Thank you for exploring the possibility of becoming a member of the pastoral team at Sierra Bible Church. We are praying that God will clearly direct each of our paths for His glory and honor.  We expect that this may be a lengthy process, but we hope to have our new pastor in place by summer of 2012.

Please take some time to look around our website (www.sierrabible.com).  There is a wealth of information that will help you discover who we are and what we’re all about.  Potential candidates should download and review our Senior Pastor Opportunity Profile (includes Ministry Description) and Statement of Faith (contained in our By-Laws).

If you feel led to pursue our opportunity after you’ve looked over everything and prayed about it, please email your resume and responses to the essay questions below in two separate attachments (Word/doc format, please) to search@sierrabible.com:

1. Resume

When writing the resume, substance is of more interest than brevity. Give enough information so that the breadth of your ministry experience is understood.  While humility is appreciated, it is important for us to know the breadth and depth of your involvement and how God has used you.

Please include information on your full educational background (high school, undergraduate and post graduate work and all degrees earned).  When describing your work as a church staff member, it would be helpful to know the total membership of the church, the worship style of the church, the size of the staff, where you were on the organizational chart, your specific responsibilities and what you feel were the highlights of that time of ministry.  As we progress through our careers, many of us have changed jobs and/or employers several times. For each job change, be sure to include why you moved from that position to your next.

We would like to get a good picture of you holistically—your experience, your education, your family, your calling, your life as much as possible from a simple document.  We are looking for a great match and want to know as much about you as we can glean from a resume.

For confidentiality purposes, please consider providing us a home/personal email address for us to communicate with you.

2. Responses to Essay Questions

In order to help us get a more complete picture of you and your interest in SBC, please provide succinct, but well thought out responses to the following questions:

1. Share with us your spiritual journey, including a time that uniquely prompted your spiritual growth.
2. How will you utilize your spiritual gift(s) at Sierra Bible to ‘help introduce people to Jesus and together become more like him’?
3. What do you see as the greatest challenge the Church will face in the next 5 to 10 years, and how do you think the local church can and should respond?
4. How do you view leading a church staff team, and what kind of manager are you?
5. Share with us the kind of work/ministry environment where you tend to flourish. What kinds of working relationships energize you?

Should you have any specific questions or simply wish to talk with someone about the recruitment, we would ask that you email your request to SBC’s Search Team at search@sierrable.com.  A member of the Search Team will get back to you promptly with the requested information by email or a phone call.  We would request that candidates not call the church office directly since: 1) Search Team members will not be readily available to take your call; and 2) we wish to protect the confidentiality of potential candidates.

Once you have submitted the materials listed above, we promise to keep you apprised at each step of the recruitment process.  You can expect notification confirming receipt of your materials and when our initial screening is complete, you will receive prompt notification as to whether you have been selected for the next round of the recruitment process or not.  May God lead you to the place which he has prepared for you to do good works (Eph. 2:10).

The following are links to some specific information we thought may be particularly helpful to you in becoming better acquainted with Sierra Bible Church and the position of Senior Pastor:

Senior Pastor Opportunity Profile

Organizational Charts

By-Laws (including Statement of Faith)

2011-12 Budget

SP Compensation Summary

]]> http://www.sierrabible.com/sr-pastor-search/feed/ 0 http://www.sierrabible.com/rejoice-always-videos/ http://www.sierrabible.com/rejoice-always-videos/#comments Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:53:00 +0000 admin http://www.sierrabible.com/?p=4701 Below are the individual video testimonies that were shown during our “Rejoice Always” summer series.  Please click on the link to view the video…

