Jonah & Valorie Chitty

LEMC’s Growing Needs

A little over a year ago, Pastor Jake informed our leadership here at LEMC that he was planning to reduce his work load here in the early months of 2025.

He also announced this at last November’s congregational business meeting.

He is not leaving us, and will still be serving this church in very important ways…

but Jake and Anna have been sensing a call to be more available to meet the growing need for personal counseling in our community.

Over the last few years we have also seen around a 70% increase in attendance here at LEMC.

Because of these two factors, we knew that we were going to need more full-time help.

As a leadership, we began discussing what that was going to look like.

One of the concerns that we had, which the congregation echoed, was the need for help in the youth ministries.

While the youth ministries are important to us, we felt hiring a pastor for such a narrow, specific focus would not be enough to fulfill the growing needs of this church, especially in light of Jake reducing his role.

Also, as a church, we realized we were stuck in program-driven mindset,

where we have events… but those events weren’t making mature disciples.

We began to see the need to move to a model of ministry that helps disciples of Jesus grow in their faith, specifically so that they can become disciples who share their faith and help other disciples of Jesus grow in their faith.

We believe this is the mission that Christ has given the church.

Those factors led us to agree that we needed to pursue someone who had the experience necessary to help us develop a disciple-making mindset in every area of ministry here at LEMC.

Chitty Introduction

It was at this point in time that I seriously began to question God’s planning and timing…

Because I felt that my close friend, Jonah Chitty, who I met during our time at seminary in Louisville, KY, would be a great fit.

We met the Chitty’s in the winter of 2020.

Here is a photo of their family.

I made this photo with the names… you can see my incredible skill in digital arts.

If you need any work done, you can reach out to me… haha

The Chittys came to the church we were attending in KY, and as God directed, were placed in our small group.

There were a number of groups they could have ended up in, but we know that it was by God’s grace that they ended up in ours.

This is because Covid was about to hit, and when it did, everyone stuck with their close family and friends.

We were both families who had moved away from our families and friends, so we had no one.

But God blessed us with one another during a time when isolation could have made life so much more difficult than it already was.

God used that time to draw our families really close.

A few rules had to be broken though…

At that time you were only allowed 10 people in a household… because of all our combined children we exceeded number.

You know when you meet someone where you immediately feel comfortable, and you can be yourself?

That’s what our relationship was like. We felt a connection right away, and knew we would be close friends.

But you also know that as you grow closer with someone, you’re able to make more personal jokes…

I took my shot one Sunday as I was scheduled to teach our small group in the book of Jonah.

So I put my incredible photoshop skills to work, and sent this to our small group…

with the caption, “DON’T BE A JONAH!”

I mean… we’re teaching in the book of Jonah… his name is Jonah… how could I not???

As we grew in our friendship, we talked, as many seminary friends do, about how awesome it would be to serve together one day.

Jonah & Valorie would say that they would love to move to Canada and serve in ministry there.

We couldn’t understand how someone could possibly want to move away from the warm southern states, to the great white north.

Even though we thought about how well they would fit in here at LEMC, we just laughed it off, because we knew in our minds that it would never happen.

Fast forward to early this year, as we began to discuss our growing needs as a church.

And it hit me at one point that this was a very real possibility.

Jonah and I have kept up our friendship by face-timing every week or two, and when I mentioned it to him he said they were still very open to coming to Canada.

When I brought it up to our leadership team, they were all very excited at the idea of hiring someone that is known and trusted by someone in our church, rather than beginning the interviewing process with people you don’t know at all.

So we began by forming a Pastoral Search Committee that would be responsible for interviewing Jonah for the position.

As a leadership we all agreed from the beginning that I would not be a part of this team.

I am biased because Jonah is a close friend, and we wanted you all to have the confidence that I wasn’t influencing any decisions.

Who we hire as a pastor of this church is your decision, and we want you all to be confident of God’s will moving forward.

After three meetings with Jonah & Valorie, and the approval of our Council, the Pastoral Search Committee extended a job offer to Jonah & Valorie.

They made plans for the Chittys to come down to formally visit LEMC, where Jonah would preach, and the congregation would have an opportunity to get to know them and ask questions.

