I was happy to learn that Bethlehem Baptist Church’s Organizational Elders voted unanimously Tuesday, April 27, to name Kenny Stokes Interim Pastor for Preaching during Pastor John Piper’s leave. Piper explains the three-fold rationale:
First, the elders believe that consistency is more important for the church’s stability, strength, and health than a stream of different preachers.
Second, the elders believe that individual speakers feel a special burden of shepherding a weekend, but a “pastor for preaching” feels a special burden of shepherding the overarching effect of the pulpit. We believe that, if God should answer our prayers for a remarkable work of awakening, it would be shepherded better with a consistent preacher than with diverse speakers.
Third, we believe that Kenny brings to the pulpit an unusual gift of embracing all of Bethlehem and giving spiritual guidance to the whole flock. For these three reasons we were excited to affirm him as Pastor John’s main replacement in the pulpit.
Read the whole thing.
It was a privilege to get to know Kenny during my several years at Bethlehem. He is a clear thinker, a thoughtful, effective leader, and an excellent preacher. Blessings to you, Kenny, in this new role.