• Rob Ditler (http://www.youtube.com/user/PaperMache2010#p/u/5/M-r_UItlbPY)
• Steve & Susie Lavagnino (http://www.youtube.com/user/PaperMache2010#p/u/4/W9d-rKm6hJg)
• Jackson Flannery (http://www.youtube.com/user/PaperMache2010#p/u/3/4GnVsFdnI-8)
• Ben Howell (http://www.youtube.com/user/PaperMache2010#p/a/u/2/U1VfkNXiZy4)
• Justin Meyers (http://www.youtube.com/user/PaperMache2010#p/a/u/0/RjtUlEQz4J0)
• Mark Levering (http://www.youtube.com/user/PaperMache2010#p/a/u/1/KUjXAyUrsWo)
• Walter Moberg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1KKk1Q3-xQ)

Dear SBC family:

In late September, 2011, I provided the church family with an update on Pastor Mark’s decision to retire as SBC’s Senior Pastor at the end of June, 2013, and how that had altered the Elders direction from searching for a new Executive Pastor to searching for a new Senior Pastor.  A key element of that change in direction was to expand and reconfigure the Search Team to ensure broader representation of the church family in terms of gender, age and ministry involvement.

At the Elders request, the congregation provided us with numerous suggestions of excellent candidates to serve on this very important team.  After much prayer and a very deliberative process, the Elders decided to increase the size of the Search Team from 6 to 13 and completed forming the team in November.  The Elders are pleased to formally announce the newly commissioned Senior Pastor Search Team:

Craig Pedro, Chair               James Evans
Jason Hart*                            Kirsten Miller*
Linda Berry*                           Mark Levering*
Mary Freer                              Matt Frediani*
Nancy Ayala                           Rick Larson
Russ Chandler                     Tamara Poe, Secretary
Tirzah Woodward

*Returning member of the original Search Team

We are thankful for these folks and their willingness to utilize their time and talents to help lead this very important work on behalf of the entire church family.

On a personal note, there is nothing more important to SBC right now than this search for our next Senior Pastor.  Accordingly, I have stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Elders to focus my time and energies to Chair the Search Team.  Vice-Chairman, Derek Maxson, is currently serving as Acting Chair of the Board of Elders.

Over the last two months, the Search Team has been busy:  1) familiarizing ourselves with the work already completed by the original team; 2) investigating the best ways to search for a Senior Pastor as an independent, non-denominational church; 3) reviewing the suggestions for possible Senior Pastor candidates provided by the congregation; 4) finalizing documents and processes that will be used as part of our work; and 5) praying for God to guide every aspect of our work.  It is our goal to begin the active search process this coming Monday.  As we enter this next phase of the team’s work, we will also be looking for ways to reach out to the church family to hear more about your hopes and expectations for our next Senior Pastor.

What can you do to help?  First, pray for an ongoing spirit of unity within SBC and for God to bless our efforts and guide us to the right person.  Second, continue to tell Pastor Mark or me of any potential candidates you think should be considered.  Third, let people you know in like-minded ministries of our search, and encourage them to identify and direct potential candidates to SBC’s website (www.sierrabible.com) to learn about our ministry, our Senior Pastor position, and how to apply.

CRAIG PEDRO, Chairman
Senior Pastor Search Team

September 29, 2011

Dear SBC family:

Earlier this year, the Elders received Pastor Mark’s decision to retire as senior pastor of Sierra Bible Church (SBC) in conjunction with his 40th anniversary of ministry at SBC.  It is Mark’s and the Elders’ desire to begin active recruitment of a new senior pastor who could be on staff by July, 2012, and officially transition into the position upon Mark’s retirement in June, 2013.

The Elders had previously appointed a search team to work on the recruitment of a new executive pastor, but in light of Mark’s announcement, they were re-tasked to prepare for the recruitment of a new senior pastor.   The search team has now completed, and the Elders have approved, two key documents to be used in the recruitment.  The first is called the “Senior Pastor Opportunity Profile”.  The profile provides background on the ministry of SBC and the base qualifications and role of its senior pastor.  The second is called the “Process of Inquiry,” which informs potential candidates of how to learn more about SBC and actually apply for the position.  Copies of both of these documents can be obtained at the church office.

