A New Pastor for Napolean

I introduced Kim Swartz to her new congregation Tuesday night and Napolean to its new pastor. Napolean has had student pastors from Saint Paul and before that from National College totalling 53 years. It is well known conference-wide for the many leaders who received their starts here. The parsonage, right next to the church, has not been inhabited since last November, and a couple of the women have headed up the crew to sand the floors, put a clear protective coating on and put up new blinds. Church members made all of the lovely wood work shine; scrubbed every surface; made repairs big and small; and simply got it ready for a new student pastor, whom they now know is Kim. Kim is a Saint Paul School of Theology student from the Kansas West conference and is energized and has the gifts to a have a terrific ministry here. That's Kim with the dark hair and glasses. There is a great crew of folks at Napolean and so when Kim was introduced, I thought you'd like to know some of the comments made to her by the representative of this church with its many years of student pastors:

"Remember to unhook the garden hose before it freezes or there may be a mess in the basement...with three different pastors I've been called out to come fix it quick."

When Kim talked about how she was going to move her stuff here,Everett and David Twente offered their trailer (making sure she knew it was clean) and/or trucks to move in. Both of these men farm and directly came in from cutting wheat to the meeting. Everett said, after their offers were made, "our second job is moving preachers in and out."

"We had one pastor who always asked for Christmas Sunday off...and Christmas and Easter are the two Sundays when we have the most visitors so you need to be here."

One man said about student pastors in the past "we've had some awesome ones, we've had some dooseys and we've had some duds" quickly followed by: "we're here to make you a pastor and we are here to help you." Everyone on the PPRC was smiling and were genuinely welcoming and I was very touched by everyone's expectation and love for their church.



















Kim is excited, the PPRC is very happy, and I believe God is smiling! These are pics form the night, a couple from the PPRC meeting at church and one from the parsonage...that's David Twente talking to Kim at the parsonage and handing her the keys.


A NOTE: I have the permission of Kim and the Napolean folks for the pics and story...Thanks to all!