Announcements https://www.trinitylakeland.org Sun, 19 Jul 2026 12:13:44 -0400 https://www.churchplantmedia.com/ A Long-awaited Answer to Prayer https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/a-long-awaited-answer-to-prayer https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/a-long-awaited-answer-to-prayer#comments Wed, 22 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0400 https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/a-long-awaited-answer-to-prayer Since 1974, our mother church, Covenant Presbyterian, has prayed for a church planter in North Lakeland. In Trinity's early days, others joined that prayer. Today, with nearly 120,000 people living in North Lakeland—and only a small fraction of churches located there—the need is clear.

Since 2020, we have explored multiple church-planting candidates and have kept this a priority in our planning and budget. Then, in late January—unsought and unrecruited—God gave us a candidate: Mike and Tiffany Thornhill.

The Thornhill's live in Pinellas County and are members of a sister church plant in St. Pete. Mike, after his conversion, sensed a call to ministry, was ordained as a ruling elder, and recently licensed to preach. Together, they have a deep desire to reach the lost and have been praying to do so within our presbytery.

In God's providence, Mike was temporarily assigned a FedEx route through North Lakeland. As he drove through those neighborhoods, he saw both the growth and the lack of churches. At the same time, their plans to plant in Pinellas fell through. The Lord was clearly redirecting them.

Personally, I see God's gracious timing. Corporately, this is an amazing answer to many prayers.

After thorough conversations and due diligence, our Session voted last week to hire Mike, with a June start date. As a church planting apprentice, he will join our staff, begin building relationships in North Lakeland, and prepare for a future plant. The Thornhills are already looking to relocate there.

Financially, the impact on Trinity is modest, but I wanted to make you aware of any spending not in the 2026 Budget. Mike's total monthly budget is about $12,000, with roughly $3,000 already covered through church planting networks. Trinity will employ him and front the difference, but Mike will be raising all of the needed support. He has already begun that work, including support from his current church.

We are aiming not at a calendar date, but at readiness: a strong core group, full funding, and long-term sustainability. That will take time, and we ask you to understand the process as we walk it together.

This is an enormous answer to prayer. Let's give thanks—and even laugh a bit—at how God works, even when we don't see it coming.

As a congregation, we long not only to sustain ministry but to expand it—to send and to see new gospel communities established. You'll be hearing more from Mike soon, and we hope you'll join us in welcoming the Thornhills and praying for this work.

We have established a designated fund to support this church plant. If you would like to give online, you can do so by clicking here.

]]> Since 1974, our mother church, Covenant Presbyterian, has prayed for a church planter in North Lakeland. In Trinity's early days, others joined that prayer. Today, with nearly 120,000 people living in North Lakeland—and only a small fraction of churches located there—the need is clear.

Since 2020, we have explored multiple church-planting candidates and have kept this a priority in our planning and budget. Then, in late January—unsought and unrecruited—God gave us a candidate: Mike and Tiffany Thornhill.

The Thornhill's live in Pinellas County and are members of a sister church plant in St. Pete. Mike, after his conversion, sensed a call to ministry, was ordained as a ruling elder, and recently licensed to preach. Together, they have a deep desire to reach the lost and have been praying to do so within our presbytery.

In God's providence, Mike was temporarily assigned a FedEx route through North Lakeland. As he drove through those neighborhoods, he saw both the growth and the lack of churches. At the same time, their plans to plant in Pinellas fell through. The Lord was clearly redirecting them.

Personally, I see God's gracious timing. Corporately, this is an amazing answer to many prayers.

After thorough conversations and due diligence, our Session voted last week to hire Mike, with a June start date. As a church planting apprentice, he will join our staff, begin building relationships in North Lakeland, and prepare for a future plant. The Thornhills are already looking to relocate there.

Financially, the impact on Trinity is modest, but I wanted to make you aware of any spending not in the 2026 Budget. Mike's total monthly budget is about $12,000, with roughly $3,000 already covered through church planting networks. Trinity will employ him and front the difference, but Mike will be raising all of the needed support. He has already begun that work, including support from his current church.

We are aiming not at a calendar date, but at readiness: a strong core group, full funding, and long-term sustainability. That will take time, and we ask you to understand the process as we walk it together.

This is an enormous answer to prayer. Let's give thanks—and even laugh a bit—at how God works, even when we don't see it coming.

As a congregation, we long not only to sustain ministry but to expand it—to send and to see new gospel communities established. You'll be hearing more from Mike soon, and we hope you'll join us in welcoming the Thornhills and praying for this work.

We have established a designated fund to support this church plant. If you would like to give online, you can do so by clicking here.

]]> Officer Elections, 3-1-26 https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/officer-elections-3-1-26 https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/officer-elections-3-1-26#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:00:00 -0500 https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/officer-elections-3-1-26 In April of last year, we commenced the process of nominating officer candidates to raise up additional (and much-needed) elders and deacons. We noted the prerequisites that needed to be true already of the person(s) you would nominate:

  1. They have proven their ability to work with others in a mature and loving way.

  2. They are committed to Trinity’s Mission and Vision.

  3. They line up theologically with our denomination, the PCA.

  4. Elder nominees are currently spiritual leaders, possibly they have effectively led a Trinity Community Group, or in another volunteer role.

  5. Deacon nominees currently are showing, or have effectively shown, generosity, a willingness to serve others, and compassion for the needy.

In addition to these pre-requisites, do they show a willingness or a desire to serve?

You responded resoundingly with the nomination of 47 men! Most of these then entered our officer training process, which started back in June and ran throughout the remainder of 2025. We covered the nature of the offices of elder and deacon. We gave a lot of attention to the importance of Christ-like character and an ability to work graciously with others, to serve, love, and lead in the Gospel. We did a deep dive into our Mission, Vision & Values, and finally, we covered our biblical and theological distinctives.

Throughout the entirety of this, we emphasized that success is not “getting ordained.” Success is being faithful to whatever God has called you to at this season of your life. And with that many people, there are a lot of variables, stories, and personal needs. While from the beginning, some nominees withdrew from the process, most actually completed our training, even if they believed that they would not at this time seek to be ordained. Yet.

Whether it is the needs of a family, time and scheduling limitations due to work, health, conscience, or a sure belief that they’re just not yet ready, many nominees finished the training but deferred ordination until a later time.

But for those who completed the training and believe that they want to serve now, they faced thorough examinations, as our Book of Church Order requires. These inquiries looked into: 1) a brief summary of how they had come to faith, and their devotional practices; 2) a sense of their call and readiness to serve; 3) a review of the ordination vows; 4) a review of their endorsement of Trinity’s Mission, Vision, & Values; 5) a written exam (about 15 pages worth) of their knowledge of the Bible and our theological convictions, along with a verbal exam reviewing these tests; and 6) a review of their understanding of the appropriate reasons to take a break from office (i.e. for marriage, parenting, work, health, etc.)