The Elders wish to thank all of the members of the search team for their hard work thus far.   The search team members are:

Mark Wildoner, Chair            Mark Levering                 Linda Berry

Matt Frediani                            Kirsten Miller                   Jason Hart

Special thanks are extended to Mark Wildoner as he steps off of the search team due to other career, family and ministry commitments.   This change in leadership has served to confirm the Elders’ leaning towards a modest expansion and reconfiguration of the search team as it enters into the next phase of the search process.   The next phase will begin with the active recruitment and initial screening of candidates by the search team.

The Elders are asking for your help as we move forward by: 1) letting Pastor Mark or me know of anyone you think might prove to be a valuable addition to the search team; 2) telling an Elder or member of the search team if there are any potential senior pastor candidates you know and feel should be contacted and considered; and 3) praying regularly for God’s leading to help guide us to the right person to take SBC into a new season of growth and impact in our community.  Should you have any suggestions for additional search team members and/or senior pastor candidates, please submit them no later than October 23, 2011.

Thank you in advance for your ongoing prayers in this all-important matter.  The Elders will be sure that you receive regular updates on the search process as it proceeds and additional opportunities for input as they become available.

On behalf of the SBC Board of Elders,

CRAIG PEDRO
Chairman

Senior Pastor Leadership Transition

Recently, Evalyn and I have finalized a decision about which we have prayed and thought much over the years. The fact that God has graciously allowed us 38 years of ministry at SBC has been one of the great surprises and blessings of our lives. The blessings of that ministry have exceeded even its longevity, and we are deeply thankful for the privilege of investing our lives in one place of ministry while also enjoying the stability and support of one church family throughout this entire time. While people often reflect upon the impact of the ministry of SBC on their lives or our community, I think the greatest impact has been on our life and that of our family. The difference it has made on us is a cause of our most profound gratefulness and thanks. As I have said many times, my primary purpose in life has been largely facilitated by this church family with the result that all of our children love both Christ and His Church (and specifically SBC) and are actively growing in their relationship with Christ and serving in His Church. That goal was far and away the primary result I hoped for in my life.

Nine years ago, at age 55, I began asking the elders on an annual basis to review and update a 10-year plan for SBC.  Some of the things we outlined at those times have been accomplished and others have changed. Some time ago, with a 40-year ministry anniversary approaching, not to mention a 65^th birthday, it seemed appropriate for Evalyn and I to seek God’s direction about our future lives and ministry. After praying and thinking about this as a couple, and as a family, a decision about what would be best for the church and for us seemed clear.

Several weeks ago, I asked the Elders to target the hiring of a new Senior Pastor-elect by July, 2012, to prepare for my retirement from the Senior Pastor role at SBC by July, 2013. After talking over this decision with my family, sharing it with our pastoral staff, and discussing the challenges and opportunities with a church consultant, I have become increasingly excited about what this can mean both for me and our family and our church family.

As you can see, this is not a decision made in haste, nor was it made in response to my current health issues.  While the decision was recently finalized, it has been in our thoughts and in the works for several years. Even the exact timing for this decision was being discussed long before my present battle with cancer. It is my hope that with successful treatment I will have many more active years serving the Lord.

Evalyn and I both feel excited about what this decision can mean for us and for our SBC family. I ask for your prayers and support during this transition time. Pray especially for the Elders, our Pastoral Staff, and the Search Team as they seek a candidate that our church family could embrace and follow into many future years of increasing growth and impact in our community. Above all, let us stay focused on our goal.  Let us pray that SBC continues to be a place where people are introduced to Jesus and together become more like Him in the years ahead.

Pastor Mark

This announcement was followed by a directive from the elders to the Executive Pastor Search Team that they suspend further planning to hire a new Executive Pastor and instead refocus on the hiring of a new Senior Pastor.

