Manley Baptist Church
Information from your
Pastor Search Committee
Information from your
Pastor Search Committee
You may reach us by email at:
search@manleybaptist.org
Posted 4/20/2024
Dear Manley Baptist Church Family,
We hope this letter finds you well and blessed in His love. How faithful the Lord has been, and will forever be, as He ordains and determines our steps one day at a time.
“We make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps”. Proverbs 16:9
Scripture says in Jeremiah 3:15 - “I will give you shepherds after my own heart who will lead you with knowledge and understanding”.
Our hearts have joined with yours in prayer to find the man after His own heart.
The committee has continued to meet weekly. A couple of weeks ago, we were united and led to visit with a prospective Pastor for the Sunday service. Following the service, we spent time with him and his wife in a private location for lunch. This allowed both sides to discuss and ask many questions to gain a more in-depth understanding of many facets of their life and ministry. Since this time together, we have obtained several highly credible and complimentary references, which have given us even more solid information and understanding.
As we continue our journey in search of a new pastor to lead our congregation, we wish to reiterate the importance of confidentiality in this process. This is a sacred and sensitive task. It requires careful consideration, discernment, and confidentiality. Until we reach the final stages of the selection process, we are unable to disclose the names of individuals under consideration. As soon as we have a candidate to present to the congregation, we will communicate this information transparently and promptly.
We are trusting in the Lord’s leading, guiding, and unifying our hearts as we daily seek His wisdom and next steps. We thank you for praying as we look to His timing and affirmation of plans in the days ahead.
Thank you for the honor, trust, and privilege to serve as your Senior Pastor Search Committee.
All in His timing,
Your Search Committee
Dear Manley Baptist Church Family,
We hope this letter finds you well and blessed in His love. How faithful the Lord has been, and will forever be, as He ordains and determines our steps one day at a time.
“We make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps”. Proverbs 16:9
Scripture says in Jeremiah 3:15 - “I will give you shepherds after my own heart who will lead you with knowledge and understanding”.
Our hearts have joined with yours in prayer to find the man after His own heart.
The committee has continued to meet weekly. A couple of weeks ago, we were united and led to visit with a prospective Pastor for the Sunday service. Following the service, we spent time with him and his wife in a private location for lunch. This allowed both sides to discuss and ask many questions to gain a more in-depth understanding of many facets of their life and ministry. Since this time together, we have obtained several highly credible and complimentary references, which have given us even more solid information and understanding.
As we continue our journey in search of a new pastor to lead our congregation, we wish to reiterate the importance of confidentiality in this process. This is a sacred and sensitive task. It requires careful consideration, discernment, and confidentiality. Until we reach the final stages of the selection process, we are unable to disclose the names of individuals under consideration. As soon as we have a candidate to present to the congregation, we will communicate this information transparently and promptly.
We are trusting in the Lord’s leading, guiding, and unifying our hearts as we daily seek His wisdom and next steps. We thank you for praying as we look to His timing and affirmation of plans in the days ahead.
Thank you for the honor, trust, and privilege to serve as your Senior Pastor Search Committee.
All in His timing,
Your Search Committee
Posted 3/31/2024
Welcome, Dr. Jonathan Akin, who will be serving as Manley's new Interim Pastor beginning in May 2024!
Welcome, Dr. Jonathan Akin, who will be serving as Manley's new Interim Pastor beginning in May 2024!
- Vice President for Church Relations and Campus Ministries at Carson-Newman University
- Director of a pastor training program called "the Leadership Institute" for the North American Mission Board
- Author of books like Exalting Jesus in Proverbs and Exalting Jesus in Ecclesiastes
- Has served as a pastor of churches in Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, and North Carolina
- He and his wife, Ashley, have 3 children: Maddy, Emma Grace, and Judson
Posted 3/31/2024
Posted 2/6/2024
Dear Manley Baptist Church Family,
We hope this letter finds you well and blessed in His love.
We wanted to take a moment to update you on the progress of the Pastor Search Committee. Over the past few months, the committee has been diligently working to find the next Senior Pastor of our beloved Manley Baptist Church. Using the information provided from our Congregational Survey, we have crafted both a Church Profile and a Pastor Profile, which we are eager to share with potential candidates to provide them with a comprehensive understanding of our church's values, mission, and history.
The response from potential candidates has been steady, and we are grateful for the numerous resumes we have received. As a committee, we have spent countless hours in prayer, discussion, and carefully watching online sermons to discern which candidates align most closely with the vision we, as a church, have for the future of Manley Baptist.
