Mountain Standard Regional Update
Out and About In the MSR
Keep Growing
By MS Regional Minister Rev. Tim Kerber
In the summer of 2024, I had the opportunity to spend some time reflecting on what was taking place in my life in this season of the journey. To be sure, this was a season with lots of transition and change in it. I was only a year and a half into my role as a regional minister, my wife Rachelle was beginning a new chapter of her life as a nurse, and we were in the beginning stages of coming to grips with our kids moving onto new adventures in their young adult lives. While all “good things,” you can imagine that there was still some navigating of all these changes that needed to be done.
For me, one of the questions I had as I entered this new time was: Am I continuing to live fully into the plans God had for me? Or to phrase it another way: Am I living with integrity, and being the person I preach that others should be? And if you know me well, you will know stewardship is one of the highest values I hold.
All this reflection led me to begin a search. What might God want to accomplish in me during this season? So, I began to look at courses, retreats, and other opportunities for challenge and growth. After lots of prayer, thought, and discussion, I settled on ARROW Leadership; an 18-month distance/in-person cohort program designed for Christian leaders. I was excited to discover that ARROW had begun an executive track for leaders like me. “Arrow Leadership envisions a world where Jesus-centered leaders are positioned to have their greatest Kingdom impact in life and leadership.”
So, over the past almost 2 years, I have been walking my ARROW journey with a cohort of amazing people from all over North America and Europe. Together, we have been challenged and invited to be led more by Jesus, to lead more like Jesus, and to lead more to Jesus.
In this journey, I have gone through times of great confidence and doubt. Moments where, like Isaiah, I was ready to jump into new work (Here I am, send me!), and moments when I wanted to be like Jonah and run away. I have been amazed at what I have learned about myself and discovered about the work in me still needing to be done. There were fears and anxiety I had to give to Jesus. There were invitations given for me to learn, and to trust Christ more fully. There were moments of stepping out in faith and trust. There were affirmations and encouragement that I needed to hear, reminding me of my part in God’s work in the world. And all of this, while my leadership capacity and understanding were growing alongside. If I were to sum up my experience, I might say that God was making room in my life for what He still intends to do in the future. One of our session instructors spoke of our 60s and 70s being some of the most effective and impactful years for the Kingdom. It was encouraging think that my best years may well still lie ahead!
Graduating class of ARROW Leadership Program that Tim Kerber was a part of
In June of this year, I completed my course and met one final time in person with my cohort. It was a time of thankfulness for the initiating work of God, and for new friends. It was also a time of sadness that our time together had run its course. And so, having just completed my ARROW journey, I find myself truly thankful for this amazing opportunity. The work was worth it. The time was worth it. The money was worth it.
My challenge to each of you is, in whatever season you find yourself in, are you open to and looking for what God wants to do in your life? Have you thought about what’s next? It could be a course, a program, a degree, a retreat, maybe a sabbatical. Is there anywhere in your life you need to invest in a new way? When was the last time you stepped out in faith and trusted God for more than you could see? Is there hope and anticipation in your heart? Are you continuing to be changed by Jesus?
God’s not done with any of us yet. May we continue to pursue growth and change, so that the Gospel we proclaim is given legitimacy by how we live our lives.
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:20-21).
(*ARROW Leadership has a ministry partnership with the Canadian Baptists)