I am thankful so many of you continue to ask for an update on my health. Believe me, if there was anything to report I would be passing it along to you, as I very much covet and appreciate your prayers. The only little update is that recently I did another PSA test (even if no one else keeps the PSA people in business anymore I think I will do it!), and it came back again extremely low, indicating that the therapy is working as planned. So we stay the course…take the medicine…get the shots…live with the side effects…and pray that when this phase is done (another 15 months – can you believe that it has been exactly one year since I came home from Russia sick?) there will be no cancer, and we look back on this as a bump in the road of getting older! Thanks for your continued prayers and support.

July 22, 2011

Yesterday, we had a good appointment with the radiation oncologist at UCSF. He confirmed everything we had been told locally on Tuesday. He clarified that “we shouldn’t see anything really exciting” for some time, i.e., as long as I remain on the Hormone Therapy, and hopefully long after that. He also confirmed that they had really blasted the prostate and that they hope that this will have done the job on the cancer! Now my job is just to get a little better each day until everything is more like it is supposed to be. My next appointment there is in 6 months…so for the next months to come, I just appreciate your prayers that everything corrects itself in my body and that the cancer remains completely gone. Thanks.

July 19, 2011

I appreciate many of you “complaining” that I’ve have not recently updated my health information. This is because I have not been to a doctor since my hospitalization on June 9…and not seeing any doctors for 6 weeks, I now feel better than ever! This week, I begin to do follow-up both locally and with UCSF, and today I received some good news from my urologist. My PSA was down to 0.01 (that is about as close to “0” as you can get) which he believes is the result of both the Hormone Therapy and the initial effects of the radiation. As a result, I was able to change medications from the monthly “shock and awe” initial treatments to something that only has to be done every 4 months. This Thursday, I will be at UCSF to meet with the radiation oncologist. Today’s appointment is the first step in confirming the effectiveness of the treatments, and it was very encouraging… I will keep you informed as things develop.

Thanks for your prayers – please keep them up!

June 17, 2011

A week ago Thursday, I completed the High Dose Radiation treatment at UCSF (avoid this is you can!). The 5-6 hour process turned into an 11 hour procedure due to some complications with the anesthetic. Then, of course, the overnight stay in the hospital was peaceful and relaxing (HA!). From 9pm-1am, I had hourly check-ups and, in between, tried to figure out how to sleep on a bed that was self-adjusting every 60 seconds or so – not a fun night! Thankfully, the doctors seemed to feel good about the treatment and talked very positively about the results they have seen with this procedure. Now the plan is to continue on the hormone therapy, recover from the effects of the radiation, regularly check my PSA, pray that the treatments have been very successful, eat more conscientiously, and then in a few months after the first wave of effects are over begin to address some of the ongoing bladder issues. I appreciate your continuing prayers!

May 25, 2011

Time for a brief update with two important progress reports.  First, I graduated!  With the completion of the 25th treatment, I received my “graduation certificate.”  Now on to the High Dose treatment in a couple of weeks…

Now an even nicer update, as far as I am concerned.  Last night, I slept great for the first time in a while; and this morning, I woke up thinking, “Wow, this is what it is like to feel normal again!”  I am very grateful to be feeling better, but also sensitive to their input that the “down” time will be for a couple of weeks and then the body starts rebuilding – but I’ll take it sooner rather than later if possible.  Thanks, again, for your continuing prayers.

May 16, 2011

Two important things this week:  I am now beginning my last full week of radiation treatments; and this week, Ev is here with me!  Both are good news.  Most everything else remains the same.  I have received my schedule for the 2-day High Dose treatment – June 8-9, after which all of the treatments will be over.  The most common questions I receive at this stage of the journey are about whether the treatment is working. The answer is, I don’t know…and neither do the doctors for that matter!  The reality is that as long as the hormone therapy is working, and I am scheduled to be on it for two years, we will not know whether any or how much cancer remains.  Of course from all of their previous experience, the doctors can deduce that undoubtedly the radiation is doing the most effective job possible disabling the cancer, hopefully completely.