That is what they are here to do this weekend.

Later this month, on Saturday, November 18th, all the members of this church will have the opportunity to vote on whether or not they believe God is calling the Chittys to partner with us as a pastor couple, as we grow Christ’s kingdom here in Leamington, ON.

Transition

We have the wonderful privilege of having the Chittys here this morning.

Their children are in SS, but Valorie is here with us.

Can you please stand so that we can honour you?

Applause

This morning we have the privilege of hearing Jonah as picks up in our Exodus series, and preaches God’s Word to us.

Would you join me in welcoming him to the stage.

Applause

Q&A

Structuring the Q&A session in a thoughtful and organized manner can enhance its meaningful and insightful nature. Here's a suggested structure:

1. **Introduction:**

Welcome and introduction of the pastor candidate.

- Briefly outline the purpose of the Q&A session and the importance of getting to know the candidate.

2. **Pastoral Vision and Approach:**

- Start with serious questions that delve into the candidate's vision for ministry, theological approach, and past experiences.

- Allow the candidate to articulate their beliefs, values, and the direction they envision for the church.

3. **Congregational Interaction:**

- Incorporate questions that encourage the candidate to discuss their strategies for building a strong, supportive community within the church.

- Explore how they plan to engage with different age groups and foster inclusivity.

4. **Leadership and Decision-Making:**

- Ask questions related to the candidate's leadership style, decision-making processes, and how they handle challenges or conflicts within a congregation.

- This section could provide insights into the candidate's adaptability and problem-solving skills.

5. **Practical Ministry Matters:**

- Address practical aspects of ministry, such as time management, prioritization, and balancing pastoral duties.

- Inquire about their plans for outreach, involvement in the community, and strategies for attracting and retaining members.

6. **Personal Insights:**

- Integrate fun and personal questions to allow the congregation to connect with the candidate on a more personal level.

- These questions can include hobbies, interests, and lighthearted anecdotes.

7. **Closing Thoughts:**

- Give the candidate an opportunity to share any final thoughts or reiterate key points.

- Express gratitude for their participation and let the congregation know the next steps in the selection process.

8. **Audience Questions:**

- Reserve time for the congregation to ask their own questions.

- This interactive element allows the community to address specific concerns or seek additional clarification.

Remember to maintain a balance between serious and fun questions to create a dynamic and engaging session. Additionally, ensure that the Q&A is moderated effectively to manage time and foster a respectful environment for both the congregation and the candidate.

Personal Questions

How did you and Valorie meet? How long have you been married? What tip would you give to a fulfilling marriage?

Serious Questions:

1. What led you to pursue a career in ministry?

4. What is your vision for the spiritual growth of our congregation?

5. How do you handle disagreements or conflicts within a church community?

12. What is your philosophy on outreach and community involvement beyond the church walls?

15. What steps would you take to encourage volunteerism and active participation within the church community?

Fun Questions:

1. What's a hobby or interest of yours outside of ministry?

3. If you could have dinner with any biblical figure, who would it be and why?

5. Do you have any hidden talents or skills that might surprise us?

6. If you could choose a theme song for your ministry, what would it be and why?

8. What's your favorite book (other than the Bible) and why?

10. What's your go-to comfort food, and do you have a favorite recipe to share with the congregation?

Introduce Jonah & Valorie Chitty

Personal Questions

How many years young are you?

Where did you each grow up?

How did you meet?

Where have you all lived together as a couple?

Who was a person who impacted you most as a Christian early in your life?

Tell us about your kids.

How do they feel about the idea of moving to Canada?

Ministry Questions

What led you to pursue a career in ministry?

If you would get hired here at LEMC, what would be your vision for the spiritual growth of our congregation?

How do you see yourself fitting in with our leadership?

How would you handle disagreements or conflicts within a church community?

Fun Questions

What's your go-to comfort food, and do you have a favorite meal you like to make?

Do you have any hidden talents or skills that might surprise us?

If you could have dinner with any biblical figure other than Jesus, who would it be and why?

What's a hobby or interest of yours outside of ministry?