These nominees have demonstrated an amazing commitment to the work, and they all deserve to be commended for weeks and weeks of meetings, scores of pages read, and conversations had.

But one last step remains. After these exams and our elders’ approval — voted and approved last night at our elders’ meeting — the remaining nominees seeking ordination must be approved by you, the members of Trinity.

On Sunday, March 1st, at our worship services, we will conduct a congregational vote seeking just this — your approval of the nominees for elder and deacon.

This allows you to have the final say. For all that a nominee has invested in terms of time and preparation, they are still serving at your approval. If you are a member of Trinity, will you please do your best to attend in person and vote in this very important process?

The nominees approved to stand for election are:

Deacon Nominees:
• Josue Blanco
• Bob Bodolay
• Chris Cerjan
• Elijah Goodrum
• Josh Henson
• Nathan Patterson
• John Pierce
• Thomas Rule
• Kris Smith

Elder Nominees:
• Bruce Gaynair
• Dean Nederveld
• JR Pierce
• Todd Riggs
• Jason Roland
• Jeff Sandman
• Mike Zavada

On the ballot, you will be asked if you can affirm a nominee. If you have a reason not to do so, you have every right to refrain from approving them. But if you do not know them personally (Trinity is a big church), I would ask you to consider all that they have demonstrated and done, and our elders’ examinations, because we cannot ordain them if you do not elect them. And our elders are recommending them for your affirmation.

At the end of all of this is a clear, simple story. Nominees have submitted themselves to a profound amount of training and scrutiny, and in the end, they are submitting their ability to serve to your approval.

]]> In April of last year, we commenced the process of nominating officer candidates to raise up additional (and much-needed) elders and deacons. We noted the prerequisites that needed to be true already of the person(s) you would nominate:

  1. They have proven their ability to work with others in a mature and loving way.

  2. They are committed to Trinity’s Mission and Vision.

  3. They line up theologically with our denomination, the PCA.

  4. Elder nominees are currently spiritual leaders, possibly they have effectively led a Trinity Community Group, or in another volunteer role.

  5. Deacon nominees currently are showing, or have effectively shown, generosity, a willingness to serve others, and compassion for the needy.

In addition to these pre-requisites, do they show a willingness or a desire to serve?

You responded resoundingly with the nomination of 47 men! Most of these then entered our officer training process, which started back in June and ran throughout the remainder of 2025. We covered the nature of the offices of elder and deacon. We gave a lot of attention to the importance of Christ-like character and an ability to work graciously with others, to serve, love, and lead in the Gospel. We did a deep dive into our Mission, Vision & Values, and finally, we covered our biblical and theological distinctives.

Throughout the entirety of this, we emphasized that success is not “getting ordained.” Success is being faithful to whatever God has called you to at this season of your life. And with that many people, there are a lot of variables, stories, and personal needs. While from the beginning, some nominees withdrew from the process, most actually completed our training, even if they believed that they would not at this time seek to be ordained. Yet.

Whether it is the needs of a family, time and scheduling limitations due to work, health, conscience, or a sure belief that they’re just not yet ready, many nominees finished the training but deferred ordination until a later time.

But for those who completed the training and believe that they want to serve now, they faced thorough examinations, as our Book of Church Order requires. These inquiries looked into: 1) a brief summary of how they had come to faith, and their devotional practices; 2) a sense of their call and readiness to serve; 3) a review of the ordination vows; 4) a review of their endorsement of Trinity’s Mission, Vision, & Values; 5) a written exam (about 15 pages worth) of their knowledge of the Bible and our theological convictions, along with a verbal exam reviewing these tests; and 6) a review of their understanding of the appropriate reasons to take a break from office (i.e. for marriage, parenting, work, health, etc.)

These nominees have demonstrated an amazing commitment to the work, and they all deserve to be commended for weeks and weeks of meetings, scores of pages read, and conversations had.

But one last step remains. After these exams and our elders’ approval — voted and approved last night at our elders’ meeting — the remaining nominees seeking ordination must be approved by you, the members of Trinity.

On Sunday, March 1st, at our worship services, we will conduct a congregational vote seeking just this — your approval of the nominees for elder and deacon.

This allows you to have the final say. For all that a nominee has invested in terms of time and preparation, they are still serving at your approval. If you are a member of Trinity, will you please do your best to attend in person and vote in this very important process?

The nominees approved to stand for election are:

Deacon Nominees:
• Josue Blanco
• Bob Bodolay
• Chris Cerjan
• Elijah Goodrum
• Josh Henson
• Nathan Patterson
• John Pierce
• Thomas Rule
• Kris Smith

Elder Nominees:
• Bruce Gaynair
• Dean Nederveld
• JR Pierce
• Todd Riggs
• Jason Roland
• Jeff Sandman
• Mike Zavada

On the ballot, you will be asked if you can affirm a nominee. If you have a reason not to do so, you have every right to refrain from approving them. But if you do not know them personally (Trinity is a big church), I would ask you to consider all that they have demonstrated and done, and our elders’ examinations, because we cannot ordain them if you do not elect them. And our elders are recommending them for your affirmation.

At the end of all of this is a clear, simple story. Nominees have submitted themselves to a profound amount of training and scrutiny, and in the end, they are submitting their ability to serve to your approval.

]]> An amazing legacy of service https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/an-amazing-legacy-of-service https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/an-amazing-legacy-of-service#comments Sat, 17 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0500 https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/an-amazing-legacy-of-service It is a truism played out all over the world that service staff in public places are largely invisible. Who notices the people who clean your hotel room? Or bellmen, or wait staff in large venues? It’s not without warrant that in so many spy stories, operatives pose as waiters or kitchen staff when they want to infiltrate a facility unseen.

Why is this? I believe it’s because they fill a humble role. They serve. They are not the prominent players. They’re not celebrities with big followings, or executives, or outgoing sales agents. Their work is low-key and not intended to draw attention. A problem is usually in play if they are noticed.

And in a church, every real leader is first called a servant. Every true spiritual leader serves first the Lord, and then His people. But no one ever outgrows the title or essential identity of servant. Jesus said, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:11-12)

We have been so blessed to have an extensive train of officers throughout our years.