I certainly continue to greatly appreciate your prayers and support.

April 28, 2011

I have just finished my 9th radiation treatment, so I thought an update is in order – hopefully as an encoragement for your prayers! I appreciate those greatly. My housing situation this week has worked out much easier than the previous week, thanks to the generosity of a Sonora family that has kept their San Francisco family home and now generously makes it available for those who need a place to stay near the hospital – it has been a wonderful gift!I will get to use it again the last two weeks of my treatment. It is located about 1 mile east of the Pacific Ocean and a mile south of Golden Gate Park, so it is about a 20 minute drive to the hospital and in a location with some wonderful walks nearby. I am very thankful for this beautiful little place.

The treatments seem to be going fine. I met with the doctors again this morning, and all of the side effects are normal, and they suggested some options to try and minimize them. Some of the days seem fine, and some not so fine, but none of them awful, so that is good. I am glad for computers and cell phones (when they work!) as it has kept me feeling like I am in touch and involved with life at home. We are now planning for Ev to come down my fifth week of treatment, so that will be nice. Next week, she travels to Bend to help with childcare needs and get another Mama Fix! We are both rejoicing in good news from Brian yesterday that he received an offer for a new job to start May 9 that he (and we) had really been praying and working to receive. That is a huge answer to prayer for our family.

I continue to greatly appreciate the encouragement and support from friends and family. Last weekend, Beth came for several days with her girls. Last night, I had dinner with Duane and Joan Porter, who visit UCSF periodically to check on cancer concerns. Today, Kathy and her girls are on their way here to do an overnight and hopefully spend some fun time romping around the wharf! God is good, and I thank all of you for your prayers and encouragement.

April 15, 2011

Today, I did the “dry run,” but instead of radiation they took some pictures and 5 doctors decided their plan for my future in the next room. I did get to see the graphs that show how the radiation is going to be applied and the pictures of what parts of me will get which dosages or radiation. I felt good again that I am under their care. They will give radiation, in varying degrees, to the prostate, the larger pelvic area, and “up quite high” in the abdomen. They treat the areas where they know there is cancer and where they assume it is even though they can’t see it.

I also am very grateful for what has worked out for my housing:  the first and third weeks, I will stay down in Atherton; and the other weeks, I am able to stay nearer to the hospital in San Francisco. It also appears that there is a good chance I will be able to do late Monday appointments (my first one is at 4:40) and then pick up an earlier time on Fridays. That would make the commute the most convenient. I’m also picking up things to do while I am down there (as if I didn’t already have enough planned!). Quite a few people from our church family spend regular time in the Bay Area it turns out, and we are making tentative arrangements to get together as we can synch our schedules. Just today, I made one new tentative appointment and realized that I will get to spend some time with people I hardly ever get to see in Sonora. Sometimes you have to go away to get to see people!

Thanks again for all your prayers and support as I begin this radiation phase.

April 11, 2011

Someone asked me yesterday if I was worth more now than I had been previously. I guess the answer is, “Yes,” because I now have a little gold not only in my teeth but elsewhere! I also have something else I never imagined getting:  tattoos! Other than those exciting developments, there is not a lot of new news. I have now completed the diagnostic phase, so they can now plan my treatment. On Friday, April 1, the fanciest test I did was a Lymphoscintigraphy! (You can look it up if you really care). Last Friday, I did a new CT scan, and now the doctors will meet to look at the results; and next Friday, April 15, I will get those results and do a “dry run” so the radiation can begin on Monday, April 18. I am grateful that I continue to feel fine, and the expectation is that this should continue to be the case.