At this stage, we have identified a few candidates whom we are interested in learning more about. To gain a deeper understanding of their calling, vision, and compatibility with Manley Baptist Church, we have developed a set of comprehensive questions. These inquiries are essential in helping us make an informed decision about the next leader who will guide our congregation in the years to come.
We kindly request your continued prayers during this crucial phase of our search. Your support and intercession are invaluable as we seek God's guidance in finding the best fit for our church family. We trust that the Lord will reveal the next steps for our committee, and we appreciate your patience as we navigate this important process.
Additionally, we invite you to play an active role in our search by recommending potential candidates. If you know of someone who could be a suitable fit for the Senior Pastor position, please submit their name and contact information to our dedicated email address: search@manleybaptist.org. Your insights are highly valued, and we believe that the collective wisdom of our church family will contribute significantly to this important decision.
Once again, we express our gratitude for your support, and we look forward to updating you on further developments. May God's grace and guidance continue to be upon us as we embark on this journey together.
Dear Manley Baptist Church Family,
We hope this letter finds you well and blessed in His love.
We wanted to take a moment to update you on the progress of the Pastor Search Committee. Over the past few months, the committee has been diligently working to find the next Senior Pastor of our beloved Manley Baptist Church. Using the information provided from our Congregational Survey, we have crafted both a Church Profile and a Pastor Profile, which we are eager to share with potential candidates to provide them with a comprehensive understanding of our church's values, mission, and history.
The response from potential candidates has been steady, and we are grateful for the numerous resumes we have received. As a committee, we have spent countless hours in prayer, discussion, and carefully watching online sermons to discern which candidates align most closely with the vision we, as a church, have for the future of Manley Baptist.
At this stage, we have identified a few candidates whom we are interested in learning more about. To gain a deeper understanding of their calling, vision, and compatibility with Manley Baptist Church, we have developed a set of comprehensive questions. These inquiries are essential in helping us make an informed decision about the next leader who will guide our congregation in the years to come.
We kindly request your continued prayers during this crucial phase of our search. Your support and intercession are invaluable as we seek God's guidance in finding the best fit for our church family. We trust that the Lord will reveal the next steps for our committee, and we appreciate your patience as we navigate this important process.
Additionally, we invite you to play an active role in our search by recommending potential candidates. If you know of someone who could be a suitable fit for the Senior Pastor position, please submit their name and contact information to our dedicated email address: search@manleybaptist.org. Your insights are highly valued, and we believe that the collective wisdom of our church family will contribute significantly to this important decision.
Once again, we express our gratitude for your support, and we look forward to updating you on further developments. May God's grace and guidance continue to be upon us as we embark on this journey together.
Posted 11/7/2023
Dear Manley Church Family,
On behalf of the Pastor Search Committee, we want to thank you for your prayers, support, and inquiries as to how the process is advancing as we seek the Lord’s new shepherd for Manley Baptist Church.
Today’s communication is to share two things:
1. A brief update on the committee’s activities since the church vote to approve the members two weeks ago:
A. We are setting up communication processes and procedures.
B. Developed a contact list with sources who may recommend candidates.
C. Looking to establish a bio/profile information page for Manley Church, which can give prospective candidates insight and understanding.
D. Set up new email address for all responses, feedback and submitted resumes at search@manleybaptist.org
2. Develop a congregational survey to seek input assessing the gifts, skills, experiences, strengths for our next Pastor.
We believe the committee and congregation will stand united in following Paul’s guidance as he outlines qualifications for Overseers in 1 Timothy 3:1-7.
" 1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgement as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.”
All In His Timing,
Pastor Search Committee
Dear Manley Church Family,
On behalf of the Pastor Search Committee, we want to thank you for your prayers, support, and inquiries as to how the process is advancing as we seek the Lord’s new shepherd for Manley Baptist Church.
Today’s communication is to share two things:
1. A brief update on the committee’s activities since the church vote to approve the members two weeks ago:
A. We are setting up communication processes and procedures.
B. Developed a contact list with sources who may recommend candidates.
C. Looking to establish a bio/profile information page for Manley Church, which can give prospective candidates insight and understanding.
D. Set up new email address for all responses, feedback and submitted resumes at search@manleybaptist.org
2. Develop a congregational survey to seek input assessing the gifts, skills, experiences, strengths for our next Pastor.
We believe the committee and congregation will stand united in following Paul’s guidance as he outlines qualifications for Overseers in 1 Timothy 3:1-7.
" 1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgement as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.”
All In His Timing,
Pastor Search Committee