Ruling Elders: Clark Buurma, Kevin Calkins, Adam Davidson, Jim Davie, Clint DeBoer, Clarke Freed, Alex Frost, Jerri Gable, Dick Greene, David Hallock, Holland Henderson, Jason Jacobs, Shawn Jones, Scott McBride, Frank McCaulley, Tim Mitchell, Dean Nederveld, Jack Plating, Jim Prevatt, Greg Riching, Steve Scruggs, Jonathan Secrest, Dwight Smith, Timo Strawbridge, John Sweet, John Tucker, Matt Tucker, Justin Wilson, and Steve Wilson.

Deacons: Braxton Bone, David Boulware, Justin Bryan, Robbie Davis, Andrew Eisner, Bruce Gaynair, Jeff Sandman, James Spence, Adam Spafford, and Will Yancey.

Pastors: Drew Bennett, Joe Brandi, Lyle Caswell, Josh Floyd, Brian March, Stan McMahan, Tony Myers, Brown Peterson, Ted Sinn, David Springer, and Ben Turner.

As we have given many of these away to help start other congregations, it is a constant reminder of our mission to reach our region for Christ and of how greatly we need the Lord to raise up the next generation of leaders.

Soon, we will ordain and install our next class, with over 20 new officers. The work to train up this next class of officers has taken almost a year. It has included months of class work, along with life-on-life training and support, and the candidates who have completed all of this preparation represent a great cross-section of our congregation. Some of them have been here for years, and some are newer to Lakeland and to Trinity. But all of them share a commitment to Jesus and to you, our congregation.

Please pray for these men and their families! Please give thanks for God’s redeeming work in their lives, and His work through them to be a blessing to our church. As they have served faithfully and with grace and humility behind the scenes, our church has been blessed because of them.

]]> It is a truism played out all over the world that service staff in public places are largely invisible. Who notices the people who clean your hotel room? Or bellmen, or wait staff in large venues? It’s not without warrant that in so many spy stories, operatives pose as waiters or kitchen staff when they want to infiltrate a facility unseen.

Why is this? I believe it’s because they fill a humble role. They serve. They are not the prominent players. They’re not celebrities with big followings, or executives, or outgoing sales agents. Their work is low-key and not intended to draw attention. A problem is usually in play if they are noticed.

And in a church, every real leader is first called a servant. Every true spiritual leader serves first the Lord, and then His people. But no one ever outgrows the title or essential identity of servant. Jesus said, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23:11-12)

We have been so blessed to have an extensive train of officers throughout our years.

Ruling Elders: Clark Buurma, Kevin Calkins, Adam Davidson, Jim Davie, Clint DeBoer, Clarke Freed, Alex Frost, Jerri Gable, Dick Greene, David Hallock, Holland Henderson, Jason Jacobs, Shawn Jones, Scott McBride, Frank McCaulley, Tim Mitchell, Dean Nederveld, Jack Plating, Jim Prevatt, Greg Riching, Steve Scruggs, Jonathan Secrest, Dwight Smith, Timo Strawbridge, John Sweet, John Tucker, Matt Tucker, Justin Wilson, and Steve Wilson.

Deacons: Braxton Bone, David Boulware, Justin Bryan, Robbie Davis, Andrew Eisner, Bruce Gaynair, Jeff Sandman, James Spence, Adam Spafford, and Will Yancey.

Pastors: Drew Bennett, Joe Brandi, Lyle Caswell, Josh Floyd, Brian March, Stan McMahan, Tony Myers, Brown Peterson, Ted Sinn, David Springer, and Ben Turner.

As we have given many of these away to help start other congregations, it is a constant reminder of our mission to reach our region for Christ and of how greatly we need the Lord to raise up the next generation of leaders.

Soon, we will ordain and install our next class, with over 20 new officers. The work to train up this next class of officers has taken almost a year. It has included months of class work, along with life-on-life training and support, and the candidates who have completed all of this preparation represent a great cross-section of our congregation. Some of them have been here for years, and some are newer to Lakeland and to Trinity. But all of them share a commitment to Jesus and to you, our congregation.

Please pray for these men and their families! Please give thanks for God’s redeeming work in their lives, and His work through them to be a blessing to our church. As they have served faithfully and with grace and humility behind the scenes, our church has been blessed because of them.

]]> Who missed it and why? https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/who-missed-it-and-why https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/who-missed-it-and-why#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:00:00 -0500 https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/who-missed-it-and-why Ancient Greek philosophers believed we could learn not only from what something is, but also from what it is not. “Light is bright; it is not darkness.”  And from centuries before Christ, we have considered not just the positive lessons but also what we can learn from the negative ones.

In this season leading up to Christmas, lots is written and said about Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the faithful who responded to the revelation of God in Christ. But what can we also learn from the people who missed it? How do we positively gain insight from those who got it wrong?

Matthew 2:1-5 records:
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea…”

Even with the hottest intel from the traveling wise men, Herod, in his mad jealousy, failed to respond with humility and faith that God had come. Drunk with a sense of his own importance, he dispatched soldiers to kill every baby in the area of Bethlehem. He would resort to atrocities to stamp out any potential rival. The most powerful man in the realm missed it.

The Scribes with whom Herod counseled didn’t fare much better. There is silence regarding any effort on their part to announce the birth of the Messiah, to leave Jerusalem for the nearby village, or to shield Jesus from the imminent threat of Herod’s purge. Did this unlikely act of God not fit into their carefully curated theology? Is it possible that they were blinded by their supposed knowledge?

It also notes that “all Jerusalem with him.”  Why wasn’t there a pilgrimage? On the part of Jerusalem’s crowds, was the trek out too inconvenient (a 2-3 hour journey on foot)? Was it simply not in their schedule of important things to do that week? Was it just not comfortable?

Luke’s gospel famously records that in Bethlehem, “There was no room for them…”  If the citizens of the big city were just distant enough to overlook Jesus’ arrival, the people of Bethlehem were too busy and distracted. Years later, Jesus would rebuke Martha for being too busy to just sit with Him. Our busy pursuit of good things can keep us from the best things.

What’s humbling is to consider that every one of these issues is a sin of mine. Power, knowledge, comfort, busyness, and cynicism are all on my sin list. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. How much in common do you have with the people who missed it? How could we learn from them, and then humbly, eagerly repent?

Nothing in all creation can possibly compare with the LORD, God Almighty, the Holy One. God is incomparable, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So persuaded, wouldn’t it be good if we put down every competing allegiance in order to simply receive Him and His saving work?

Merry Christmas, and don’t miss it.

]]> Ancient Greek philosophers believed we could learn not only from what something is, but also from what it is not. “Light is bright; it is not darkness.”  And from centuries before Christ, we have considered not just the positive lessons but also what we can learn from the negative ones.

In this season leading up to Christmas, lots is written and said about Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the faithful who responded to the revelation of God in Christ. But what can we also learn from the people who missed it? How do we positively gain insight from those who got it wrong?