I am meeting with a Sonora friend today who has a “family house” about 15 minutes from the hospital to see if I can stay there some of the time. We looked at it last Friday, and it is in a beautiful location where you can pick your walks from the beach to the west, Golden Gate Park to the north, or a hilly area to the south – looked great to me! Even a Trader Joe’s 2 blocks away! I will give you one more update once we get the specifics, but I wanted you to know to keep praying! Thanks for all your support and encouragement.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Twice on this cancer journey, we have been surprised and delighted to hear joy in the voice of my doctors.  The first was two months ago after the high PSA count was followed by a negative (which is positive!) report on the Bone and CT scans.  This was great news because, while we know the cancer has spread some outside of the prostate, it was hopeful that it had not gone too far – a very important factor in treatment resulting in a cure.  The last “joyful” report was on our answering machine last night.  The doctor called and said they had good news and would try and reach me at church.  They called back and said since they had been unable to get through at church they would just tell me the “great news.”  The good news was that my latest PSA count was 0.16 which was exactly what they had hoped for with the Hormone Therapy.  It is amazing what 3 shots and thousands of prayers can do in a couple of months!

I will continue the Hormone Therapy for now (they said for up to a couple of years), and soon we are on to treatment at UCSF, which looks something like this:  On April 1, I will have the Gold Seed Markers placed, and a week after that will have a new CT scan to see exactly what we are working with at this time (wouldn’t it be great if they found nothing!), and then a week after that the daily radiation treatment would begin.  This will go on for at least five weeks, and during that time they will do an assessment of the value of doing the High Dose Radiation treatment as well.

I do appreciate your continuing prayers and support even during these “lull” times because obviously stuff is still going on even though I look fine (well, maybe that is debatable!) and feel fine.  I’m grateful some of what has been going on has been good stuff these last two months! Thank the Lord for low PSA counts!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

This week’s doctor’s appointment was encouraging!  My PSA has decreased over the last month due to the Hormone Treatment from  7.8 to .69 – the treatment is working!  I received my “March shot,” and they are hoping it will go down even lower before my first UCSF appointment.  March should be a quieter month.  I have no more doctors appointments at this time until a recheck on the PSA the end of the month.  I am glad for that.  At the present time they are postponing any further treatment of my bladder problems in the hope that the effects of the Hormone Therapy and the reduction in size of the prostate will help.  Thanks again for all your concern and prayers.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

There are two tracks presently being pursued with my health:  (1) I continue to have bladder dysfunctions which intensified originally during my time in Russia and ultimately led to the revelation of the prostate cancer.  While the focus of my treatment has changed to dealing primarily with the cancer, I am continuing to have tests and treatments to try and resolve these problems as well, hopefully with some success before cancer treatment which could complicate the treatment of the bladder dysfunctions; (2) I now have my first appointment to prepare for my radiation treatment at UCSF to treat the cancer.  On April 1, I will have the placement of the non-radioactive gold seeds into my prostate to be used as markers for the radiation treatment.  While this all sounds pretty weird to me, this will allow more accurate radiation treatment of the cancer thus increasing the likelihood of success in dealing with the cancer and minimizing complications to surrounding areas.

Let me say again (being on the receiving end never seems to get old, so I’ll assume that saying it again doesn’t get old either), we appreciate so much the support and encouragement and prayers of so many during this time.  Thanks!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

We appreciate your continuing interest and support as we deal with my Prostate Cancer.  Last Friday, we had a good consultation at Stanford; and it felt very comforting to be in such a caring, knowledgeable, and experienced environment.  On Monday, we met with doctors at UCSF and, again, were thankful for all the incredible effort that has been made by so many dealing with illnesses like cancer.  After thinking and praying for God’s direction, we felt like the best decision was to pursue further treatment through UCSF.  We are grateful that housing relatively nearby has already been offered for the radiation treatment period, which is likely to begin in April.  They told us they want me on the Hormone Therapy, which I began the end of January for two months before radiation, during which time they will do a variety of diagnostic tests to determine the exact treatment they will recommend.

Our prayers have been for God’s direction to be clear, and while we realize, and will continue to research, the many options and alternatives that are available for cancer treatment, we feel confident and comfortable in God’s leading in this direction.  Once we get more specifics about treatments and timelines, I will update that information.  In the meantime, please keep praying!

