Ordination of Pastor Dave DeHaan

Dave DeHaan has served in a variety of pastoral roles in churches for more than a decade, and we have been strengthened and encouraged by his ministry among us at New Covenant since the beginning of our church's life together. Last night his calling as a pastor in Christ's flock was confirmed by an ordination council consisting of our elders and representatives from Hope Fellowship in Lombard, Bethel Baptist in St. Charles, and Fellowship Life Church in Gilberts.

Dave spent nearly two hours interacting with us about his conversion, character, and call to gospel ministry and about his understanding of biblical doctrine. The council then conferred and agreed unanimously that Dave should be formally ordained to gospel ministry, presenting him with encouraging observations about the evidences of God's grace in his life and suggestions for his continual progress in the faith. We see in Dave a "gospel practitioner" who displays a graciousness and tender care for Christ's flock. His answers to us all reflected his pastoral sensitivity to how biblical truth intersects with the pastoral care of the church. We are confident that by God's grace Dave's life and doctrine is in conformity with the high standards set forth in Scripture for the pastoral office, and we are grateful for the humility by which Dave recognizes that all of his gifts and graces come from the active working of God's Holy Spirit transforming his life through the beauty and power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are pleased to announce that an Ordination Service will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 26. After the Word is preached, Dave will affirm ordination vows in the presence of the congregation, and the elders will gather around him and lay hands on him in prayer for God's Spirit to powerfully empower him in the work of gospel ministry, in partnership with his dear wife, Micki. Then we will all celebrate the gospel by sharing in the Lord's Supper together. After a brief Membership Meeting to approve the 2014 budget, we will gather in the Gym for a reception of cake, ice cream, and hot cocoa. Please join us on Sunday night, Jan. 26, to celebrate Dave's ordination and to encourage the DeHaan family as they continue serving God's people here at New Covenant.

Ordination to pastoral ministry has a long history in the Christian church. Through this process, the church recognizes that the ascended Christ gave to his church "the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ..." (Eph. 4:11b-13). So let us rejoice in the Lord's goodness to us in the way he provides for the edification of his church from generation to generation!

Grace be with you,
Pastor David Sunday