Matthew 2:1-5 records:
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea…”

Even with the hottest intel from the traveling wise men, Herod, in his mad jealousy, failed to respond with humility and faith that God had come. Drunk with a sense of his own importance, he dispatched soldiers to kill every baby in the area of Bethlehem. He would resort to atrocities to stamp out any potential rival. The most powerful man in the realm missed it.

The Scribes with whom Herod counseled didn’t fare much better. There is silence regarding any effort on their part to announce the birth of the Messiah, to leave Jerusalem for the nearby village, or to shield Jesus from the imminent threat of Herod’s purge. Did this unlikely act of God not fit into their carefully curated theology? Is it possible that they were blinded by their supposed knowledge?

It also notes that “all Jerusalem with him.”  Why wasn’t there a pilgrimage? On the part of Jerusalem’s crowds, was the trek out too inconvenient (a 2-3 hour journey on foot)? Was it simply not in their schedule of important things to do that week? Was it just not comfortable?

Luke’s gospel famously records that in Bethlehem, “There was no room for them…”  If the citizens of the big city were just distant enough to overlook Jesus’ arrival, the people of Bethlehem were too busy and distracted. Years later, Jesus would rebuke Martha for being too busy to just sit with Him. Our busy pursuit of good things can keep us from the best things.

What’s humbling is to consider that every one of these issues is a sin of mine. Power, knowledge, comfort, busyness, and cynicism are all on my sin list. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. How much in common do you have with the people who missed it? How could we learn from them, and then humbly, eagerly repent?

Nothing in all creation can possibly compare with the LORD, God Almighty, the Holy One. God is incomparable, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So persuaded, wouldn’t it be good if we put down every competing allegiance in order to simply receive Him and His saving work?

Merry Christmas, and don’t miss it.

]]> What are you leaving behind? And what are you pursuing? https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/what-are-you-leaving-behind--and-what-are-you-pursuing https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/what-are-you-leaving-behind--and-what-are-you-pursuing#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0500 https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/what-are-you-leaving-behind--and-what-are-you-pursuing We live with both things we seek and things we avoid. We have goals, pursuits, or what we desire to gain, and we certainly know what we want to evade, abstain from, or give a wide berth.

This fits the biblical pattern of repentance and faith. Just as the LORD called Abraham, in Genesis, to leave Ur of the Chaldeans (and all of the idolatry of his home country) and go to the land that He would show to Abraham, also the Apostle Paul reminded Timothy to flee from sin or temptations and to pursue righteousness (both in 1 Timothy 6:11 & 2 Timothy 2:22).

I think this one phrase can sum up what our ministry aims to produce in anyone we serve. Whatever we offer — a worship service, a small group, a specialized meeting, a personal spiritual discipline — is to help you discern what you could leave behind, and what you would take up instead, in your pursuit of Jesus.

I can further subdivide this into three distinct aspects of your life. 1) What do you worship? 2) How do you define your identity? And 3) how do you treat other people?

In terms of worship, there’s no question that you worship. Our Maker designed us as worshiping creatures, built for an eternal enjoyment of Him. The only question is whether or not you worship Him. Just think of how many Bible verses call people away from idolatries or worshiping false gods (easily 400-500 total verses in the Old & New Testaments)! This is what we’re called to leave behind, and it’s a loving call because no idol has any power to save or bless you. To leave behind an idol is to forsake a lie; it is inherently to make progress as you move away from what could never help you to move toward the Living God who alone redeems all who trust in Him. What do you take up in place of all those idols? You start to know the True God, YHWH, the Great I AM, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and you listen to what He tells you of Himself in His Word. As you learn of Him, you cherish Him, exalt Him, know, trust, love and obey Him as the Most Important One in the entire universe. And you seek to do this not just on Sundays but everywhere, all the time, because He is always with you and always worthy of your love.

In terms of how you define your identity, you start to realize the myriad ways in which you have built your sense of worth on things, people, or experiences that, in the end, all perish. As sinners, an essential aspect of how we seek to establish who we are is not in terms of who God is or who He made us to be. We rebel. We reject His work and His Word, and we seek to exalt ourselves instead. But because of the Gospel, as we come to realize how offensive and destructive this is, we turn. We repent of our self-will and begin to leave these frail, vain, and fruitless ways of securing our identity, and instead pursue our identity in Jesus. He says we are His. He says that we are made in His image, and are being redeemed back into His likeness that we abandoned in our sin. He says that we matter to Him as much as a Bride, and that we matter to the Father as much as a son. He says that we are sealed by His Spirit as His treasured possession, and that we are inhabited as His very own home. More and more, we learn to rest in who He says we are, and to leave behind the lies and disappointments of an identity based on created things.

And in terms of how we treat other people, in sin, we were always the most important person in any interaction. So we were arrogant, selfish, shallow, broken and therefore a regular disappointment to others as we failed to love, serve, give, or respect anyone else. In salvation, as we leave these ways behind, we begin to learn how to love the way that Jesus has loved us. Like mirrors, constantly refracting light from the sun toward a specific target, we learn to reflect the grace of God toward everyone we meet — even our enemies. As He has freely given to us, we freely give to others. As He values us, we value others. As He forgives and is merciful to us, we can forgive and show mercy to others. However, He has blessed us, we learn to simply yet consistently aim that at anyone and everyone.

So if you had to answer today, what are you leaving behind? And what are you pursuing?

]]> We live with both things we seek and things we avoid. We have goals, pursuits, or what we desire to gain, and we certainly know what we want to evade, abstain from, or give a wide berth.

This fits the biblical pattern of repentance and faith. Just as the LORD called Abraham, in Genesis, to leave Ur of the Chaldeans (and all of the idolatry of his home country) and go to the land that He would show to Abraham, also the Apostle Paul reminded Timothy to flee from sin or temptations and to pursue righteousness (both in 1 Timothy 6:11 & 2 Timothy 2:22).

I think this one phrase can sum up what our ministry aims to produce in anyone we serve. Whatever we offer — a worship service, a small group, a specialized meeting, a personal spiritual discipline — is to help you discern what you could leave behind, and what you would take up instead, in your pursuit of Jesus.

I can further subdivide this into three distinct aspects of your life. 1) What do you worship? 2) How do you define your identity? And 3) how do you treat other people?