Friday, February 11, 2011

The best news this week is that this morning we are meeting with radiation oncology at Stanford, and we have a similar appointment with UCSF on Monday morning.  I am very thankful that we were able to schedule these two consultations so closely together.  This week has also involved collecting lots of information about mainstream as well as alternative treatment options, including lots of valuable and personal input from people within our church family who have taken this journey before me.  We continue to appreciate your prayers and encouragements very much!  Our prayer this week, after the request for complete and miraculous healing(!), is for good guidance and discernment about the next steps we should take in dealing with this cancer.

Thanks for your support in so many ways!

Friday, February 4, 2011

On Tuesday, I did a Bone Scan, CT Scan, Chest X-Ray, and blood work-up at SRMC in preparation for my consultation at Stanford.  Here is what we learned about the results from our meeting at Stanford:

The Best News:  My bone scan, CT scan, and chest x-ray all came back negative, and blood work-up looked normal.  The doctors were very excited and pleased about this, as we were also.  Thanks for your prayers!  One doctor said that because of this we were now able to work toward a cure for this disease rather than just a potential remission with maintenance of the ongoing disease.

The Mixed Blessing:  The blessing part is that I am not a candidate for surgery (our meeting was with a surgeon).  So I don’t have to be concerned about any of the complications or potential side effects happening from surgery.  The “mixed” part is that I am not a candidate for surgery because my cancer is too aggressive and advanced, so if I had surgery I would still require radiation (doing both is an option he discussed with me that potentially does have some benefits, but it seemed to be quite clear the potential liabilities outweighed considerably the potential benefits) – but taking the prostate out by itself would not do anything to resolve the cancer problem.  So…I think I am glad about that…but not exactly sure how to feel about it.  I was at least glad to have this opinion expressed to me by a surgeon who really likes to do surgery to resolve prostate cancer.  He was quite clear this wasn’t much of an option.

This leaves me having radiation as the primary option to pursue.  I now have an appointment with Radiation Oncology at Stanford next Friday and am waiting on the details for an appointment with a radiation oncologist at UCSF as well.  I will also continue to pursue other radiation options, as well as seek advice concerning other alternatives.  At the same time, we are beginning again to pursue the bladder issues that started us on this journey three months ago to hopefully have some solutions there before I would begin radiation.  The most likely scenario right now involves 2-3 months on the Hormone Therapy, followed by a couple months of radiation…and hopefully no more cancer and a working bladder!

We are thanking God that the cancer has not spread to other places in my body and seems confined to the prostate and surrounding area. With this news, it feels like we are fighting the battle on our homeland rather than on enemy territory!  We recognize clearly there is still a significant battle ahead.  Every doctor that has looked at my biopsy results has said something like the Stanford doctors, who acknowledged that my case simply doesn’t fit what they are used to seeing and that they don’t really have any modalities to explain my particular situation.  We will continue to seek God’s direction and provision each step of the way.  We are very grateful for all the doors that have opened up just within the last few days and expect that God will continue to guide our steps one step at a time.

Thanks for praying, and for your many offers of love, support, encouragement and help.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

I want to give you this morning an update on the condition of my health.  Many of you have been faithfully praying and supporting me since our return from Russia in early November, when I first experienced some seemingly more serious  health issues.  I want to ask you to continue your faithful prayers and maybe even notch them up just a bit for at least the immediate future.

We returned from Russia on Thursday afternoon, November 4, 2010, and Friday morning I ended up in Emergency.  We knew there must be some sort of bladder problem when the nurse came in to check the drainage from the catheter and said, “Wow! I think that is the most I have ever seen!”

