“They say Aslan is on the move- perhaps has already landed." And now a very curious thing happened. None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken these words everyone felt quite different.”
- C. S. Lewis The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe
In December of 2022 Ben Hall, the Lead Pastor of Shuswap Community Church, announced his resignation. At that point our church entered into a new season defined by the word “transition.” We don’t know what that word will ultimately mean for Shuswap Community Church and what things will look like when we get to the other side but since we began this process I am sure we are all feeling, “quite different.”
At the beginning of January 2023 the board met and began to prayerfully consider where God is leading our church. A team was put together representing each of the four SCC locations to evaluate our model and engage with the congregation. The evaluation team has been working hard collecting input and having discussions with the various local congregations and staff.
With the completion of the town hall meetings in each campus and the summer coming into full swing we find ourselves in a season of rest. The team will continue to work hard to sift through everything they have seen and heard and compile a report to present to the church. As we await the release of this report and enter into this season of waiting we know that the work is not yet done. All throughout this transition there have been invitations to pray for the team, the board, the staff and the process.
This summer the Elders of the church would like to invite and challenge the congregation to take this invitation to the next level. “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand,” Proverbs 19:21 tell’s us and so as we plan, dream and evaluate what the future of Shuswap Community Church looks like we must do so prayerfully; seeking God’s wisdom in the process, God’s discernment in our conclusions and God’s will for the future of His church.
Each week this summer we want the church to be united in prayer. To facilitate this we have put together a weekly prayer calendar listing specific ways we can be praying together as we listen and wait for the leading of God’s Spirit. We will end this unique season of prayer by gathering together this fall in each SCC location for a special evening of prayer. There we will, together, ask God to bring us into the next season of this process with a renewed vision and refreshed zeal for the work still left to do. The transition might feel different to many of us but when we look beyond the uncertainty we know that God is at work. We know His Spirit is moving and if God is working, we don’t have to worry.
The Elders of the church are excited to see where God leads Shuswap Community Church in the season ahead and are committed to serving and leading SCC to continue its mission to declare and demonstrate the transforming power of the gospel all throughout the Shuswap. So as we wait for God to give us more clarity on the road ahead let’s faithfully be praying together; for the board, for the staff, for the churches and for each other that together we are ready and excited for how God is moving in His church.
With all Love and Brotherly Affection,
The Elders of Shuswap Community Church
Download Documents:
A Call To Prayer from the SCC Elders
Summer Transition Prayer Guide