In terms of worship, there’s no question that you worship. Our Maker designed us as worshiping creatures, built for an eternal enjoyment of Him. The only question is whether or not you worship Him. Just think of how many Bible verses call people away from idolatries or worshiping false gods (easily 400-500 total verses in the Old & New Testaments)! This is what we’re called to leave behind, and it’s a loving call because no idol has any power to save or bless you. To leave behind an idol is to forsake a lie; it is inherently to make progress as you move away from what could never help you to move toward the Living God who alone redeems all who trust in Him. What do you take up in place of all those idols? You start to know the True God, YHWH, the Great I AM, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and you listen to what He tells you of Himself in His Word. As you learn of Him, you cherish Him, exalt Him, know, trust, love and obey Him as the Most Important One in the entire universe. And you seek to do this not just on Sundays but everywhere, all the time, because He is always with you and always worthy of your love.

In terms of how you define your identity, you start to realize the myriad ways in which you have built your sense of worth on things, people, or experiences that, in the end, all perish. As sinners, an essential aspect of how we seek to establish who we are is not in terms of who God is or who He made us to be. We rebel. We reject His work and His Word, and we seek to exalt ourselves instead. But because of the Gospel, as we come to realize how offensive and destructive this is, we turn. We repent of our self-will and begin to leave these frail, vain, and fruitless ways of securing our identity, and instead pursue our identity in Jesus. He says we are His. He says that we are made in His image, and are being redeemed back into His likeness that we abandoned in our sin. He says that we matter to Him as much as a Bride, and that we matter to the Father as much as a son. He says that we are sealed by His Spirit as His treasured possession, and that we are inhabited as His very own home. More and more, we learn to rest in who He says we are, and to leave behind the lies and disappointments of an identity based on created things.

And in terms of how we treat other people, in sin, we were always the most important person in any interaction. So we were arrogant, selfish, shallow, broken and therefore a regular disappointment to others as we failed to love, serve, give, or respect anyone else. In salvation, as we leave these ways behind, we begin to learn how to love the way that Jesus has loved us. Like mirrors, constantly refracting light from the sun toward a specific target, we learn to reflect the grace of God toward everyone we meet — even our enemies. As He has freely given to us, we freely give to others. As He values us, we value others. As He forgives and is merciful to us, we can forgive and show mercy to others. However, He has blessed us, we learn to simply yet consistently aim that at anyone and everyone.

So if you had to answer today, what are you leaving behind? And what are you pursuing?

]]> Please join us for MCM this Sunday at 4 https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/please-join-us-for-mcm-this-sunday-at-4 https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/please-join-us-for-mcm-this-sunday-at-4#comments Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0400 https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/please-join-us-for-mcm-this-sunday-at-4 What is the most exciting or compelling opportunity that you are facing right now?

Back at the end of August, I wrote to you about our plans to resume a regular meeting where leaders can meet for training, but also that anyone can attend to get the clearest sense of our most strategic work as an entire ministry. We call it Ministry Communities Meeting, or MCM, a meeting for all of the teams (or communities) that do ministry as a part of Trinity. In the first hour, we all meet together, and then in the second hour, the respective teams divide up to meet for planning, training, and prayer.

I want to invite you to join us this Sunday afternoon at 4p, in the fellowship hall, for our next meeting, if only for the first hour. As we prepare our ministry plans for 2026, this drives our annual work to prepare our budget. The work of budgeting is not simply to predict or prepare numbers, or manage resources, but to respond faithfully to what God is building. Budgeting is one of the ways that we measure the worth of our collective work, which also means that a wise and faithful budget is an act of worship. Financial planning is essentially our attempt to align our resources with God’s revealed mission.

In our first hour of MCM, we worship, celebrate lives changed by the Gospel, pray, and talk together about what we believe God is doing in our midst. I am humbled and thrilled by the dynamic growth that Jesus is producing in our respective ministries, and that growth is what is so compelling as we prepare for our 2026 budgeting plans.

In the face of so much that is unpredictable or unforeseen, we’re sure in our convictions that faith and love are our go-to priorities. In all aspects of whatever we do, we are seeking to cultivate in people a heart for the Lord Jesus (faith) and a heart for others (love). We’re certain that God places an immeasurable value on a changed human heart. What is harder to measure is the financial costs and opportunities that go along with our work.

So we want to share it with you! We want you to hear, before our budget plans are set, just how much growth is occurring at Trinity. We want you to consider the opportunities that are before us. We want you to join us in praying that God will provide. We want to include you in the conversation before ink is finally put on paper and congregational meetings are held.

A healthy church doesn’t merely sustain itself; it reproduces faith and service through a growing heart for the Lord, His people, and His larger Mission. Externally, this means church planting (and we’re recruiting leaders from the outside and developing the next generation through internal apprenticeships). But also within our four walls, multiplication is not just a strategy; it’s the natural overflow or byproduct of Gospel vitality. Our ministries are burgeoning, and I’m eager to share a summary of this with you at MCM this coming Sunday at 4p.

Please consider joining us, and at the very least, please be praying for God’s heart of generosity to motivate us as an entire people to be generous to support the work of His Kingdom that changes lives for eternity.

]]> What is the most exciting or compelling opportunity that you are facing right now?

Back at the end of August, I wrote to you about our plans to resume a regular meeting where leaders can meet for training, but also that anyone can attend to get the clearest sense of our most strategic work as an entire ministry. We call it Ministry Communities Meeting, or MCM, a meeting for all of the teams (or communities) that do ministry as a part of Trinity. In the first hour, we all meet together, and then in the second hour, the respective teams divide up to meet for planning, training, and prayer.

I want to invite you to join us this Sunday afternoon at 4p, in the fellowship hall, for our next meeting, if only for the first hour. As we prepare our ministry plans for 2026, this drives our annual work to prepare our budget. The work of budgeting is not simply to predict or prepare numbers, or manage resources, but to respond faithfully to what God is building. Budgeting is one of the ways that we measure the worth of our collective work, which also means that a wise and faithful budget is an act of worship. Financial planning is essentially our attempt to align our resources with God’s revealed mission.

In our first hour of MCM, we worship, celebrate lives changed by the Gospel, pray, and talk together about what we believe God is doing in our midst. I am humbled and thrilled by the dynamic growth that Jesus is producing in our respective ministries, and that growth is what is so compelling as we prepare for our 2026 budgeting plans.

In the face of so much that is unpredictable or unforeseen, we’re sure in our convictions that faith and love are our go-to priorities. In all aspects of whatever we do, we are seeking to cultivate in people a heart for the Lord Jesus (faith) and a heart for others (love). We’re certain that God places an immeasurable value on a changed human heart. What is harder to measure is the financial costs and opportunities that go along with our work.

So we want to share it with you! We want you to hear, before our budget plans are set, just how much growth is occurring at Trinity. We want you to consider the opportunities that are before us. We want you to join us in praying that God will provide. We want to include you in the conversation before ink is finally put on paper and congregational meetings are held.