Within a few days, we had our first appointment with a urologist, thanks to an office manager who attends SBC who facilitated a quick response for me.  The doctor began to address various potential bladder issues and indeed confirmed that it was not working properly.  The prostate seemed like it was fine because all of my annual check-ups had been normal, and everything appeared to be in order.  A current check of my PSA showed some expected increase due to the activity checking the bladder.  A second PSA test was done a few weeks later while working on bladder issues, to make sure that it had gone back down.  Surprisingly, it showed a dramatic increase, and the doctor said we had better check it out.  The biopsies were taken a little later, and last Tuesday we met with the doctor to review the results.

When we met with the doctor, he said that I had the worst kind of advanced prostate cancer.  The measurement of the extent of the cancer placed it at Stage 4, the highest level, and in fact the biopsy report clearly showed that it had impacted practically the entire prostate.  The Gleason Score indicating the aggressiveness of the cancer was scored at 9 out of 10 – which at first seemed better than the worst until he said no one ever gets a 10.  This was one time in my life when I was not happy to score the highest on an exam!  He went on to show us how the cancer had also spread a least slightly outside the prostate to the seminal vesicles, which seemed to be the matter of greatest concern.

I said that wasn’t what I wanted to hear.  He said that wasn’t what he wanted to tell us. He said a small percentage of men get this kind of aggressive cancer that doesn’t give much warning until it is significant and challenging, rather than the far more typical slow-growing cancer.

He reviewed what would be our most likely options and said, in essence, Get Busy!  He immediately started me on Hormone Therapy and scheduled further appointments.  Last Friday, we met with the Radiation Oncologist at SRMC.  Tomorrow, we have another consultation; and on Tuesday, I will have a CT scan and a Bone Scan.  Wednesday morning, we meet with the Prostate Cancer Clinic at Stanford.  We are very grateful that the doors have opened to be able to seek all of this information within only one week.

We are trying not to over-react to this news, but also not to under-respond.  We are thankful to not be on this journey alone.  God, of course, promises to be with us through all of life.  Our family has become more precious than ever, and already has been our greatest source of joy and gratefulness and strength.  Church family and friends also now look completely different…not just people to spend time with and brighten our days and help us along, but people with whom we can share life in its pains and sorrows as well, and from whom we can gain much strength and encouragement.  I met with the staff on Wednesday morning to update them, and their prayers and response were most helpful.  Yesterday, I met with the Elders, and again the time of support and prayer was very meaningful.  Some of you as you have heard this news have been most compassionate and caring, which already has meant a lot to me.

All of this has also reminded me that my life right now only represents and joins what is reality for any number of people within our church family at any given time.  Even now, we have other people suffering with serious, life-altering and life-threatening conditions in several hospitals. And so today we are setting aside our normal Sunday plan and asking you to join as family and friends to support in prayer those who are struggling with difficult conditions and uncertain futures in their lives.

Facility Use and Calendar Event Request Form

Wedding Use Request Form

[Please call the office (532-1381) to verify availability before completing the wedding request form. ]

Permission slips for Student and Children’s Ministries events are required to be completed prior to the events.  The Code of Conduct portion (2nd page) is also required for Student Ministries events.

Permission slip & Conduct Form (fill-in)

Beginning now, you can sign up for Hume Lake Summer Camp for July 22-28, 2012.  Please fill out the Pre-Registration Form COMPLETELY and submit to the church with your deposit.  The payment schedules for each camp are included on the back of the Pre-Registration form.

2012 Pre-Registration Form & Payment Schedule

In His Steps 2011 (Mexico Christmas Trip) – Application form and insert form are below.  You may copy, complete and turn in to Nate with your payment.

In His Steps V Flyer, Inside 2011

In His Steps VII Insert 2011

Below are forms related to missions trips and funding requests for missions.  Please print out, complete, and submit forms to SBC Missions Team for approval.

Missions Trip Application

Fundraising Request

Request for Money from Designated Acct

Request for New Designated Acct

Missions Project or Trip Proposal

Field Visit or Vision Trip Request

Church Partnership Agreement