few.” We are currently praying over and evaluating these candidates more in-depth in the weeks ahead. You have entrusted us with this endeavor, and I can assure you that each and every one of us take this trust very seriously. Like you, we want God’s man for Hyde Park. Nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else!
Coveting your continued prayers and patience,
Danny Bivens
Chairman, Pastor Search Committee
Again, thank you on behalf of your Search Committee team! Thank you for your prayers; thank you for your patience; thank you for your support; and thank you for your encouragement!
We have now been one month without a Senior Pastor, and yes, we’re officially a church in “transition”; however, we each have every opportunity during this transition to continue all those ministries that make us the Great Commission-minded church we have always been. Jim Richards has proven to be an outstanding interim pastor, our grow groups continue to thrive, our Wednesday “Brown Bag Lunch” Bible studies have been encouraging, and we are working together in anticipation of yet another meaningful Vacation Bible School time under Jenna Arthur’s leadership! Transition or not, we are moving forward!
Your Search Committee is continuing to meet and to prayerfully and faithfully follow the process, and we have narrowed the candidate field from the “many” to the “few.” We are currently praying over and evaluating these candidates more in-depth in the weeks ahead. You have entrusted us with this endeavor, and I can assure you that each and every one of us take this trust very seriously. Like you, we want God’s man for Hyde Park. Nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else!
Coveting your continued prayers and patience,
Danny Bivens
Chairman, Pastor Search Committee
UPDATE FROM: March 21, 2023
Church Family,
Sunday was a glorious day in the life of our church as we celebrated Dr. Bowman together! God has, indeed, blessed us with his leadership these past 26 years! Hebrews 13:7 rings ever true: “Remember those who led you, who spoke the Word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”
So what’s next? We move together into the next phase of God’s plan for our church family! Isaiah 43:18-19 immediately comes to mind: “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”
Your Pastor Search Committee is continuing to meet as we seek God’s man for our next Senior Pastor. Luke 18:1 tells us that we “ought always to pray and not lose heart,” and that’s what we need and covet the most from you!
1. Pray for our church family during this time of transition. Pray specifically for harmony and patience and that we will continue the work of the kingdom in this transition time.
2. Pray for the candidates who have expressed interest in being considered for our next Senior Pastor. Pray for them, their families, and for their church families where they are currently serving.
3. Pray for Jim Richards. Jim is our Pastor Search Committee advisor, and beginning March 26th, he will begin serving as our Interim Pastor as well.
4. Pray for US, that we will be faithful to the process; that we will put aside personal prejudices and preferences; and that we will remain submissive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
5. Pray for our next meeting, Sunday, March 26, as we begin the process of narrowing the candidates.
Blessings!
Danny Bivens
Chairman, Pastor Search Committee
Sunday was a glorious day in the life of our church as we celebrated Dr. Bowman together! God has, indeed, blessed us with his leadership these past 26 years! Hebrews 13:7 rings ever true: “Remember those who led you, who spoke the Word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”
So what’s next? We move together into the next phase of God’s plan for our church family! Isaiah 43:18-19 immediately comes to mind: “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”
Your Pastor Search Committee is continuing to meet as we seek God’s man for our next Senior Pastor. Luke 18:1 tells us that we “ought always to pray and not lose heart,” and that’s what we need and covet the most from you!
1. Pray for our church family during this time of transition. Pray specifically for harmony and patience and that we will continue the work of the kingdom in this transition time.
2. Pray for the candidates who have expressed interest in being considered for our next Senior Pastor. Pray for them, their families, and for their church families where they are currently serving.
3. Pray for Jim Richards. Jim is our Pastor Search Committee advisor, and beginning March 26th, he will begin serving as our Interim Pastor as well.
4. Pray for US, that we will be faithful to the process; that we will put aside personal prejudices and preferences; and that we will remain submissive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
5. Pray for our next meeting, Sunday, March 26, as we begin the process of narrowing the candidates.
Blessings!
Danny Bivens
Chairman, Pastor Search Committee
UPDATE FROM: March 1, 2023
Church Family,
In our most recent Wednesday Live prayer meeting, Dr. Bowman shared Psalm 65:2: "O You Who hear prayer, to You all men come." That said, please be assured we on YOUR Pastor Search Committee are sincerely appreciative to YOU for "coming to the One Who hears our prayers" as we collectively seek His will for our next Senior Pastor.
As you know, the committee is continuing to follow the process developed by our committee advisor, Dr. Jim Richards (https://sbtexas.com/?s=pastor+search+handbook ). Pursuant to that process, we solicited YOUR input through our pastor questionnaires and the January 29th "listening session" to help us narrow our focus for the kind of Senior Pastor YOU would like to see. Additionally, we have received multiple candidate recommendations from you as well as other external references, and we will be in a position to begin reviewing candidates in mid-late March.
Many of you have asked about the consideration of existing staff for Senior Pastor consideration. To clarify, our bylaws do allow recommendations of existing church staff members, and those references will be considered in the same manner as all other candidates. The appropriate bylaw language is provided on the church website (https://www.hpbc.org/pastorsearch ).
I want to encourage you to add Dr. Jim Richards to your prayers. In addition to his role as advisor to the Search Committee, he will be serving as our Interim Pastor beginning March 26th and will do so until we have a new Senior Pastor in place. Dr. Richards is an outstanding Bible communicator, and I know we will be blessed as he serves in this role for us.
