My Next Steps:
This past Sunday, I shared my post-retirement plans. Pam and I are going to catch our breath, go to a few places we have been wanting to go, and, spending time with Children and Grandchildren!
Additionally, I will be pursuing 2 avenues of activity:
1- Inside the Church:
I will be available for consulting, preaching, speaking and serving churches as an interim pastor. This is a needed service in many churches.
2- Outside the Church:
Over the past couple of years, I have been slowly working towards becoming a “Certified John Maxwell Leadership Consultant” as my time has allowed. This will open ways for me to get into the marketplace to assist organizations in better leadership and growth practices. I will be able to offer values-based leadership training skills I have learned and utilized throughout my career and through the John Maxwell program in order to add value to organizations and people I can assist.
Why Leadership Consulting?
For one thing, I have a lot of experience! I have led training for volunteers, paid staff and in a variety of seminar and 1on1 situations. For another, I have a legitimate reason to be in a business environment - to assist employees and employers to grow and prosper through values-based leadership. Most of my leadership experience involves working with and training a wide variety of people who work in a wide variety of employment situations - office, production, management, front-line, high-tech, sales and more. And, because I get to join you in “Marketplace Ministry” - we are all called to live out the gospel in every situation: Home, School, Church, Work and Social Circles. Showing up on time (or early!), working well, being honest, trying hard and interacting in positive ways with others allows us to demonstrate our faith without saying a word! And, it opens doors of conversation when others ask “why” we behave as we do. To be honest I have had a pull towards this type of opportunity for a long time, but have been unable to pursue it as a fulltime pastor!
If you are involved in or know of an organization which conducts training for employees or participants, please consider putting me in contact to explore possibilities.
Be on the lookout for the next
Pastor Search Team Update
Join me for a 6-week study on Wednesday evenings:
6:30-7:45 PM, October 7 - November 18
High Road Living, Like Jesus!
Space is limited.
To Sign Up:
Connect with our church office OR
Email me MFrancis@DiscoverRBC.org OR
Sign up in Connection Central
This Sunday, October 4th
I hope that you’ll connect with us to consider God’s Word!
And, why not bring someone with you?
Join us in person or online Sunday at 9:15 & 10:30 am!
Join us in prayer!
Please pray:
ServeNC projects at 7 local schools!
Our next pastor!
Our pastor search team:
David Bishop, Camilla Hargett, Gary Chambers,
Gail Hicks, and Alvin Coleman
Pastor Search Prayer Prompts from our Prayer Team:
Trusting God’s Leadership
Scripture: Proverbs 3:5–6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Prayer Focus: Surrender the process to God.
Seeking God’s Wisdom
Scripture: James 1:5
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Prayer Focus: Wisdom for leaders and the search team.
Asking for a Pastor After God’s Heart
Scripture: Jeremiah 3:15
“And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
Prayer Focus: God’s choice, not human expectations.
Praying for Character and Faithfulness
Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:2
“Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, and able to teach.”
Prayer Focus: Integrity, humility, and spiritual maturity.
Unity Within the Church
Scripture: Ephesians 4:2–3
“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Prayer Focus: Unity, patience, and love.
A Heart for Shepherding God’s People
Scripture: 1 Peter 5:2–3
“Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”
Prayer Focus: Servant leadership.
Waiting Patiently on the Lord
Scripture: Psalm 27:14
“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”
Prayer Focus: Patience and faith in God’s timing.
Thank God for past pastors and pray for the new pastor.
Scripture: Romans 15:30
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.”
Prayer Focus: Thankfulness to God for His provision of godly leaders and prayer for guidance over the new pastor.
Thank You for giving
TO the Lord,
THROUGH the church
to accomplish our mission of leading people to
“Discover Life-Changing Connections!”
To God, One Another, and Our Community
Your 2025 end-of-year giving was generous, obedient to the Lord, needed, and sets us on a great course for 2026!
We will give an update when records are complete.
I am blessed to be a part of Ridgecrest.
I hope you feel the same!