A healthy church doesn’t merely sustain itself; it reproduces faith and service through a growing heart for the Lord, His people, and His larger Mission. Externally, this means church planting (and we’re recruiting leaders from the outside and developing the next generation through internal apprenticeships). But also within our four walls, multiplication is not just a strategy; it’s the natural overflow or byproduct of Gospel vitality. Our ministries are burgeoning, and I’m eager to share a summary of this with you at MCM this coming Sunday at 4p.

Please consider joining us, and at the very least, please be praying for God’s heart of generosity to motivate us as an entire people to be generous to support the work of His Kingdom that changes lives for eternity.

]]> Going Above and Beyond https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/going-above-and-beyond https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/going-above-and-beyond#comments Fri, 19 Sep 2025 17:00:00 -0400 https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/going-above-and-beyond Is there anyone in your life who would fit the description, “above and beyond?" Maybe they have a family and a job like you, but they also do some kind of extraordinary volunteer work as well? Or possibly they have some kind of athletic training or sport they maintain on top of all the other things that most of us do? And likely, you have said (or you’ve heard someone say), “How do they do that?”

You may be newer to Trinity, but we want to be that kind of church. This is not an ego thing; it’s a mission thing. As a church planting church, Trinity has a greater impulse — out and beyond our own preservation. Churches can have a remarkably entrenched instinct toward self-preservation, but to be fundamentally oriented to help start other congregations that will help reach our city for Jesus, that goes above and beyond.

We have given, and regularly prepare to give away people, time, and our money in ways that other churches don’t ever consider.

Our motivation is in the Gospel. Just as Jesus did not remain in the comfort of heaven, He moved out of what had to have been unimaginable security and privilege to come to this world to accomplish our salvation. While remaining in the Father’s Presence had to have been indescribably better, in terms of comfort or advantage, in love for sinners like you and me, He cared more about saving us than holding onto His rights and benefits. “God so loved the world that He gave…”

This means first, we believe that we are recipients of great generosity, a generosity that changes lives, and as a consequence, it’s an amazing privilege to enter into God’s very mission and generosity.

This also means that we always want generosity to be a talkable subject. Our budgeting process is consummately transparent. Every line item, every staff salary, every ministry budget is published freely, every budgeting cycle.

We’re a sending church, with missionaries, campus ministry staff, and church planters regularly being raised up. Since our inception, we have sent over 20 men to seminary to be trained as pastors or church planters, and our Campus Outreach ministry has now raised up over half a dozen new staff members. Therefore, as we have asked the Lord to raise up workers for the harvest that is Central Florida, those being sent are an answer to prayer. They’re also regularly going to be raising support.

This means that if you are around Trinity for very long, you are going to see remarkable generosity, and you are going to be asked for it also. Do you have a plan or a readiness to commit? If not, what or who would help you?

As we have now crossed over the mid-point in the year, I want you to know that our giving is down. If you watch Ashley Coleman’s weekly email, the income report is there and is currently showing that we are between $100,000 and $200,000 below what is needed to meet our budget. In keeping with responsible work and living, we have kept our spending down correspondingly, so as a congregation, we are living within our means. Our staff is doing a great job of stewarding what we are given, so our spending is being held back to match our income.

But the vision for our work is great! We are growing at every level and the need for ministry is too. If you are able, we are in need and the harvest is plentiful. If you have benefitted from Trinity and you have never given to support us, would you please consider starting to give? If you give sporadically, would you consider giving regularly or systematically? And if you already give consistently, thank you. Your generosity makes our work possible! Every dollar of support is a privilege and a sacred trust that our leaders take seriously before the Lord.

As an above and beyond congregation, let’s keep in mind what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians believers: “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on… One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way.”

]]> Is there anyone in your life who would fit the description, “above and beyond?" Maybe they have a family and a job like you, but they also do some kind of extraordinary volunteer work as well? Or possibly they have some kind of athletic training or sport they maintain on top of all the other things that most of us do? And likely, you have said (or you’ve heard someone say), “How do they do that?”

You may be newer to Trinity, but we want to be that kind of church. This is not an ego thing; it’s a mission thing. As a church planting church, Trinity has a greater impulse — out and beyond our own preservation. Churches can have a remarkably entrenched instinct toward self-preservation, but to be fundamentally oriented to help start other congregations that will help reach our city for Jesus, that goes above and beyond.

We have given, and regularly prepare to give away people, time, and our money in ways that other churches don’t ever consider.

Our motivation is in the Gospel. Just as Jesus did not remain in the comfort of heaven, He moved out of what had to have been unimaginable security and privilege to come to this world to accomplish our salvation. While remaining in the Father’s Presence had to have been indescribably better, in terms of comfort or advantage, in love for sinners like you and me, He cared more about saving us than holding onto His rights and benefits. “God so loved the world that He gave…”

This means first, we believe that we are recipients of great generosity, a generosity that changes lives, and as a consequence, it’s an amazing privilege to enter into God’s very mission and generosity.

This also means that we always want generosity to be a talkable subject. Our budgeting process is consummately transparent. Every line item, every staff salary, every ministry budget is published freely, every budgeting cycle.

We’re a sending church, with missionaries, campus ministry staff, and church planters regularly being raised up. Since our inception, we have sent over 20 men to seminary to be trained as pastors or church planters, and our Campus Outreach ministry has now raised up over half a dozen new staff members. Therefore, as we have asked the Lord to raise up workers for the harvest that is Central Florida, those being sent are an answer to prayer. They’re also regularly going to be raising support.

This means that if you are around Trinity for very long, you are going to see remarkable generosity, and you are going to be asked for it also. Do you have a plan or a readiness to commit? If not, what or who would help you?

As we have now crossed over the mid-point in the year, I want you to know that our giving is down. If you watch Ashley Coleman’s weekly email, the income report is there and is currently showing that we are between $100,000 and $200,000 below what is needed to meet our budget. In keeping with responsible work and living, we have kept our spending down correspondingly, so as a congregation, we are living within our means. Our staff is doing a great job of stewarding what we are given, so our spending is being held back to match our income.

But the vision for our work is great! We are growing at every level and the need for ministry is too. If you are able, we are in need and the harvest is plentiful. If you have benefitted from Trinity and you have never given to support us, would you please consider starting to give? If you give sporadically, would you consider giving regularly or systematically? And if you already give consistently, thank you. Your generosity makes our work possible! Every dollar of support is a privilege and a sacred trust that our leaders take seriously before the Lord.

As an above and beyond congregation, let’s keep in mind what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians believers: “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on… One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way.”

