Rothesay Vineyard’s new pastor!

Last updated on: October 24, 2010 at 7:58 pm by David Hayward

Rothesay Vineyard’s new pastor! 2010-10-24T19:58:03-04:00 David Hayward

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Many years ago a complete stranger emailed me, in Canada, from England. He said that he sensed a call to come to Eastern Canada. He had contacted several pastors in this region and they had all told him that it sounded like he would get along best with me and Rothesay Vineyard, the church I pastored at the time. I welcomed him to come and pay me a visit. He did. He came for a week and we talked non-stop and became friends.

He sensed that his call to come to Rothesay Vineyard was certain. He and his wife, Lyn, with their two kids Ben and Grace, started working on getting their visas. I think it was four years later they finally landed and became a part of our community. He and I had countless talks about ministry, since he had been in ministry for years in England. He was working now as a graphic designer. Not his highest passion, but it provided income at the time.

At that time I was still the pastor of Rothesay Vineyard, and had no idea that it would change.

About a year later, in April 2010, I felt the sudden and urgent necessity to resign as pastor from Rothesay VIneyard.

Jon was my obvious choice, as well as the leadership team’s, to serve as interim pastor until a permanent pastor could be found. It was a suddenly chaotic transition for Rothesay Vineyard.

Today the church voted on whether Jon Hallewell would serve as their permanent pastor. I received a call on my cell while visiting my daughter at her University. I am happy to announce that Jon was voted in today by an astoundingly overwhelming majority. He’s a very good pastor who has many of the qualities and gifts that Rothesay needs and wants in a pastor.

I am amazed at how our stories seem to be written for us in such gracious and surprising ways that we could never predict. His story is very much the same as mine when we felt called to become a part of the Rothesay Vineyard community in 1995 and a year later I was surprisingly voted in as their pastor.

I bless the church, with Jon as their new pastor, on their journey.

My soul can now rest.

Previous Post

October 24, 2010

prayer from the cell: ceased

Next Post

October 25, 2010 cartoon: the church today

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category art cartoons cartoons 2 freebie music one minute message podcast Sophia teaching technology thought

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 March 2006 February 2006

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Paul taught the Galatians that circumcision is necessary for salvation.

Select your answer to see how you score.

FALSE TRUE