Dear Cornerstone family,
Twelve years ago, Rev. Jason Helopoulos, Senior Pastor of University Reformed Church in East Lansing, MI, pulled together eight pastors from across the country with the expressed purpose of building deep, sincere, and accountable pastoral friendships. I was fortunate enough to be one of the men he called.
The design of these pastoral friendships is based on John Calvin’s company of pastors model in Geneva in the 1500’s. Calvin formed small ministerial fraternities (usually 6-8 pastors) where through regular meeting around the means of grace ministers are encouraged to share in godly fellowship and encourage each other to maintain high standards of ministry, be conscientious caretakers of their families, and be devoted to personal piety.
To carry out these objectives, our pastoral company (or “band of brothers” as we call it) seeks to perform these regular commitments:
• Attend a one-hour monthly phone and/or Zoom call
• Be on a weekly text chat with your group for the purpose of questions, prayer, and encouragement, and be committed to responding in a timely manner.
• Attend the PCA General Assembly annually and gather once together.
• Attend the Twin Lakes Fellowship in Jackson, MS, each year.
• Strive to take a two-day annual retreat as a company of pastors once a year.
I am grateful for the Cornerstone session giving me the freedom to get away with these brothers once a year for a few days. The lengthy time in the Word and prayer and in iron-sharpening-iron discussion is always personally renewing. I pray that renewal is seen and felt by you over time through the ministry of the gospel at Cornerstone.
Before I close, let me encourage you to remember Cornerstone as you make plans for end of the year giving. Our fiscal year runs from July to June, which means we’re five months into the 2024/2025 Cornerstone budget. In our first five months, we are tracking pretty close to budget projections for giving and expenses. As we move into the last half of the budget year, our expenses will increase. It’s vitally important that we see a sizable increase in giving during December to stay on track for the rest of the fiscal year. I would humbly ask you to invest in eternity and lay up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20) by helping us meet the growing needs of our growing flock.
Your servant,
