Greetings HRAC!
(Gregg Caruso here) Yesterday (9/25) Dr. Tom Wilkens, Executive Director of VitalChurch Ministry (VCM), zoomed in to address the HRAC congregation directly after the sermon and informed the congregants that the VCM Executive Team was making a change in the Intentional Interim Pastor role at HRAC. After the Executive Team had made their decision, Tom asked me to pray about finishing up what Steve has faithfully started. Various leadership and ministry team leaders were informed throughout last week. Please hear that we are NOT starting over. A few weeks ago in a sermon Pastor Steve likened this transition season to a baseball game and we’re in the bottom of the 7th inning. I would agree. Steve will be my coach for the duration and we will be inviting Steve back to make good use of his expertise. To read the complete statement written by the VCM Executive Team you can click here. And if you feel led to contribute to Steve and Marlene’s VitalChurch Donor Fund, you can click here.
So, who is Pastor Gregg Caruso? I led the diagnostic team last January (and wrote the report) and I was here in August to preach and catch-up with the Board and the Transition Team. I have been married to Linda since 1978 and we have four adult children and seven grandsons. I began my ministry career in 1980 as a co-church planter and served for a total of 16-years as a permanent pastor. I then served for four years as the Director of Training for a missions organization planting English speaking international churches in the urban centers of Europe, which is where I served in my first two interim roles. Linda and I joined what is today VCM in 2006 and my current roles include Director of the Diagnostic Division, Intentional Interim Pastor (12x), and VitalChurch U.K. Trustee. I earned a M.A. degree in Leadership and Mission from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena CA and a few of the things I enjoy include road biking, paddle boarding, theology, long walks with Linda, and nerding out about coffee.
Finally, we are currently making a big push to invite people to reengage in Community Groups. To help facilitate that I (or whoever preaches) will be writing a few questions to help people/groups dig a little deeper into the sermon passage and provide some application opportunities. Over the years, I have found this to be helpful to people who are considering facilitating a group. The idea of facilitating is quite intentional. You don’t have to be a “leader” to facilitate a group. Your main objective is to promote thoughtful and prayerful interaction. Our staff is committed to training and coaching you — so, consider jumping in to facilitate a Community Group!
And if we haven’t met, I certainly look forward to meeting you. (And if we have met, please remind me of your name for a couple of weeks :)
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Gregg