]]> Please consider joining us on the 14th https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/tbd https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/tbd#comments Fri, 29 Aug 2025 18:00:00 -0400 https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/tbd As a fledgling church plant in 1997, we had the opportunity to receive training from the leaders at Redeemer Presbyterian in NYC. They were also a church plant, about eight years ahead of us. As they graciously allowed us to sit in on their training sessions for their leaders, we gained numerous insights into both what we believe and how to best do ministry.

One of their habits was to meet regularly with their leaders for a gathering called the Ministry Communities Meeting, or MCM. It is, as the name suggests, a meeting for all of the teams (or communities) that did ministry under their roof.

Following their lead, we started this habit here at Trinity throughout our first decade. I have a goal to resume a monthly leaders’ meeting, patterned after what we learned and I would like to invite you to our first gathering, Sunday, September 14th, at 4:00p.

The concept is simple enough: have a monthly 2-hour meeting where, in the first hour, we welcome anyone — we will sing, pray, cast vision, share and celebrate changed lives and how the Lord is working in our midst. In the second hour, where leaders are urged to be, each respective ministry team (or community) will regularly train and support their team members — for instance, every ministry (staff-led or volunteer-led) will gather in the second hour for prayer, goal-setting, problem-solving, and personal support.

MCM will be the place where anyone can learn everything that’s important. It will be a meeting designed to help us be forward-looking. If someone wants to know, “What are the leaders of Trinity working on right now?” this will be the best meeting to attend. It is also one of the only places where ideas can be tested with people who are bought in to our Mission & Vision. As a meeting built around our Ministry Structures, it helps guarantee integration.

  • Corporate Worship is for anyone, but it is an “upward” meeting. Its purpose is worship and it is not designed to address goals, strategies, problem-solving, or training leaders.
  • Officer meetings, classes and Community Groups have limited rosters and are intentionally more specific in scope and function.
  • MCM can help us inspire our people as they gain a more comprehensive perspective of every ministry. It can help respective ministry teams understand what they can deliver to our people, and it can help ministry teams communicate what they need from other ministries.
  • It can help us problem-solve, analyze and evaluate our effectiveness as a ministry. We can “beta test” ideas as a forum for rolling out new ministries or needs.
  • And it is the best meeting of all leaders, committed members & attenders, and it will include every ministry team at Trinity.

I’m excited and believe it will be strategic for us to re-establish a regular meeting where all of our leaders can gather. Please consider joining us on the 14th. When you register for the event, you’ll also have the option to sign up for childcare (provided for infants through 5th grade). Please complete your registration by Wednesday, September 10, so we can plan well for both the event and the number of childcare workers needed.

]]> As a fledgling church plant in 1997, we had the opportunity to receive training from the leaders at Redeemer Presbyterian in NYC. They were also a church plant, about eight years ahead of us. As they graciously allowed us to sit in on their training sessions for their leaders, we gained numerous insights into both what we believe and how to best do ministry.

One of their habits was to meet regularly with their leaders for a gathering called the Ministry Communities Meeting, or MCM. It is, as the name suggests, a meeting for all of the teams (or communities) that did ministry under their roof.

Following their lead, we started this habit here at Trinity throughout our first decade. I have a goal to resume a monthly leaders’ meeting, patterned after what we learned and I would like to invite you to our first gathering, Sunday, September 14th, at 4:00p.

The concept is simple enough: have a monthly 2-hour meeting where, in the first hour, we welcome anyone — we will sing, pray, cast vision, share and celebrate changed lives and how the Lord is working in our midst. In the second hour, where leaders are urged to be, each respective ministry team (or community) will regularly train and support their team members — for instance, every ministry (staff-led or volunteer-led) will gather in the second hour for prayer, goal-setting, problem-solving, and personal support.

MCM will be the place where anyone can learn everything that’s important. It will be a meeting designed to help us be forward-looking. If someone wants to know, “What are the leaders of Trinity working on right now?” this will be the best meeting to attend. It is also one of the only places where ideas can be tested with people who are bought in to our Mission & Vision. As a meeting built around our Ministry Structures, it helps guarantee integration.

  • Corporate Worship is for anyone, but it is an “upward” meeting. Its purpose is worship and it is not designed to address goals, strategies, problem-solving, or training leaders.
  • Officer meetings, classes and Community Groups have limited rosters and are intentionally more specific in scope and function.
  • MCM can help us inspire our people as they gain a more comprehensive perspective of every ministry. It can help respective ministry teams understand what they can deliver to our people, and it can help ministry teams communicate what they need from other ministries.
  • It can help us problem-solve, analyze and evaluate our effectiveness as a ministry. We can “beta test” ideas as a forum for rolling out new ministries or needs.
  • And it is the best meeting of all leaders, committed members & attenders, and it will include every ministry team at Trinity.

I’m excited and believe it will be strategic for us to re-establish a regular meeting where all of our leaders can gather. Please consider joining us on the 14th. When you register for the event, you’ll also have the option to sign up for childcare (provided for infants through 5th grade). Please complete your registration by Wednesday, September 10, so we can plan well for both the event and the number of childcare workers needed.

]]> Reminder for members: Congregational Meeting tomorrow after worship https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/reminder-for-members-congregational-meeting-tomorrow-after-worship https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/reminder-for-members-congregational-meeting-tomorrow-after-worship#comments Fri, 15 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0400 https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/reminder-for-members-congregational-meeting-tomorrow-after-worship Because of our belief in the dignity of every believer being claimed directly by God as His child and indwelt by His own Spirit in Christ, a congregational vote is a time of real significance. What you believe matters.

Also, because of our shared vows (both in membership and ordination), we’ve said before God and His people as witnesses that we will support the worship and the work of His Church. Calling a pastor is part of that work.

Tomorrow, after worship, we have called for a congregational meeting to call Brown Peterson as our Discipleship Pastor. A congregational meeting is necessary because Brown is being promoted from being an assistant pastor (someone hired only by our elders) to being an associate pastor (someone hired by both our elders and the congregation). It signifies a greater role of responsibility for Brown — because discipleship intersects with pretty much every ministry at Trinity — and a greater accountability because he cannot have this job without your endorsement.

At tomorrow’s meeting, we will present for your review and approval Brown’s new job description, the hiring process, the adjustment in his pay to reflect his increased responsibility, and the corresponding adjustment in our yearly budget.

Please be there if you are a member. Our leaders are very excited about Brown’s ministry track record, about how this role is sorely needed (especially as he would oversee and support Community Groups and Men’s Ministries), and Brown’s personal enthusiasm to take on this work. We believe in transparency, and we would welcome the opportunity to bring everyone up to speed on this work. However, we can’t answer your questions if you’re not there to ask them.