Blessings!
Danny Bivens
Chairman, Pastor Search Committee
In our most recent Wednesday Live prayer meeting, Dr. Bowman shared Psalm 65:2: "O You Who hear prayer, to You all men come." That said, please be assured we on YOUR Pastor Search Committee are sincerely appreciative to YOU for "coming to the One Who hears our prayers" as we collectively seek His will for our next Senior Pastor.
As you know, the committee is continuing to follow the process developed by our committee advisor, Dr. Jim Richards (https://sbtexas.com/?s=pastor+search+handbook ). Pursuant to that process, we solicited YOUR input through our pastor questionnaires and the January 29th "listening session" to help us narrow our focus for the kind of Senior Pastor YOU would like to see. Additionally, we have received multiple candidate recommendations from you as well as other external references, and we will be in a position to begin reviewing candidates in mid-late March.
Many of you have asked about the consideration of existing staff for Senior Pastor consideration. To clarify, our bylaws do allow recommendations of existing church staff members, and those references will be considered in the same manner as all other candidates. The appropriate bylaw language is provided on the church website (https://www.hpbc.org/pastorsearch ).
I want to encourage you to add Dr. Jim Richards to your prayers. In addition to his role as advisor to the Search Committee, he will be serving as our Interim Pastor beginning March 26th and will do so until we have a new Senior Pastor in place. Dr. Richards is an outstanding Bible communicator, and I know we will be blessed as he serves in this role for us.
Blessings!
Danny Bivens
Chairman, Pastor Search Committee
UPDATE FROM: February 2, 2023
Church Family,
On behalf of the Pastor Search Committee, THANK YOU again for your participation at our January 29th “listening session.” Your input was most helpful and insightful, and we will be compiling your comments to develop a “pastor profile” that best reflects YOUR preferences for our next Senior Pastor.
In the meantime, just a few reminders:
We have already begun the process of receiving candidate recommendations and hope to begin reviewing those in late February/early March.
Again, it is our goal to keep you informed as we work through the process, so continue to look for updates in the Logon and at hpbc.org/pastorsearch as they become available.
Blessings!
Danny Bivens
PSC Chairman
On behalf of the Pastor Search Committee, THANK YOU again for your participation at our January 29th “listening session.” Your input was most helpful and insightful, and we will be compiling your comments to develop a “pastor profile” that best reflects YOUR preferences for our next Senior Pastor.
In the meantime, just a few reminders:
- PLEASE continue praying for the committee, the search process, and for the man God is already preparing to be our next Senior Pastor.
- If you haven’t already done so, please complete the Congregational Survey. Hard copies are available at the Breezeway Welcome Kiosk and online at hpbc.org/pastorsearch for soft copies. Try to have those completed by February 15th.
We have already begun the process of receiving candidate recommendations and hope to begin reviewing those in late February/early March.
Again, it is our goal to keep you informed as we work through the process, so continue to look for updates in the Logon and at hpbc.org/pastorsearch as they become available.
Blessings!
Danny Bivens
PSC Chairman
UPDATE FROM : January 20, 2023
Church Family,
At the outset, THANK YOU for all the prayers, support, and encouragement you have already given me and the members of the Pastor Search Team!
We are committed to communicate with you on a regular basis about our progress. We met for the first time as a team this past Sunday (January 15th). We spent a good bit of time in prayer and building harmony as a group, as well as walking through the SBTC Pastor Search Handbook with our committee advisor, Dr. Jim Richards. Dr. Richards and his associate, Tony Wolfe, have decades of experience in helping churches navigate the search for a new pastor. It is our commitment as a team to prayerfully and faithfully follow the process in conjunction with the leading of God’s Spirit as we seek God’s man for Hyde Park.
A key component of the process is to solicit feedback, comments, recommendations, etc. FROM YOU! To that end, please note the following:
Danny Bivens
Chairman
At the outset, THANK YOU for all the prayers, support, and encouragement you have already given me and the members of the Pastor Search Team!
We are committed to communicate with you on a regular basis about our progress. We met for the first time as a team this past Sunday (January 15th). We spent a good bit of time in prayer and building harmony as a group, as well as walking through the SBTC Pastor Search Handbook with our committee advisor, Dr. Jim Richards. Dr. Richards and his associate, Tony Wolfe, have decades of experience in helping churches navigate the search for a new pastor. It is our commitment as a team to prayerfully and faithfully follow the process in conjunction with the leading of God’s Spirit as we seek God’s man for Hyde Park.
A key component of the process is to solicit feedback, comments, recommendations, etc. FROM YOU! To that end, please note the following:
- The committee would like every church member to complete a Congregational Survey. The survey will be available in hard copy (at our Breezeway Welcome Kiosk and also in our grow group classes) OR electronically, by going to www.hpbc.org/pastorsearch and clicking on “Congregational Survey.” Completed hard copies should be returned to the Breezeway Welcome Kiosk.
- In addition to the survey, we would like to invite all church members to attend a “listening session” on Sunday, January 29th, at 6:00 p.m. in Friendship Hall where members of the Pastor Search Team will facilitate a dialogue with those present to receive your feedback.
Danny Bivens
Chairman