And given that for some, due to summer vacation plans or family trips, you may not be able to attend, please pray for our meeting, for Brown, and for God’s continued Grace upon our church as we labor to help everyone at Trinity grow as disciples of Jesus.

]]> Because of our belief in the dignity of every believer being claimed directly by God as His child and indwelt by His own Spirit in Christ, a congregational vote is a time of real significance. What you believe matters.

Also, because of our shared vows (both in membership and ordination), we’ve said before God and His people as witnesses that we will support the worship and the work of His Church. Calling a pastor is part of that work.

Tomorrow, after worship, we have called for a congregational meeting to call Brown Peterson as our Discipleship Pastor. A congregational meeting is necessary because Brown is being promoted from being an assistant pastor (someone hired only by our elders) to being an associate pastor (someone hired by both our elders and the congregation). It signifies a greater role of responsibility for Brown — because discipleship intersects with pretty much every ministry at Trinity — and a greater accountability because he cannot have this job without your endorsement.

At tomorrow’s meeting, we will present for your review and approval Brown’s new job description, the hiring process, the adjustment in his pay to reflect his increased responsibility, and the corresponding adjustment in our yearly budget.

Please be there if you are a member. Our leaders are very excited about Brown’s ministry track record, about how this role is sorely needed (especially as he would oversee and support Community Groups and Men’s Ministries), and Brown’s personal enthusiasm to take on this work. We believe in transparency, and we would welcome the opportunity to bring everyone up to speed on this work. However, we can’t answer your questions if you’re not there to ask them.

And given that for some, due to summer vacation plans or family trips, you may not be able to attend, please pray for our meeting, for Brown, and for God’s continued Grace upon our church as we labor to help everyone at Trinity grow as disciples of Jesus.

]]> Invitation to Congregational Meeting to call Brown Peterson as an Associate Pastor https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/invitation-to-congregational-meeting-to-call-brown-peterson-as-an-associate-pastor https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/invitation-to-congregational-meeting-to-call-brown-peterson-as-an-associate-pastor#comments Sat, 28 Jun 2025 13:00:00 -0400 https://www.trinitylakeland.org/announcements/post/invitation-to-congregational-meeting-to-call-brown-peterson-as-an-associate-pastor “What can Brown do for you?” is an ironic tagline from a recent UPS ad campaign. As I consider what Brown Peterson can do for our church and our entire movement of the Gospel in Lakeland, I am excited and grateful.

Brown first came to Trinity in April of 2017 because of his interest in how we did ministry. He was first hired in October 2017 to fill the role now held by Bud Daniel and Tucker O’Brien, working with middle and high school boys. Following the resignation of our prior student ministry director, Brown was promoted to Director of Student Ministries. Since that time, he has cultivated a profound network of volunteers, junior staff, and ministry interns.

Now, after a thorough process of vetting and evaluation, we are excited to announce that our elders have unanimously voted to promote him to be our Discipleship Pastor. Because Brown is currently only an Assistant Pastor, our church policy requires a congregational vote of approval to promote him to be an Associate Pastor.

I would like to invite you to a congregational meeting after our corporate worship on Sunday, July 13th. At this meeting, we will put before you, the members of Trinity, the opportunity to approve this call.

Essentially, this means that Brown cannot do his work without your endorsement. It is how I have been called, Tony Myers, and David Springer, and any other Associate Pastor we have ever had. Our leaders are that excited about Brown, and we are glad to put this opportunity before you for your approval as well.

Our history at Trinity has long included the practice of seeking to identify young talent, building into these ministry leaders, getting them educated and trained, and then seeking to either deploy them or employ them. Along our journey, Trinity has sent more men to seminary than any other church in our presbytery. We have consistently seen the fruitfulness of young ministry leaders who start in student ministry and then grow into leadership ability for adults or even entire congregations. That is my history, and that is what we have seen in six of the church planters in our network. And it is what we now believe we see deeply in Brown.
 
If approved, Brown will be installed as the Discipleship Pastor and will help lead the transition for a new Director of Student Ministry, likely through a similar process involving Bud Daniel. This would follow the same template for how Brown first began at Trinity and provide Bud with the same opportunity for work and growth.

Our leaders see this opportunity as an exciting answer to prayer, and I’m personally excited about Brown. And thankfully, he is just as excited and eager to take on this new role. Please be praying for him and our entire church, for Brown’s family, and for God‘s leading in how you can be helpful to him and to Trinity in the greater mission of growing disciples of Jesus.

]]> “What can Brown do for you?” is an ironic tagline from a recent UPS ad campaign. As I consider what Brown Peterson can do for our church and our entire movement of the Gospel in Lakeland, I am excited and grateful.

Brown first came to Trinity in April of 2017 because of his interest in how we did ministry. He was first hired in October 2017 to fill the role now held by Bud Daniel and Tucker O’Brien, working with middle and high school boys. Following the resignation of our prior student ministry director, Brown was promoted to Director of Student Ministries. Since that time, he has cultivated a profound network of volunteers, junior staff, and ministry interns.

Now, after a thorough process of vetting and evaluation, we are excited to announce that our elders have unanimously voted to promote him to be our Discipleship Pastor. Because Brown is currently only an Assistant Pastor, our church policy requires a congregational vote of approval to promote him to be an Associate Pastor.

I would like to invite you to a congregational meeting after our corporate worship on Sunday, July 13th. At this meeting, we will put before you, the members of Trinity, the opportunity to approve this call.

Essentially, this means that Brown cannot do his work without your endorsement. It is how I have been called, Tony Myers, and David Springer, and any other Associate Pastor we have ever had. Our leaders are that excited about Brown, and we are glad to put this opportunity before you for your approval as well.

Our history at Trinity has long included the practice of seeking to identify young talent, building into these ministry leaders, getting them educated and trained, and then seeking to either deploy them or employ them. Along our journey, Trinity has sent more men to seminary than any other church in our presbytery. We have consistently seen the fruitfulness of young ministry leaders who start in student ministry and then grow into leadership ability for adults or even entire congregations. That is my history, and that is what we have seen in six of the church planters in our network. And it is what we now believe we see deeply in Brown.
 
If approved, Brown will be installed as the Discipleship Pastor and will help lead the transition for a new Director of Student Ministry, likely through a similar process involving Bud Daniel. This would follow the same template for how Brown first began at Trinity and provide Bud with the same opportunity for work and growth.

Our leaders see this opportunity as an exciting answer to prayer, and I’m personally excited about Brown. And thankfully, he is just as excited and eager to take on this new role. Please be praying for him and our entire church, for Brown’s family, and for God‘s leading in how you can be helpful to him and to Trinity in the greater mission of growing disciples of Jesus.

]]>