W hen Paul Wissink and his wife, Nancy, looked at the description of Spring Valley Reformed Church on paper, it seemed like a small—and struggling—country church. But when they visited the church in Fulton, Illinois, they were left with a different impression.
“When we came here, I saw family,” says Wissink. “It was exactly what we were looking for. We saw love that they could extend to us. They exhibited care to us when we came—a real softness from them. We said, ‘This is a place we really could fit in.’”
With intentional care and hospitality from both sides, the Wissinks and Spring Valley Reformed have truly met their match—a harmonious one that has clearly been orchestrated by God.
“This has been the best start of any church I’ve been at—and I’ve been at eight churches,” says Wissink. “It couldn’t have been a better fit.”
Related: Pastoral transition survival guide: how to navigate a pastoral search and transition
Two tough transitions
When Spring Valley Reformed Church posted the job notice for a new lead pastor, it was indeed struggling, as Wissink sensed. About a year prior, the church had asked its previous pastor to leave after eight months. It just hadn’t been a good fit.
“The church was experiencing a hard transition after the previous pastor,” says Wissink. “And Nancy and I were really broken, too.”
Wissink had been pastoring an aging congregation in Louisville, Kentucky, when the church closed, due to lack of revitalization. There were funerals of close friends, disputes over money, and a severance package at the end.
After that, Wissink took to truck driving for eight months. He needed a break from ministry.
“We didn’t even know if we wanted to continue in ministry,” he says. “But we found this church, and they were looking for someone to love.”
A mutual welcome and love
As it turns out, the Wissinks were looking for “a congregation to love and to be loved by.”
“We wanted to find those [close-knit] relationships again—to enjoy life and ministry together,” says Wissink.
So Wissink accepted the call to be the new pastor of Spring Valley Reformed. The church warmly welcomed the Wissinks in myriad ways: pantry items at the parsonage, greeters who helped introduce church members, a list of who to call, a binder full of the church’s happenings, and more.
“The people really have opened up their hearts and doors to us,” says Wissink.
Related: How I’ve come to see the church as a warm nest of community and belonging
In reciprocal hospitality, the Wissinks hosted a series of meals—seafood boils—at the parsonage as a way to get to know their new church family.
“The meals are a big production and everyone loves it. It’s a different and unique way to get together and share fellowship,” says Wissink. “We introduced ourselves as people like them, not just their pastor. That gives us the opening to just be friends.”
With six of these meals, the Wissinks met 85 people, nearly all of the congregation.
“People wanted to come to the dinners and get to know their pastor. It takes the congregation working hard to get to know their pastor.
“It has been a two-way street,” he adds. “We are together.”
Tips for building a healthy church/pastor relationship
Mutual hospitality and intentionality have both been significant factors in building a strong foundation for the relationship between the Wissinks and Spring Valley Reformed Church. Here’s some other advice for what has helped build that relationship in this first year of joint ministry.
Ways a church can help welcome a new pastor
“Make sure you have all your stuff so the pastor knows what’s happening at the church,” says Wissink, speaking gratefully for the congregation members who put together a list of who does what, as well as a full paper overview of church life at Spring Valley.
The second piece of advice is also a highly practical extension of hospitality: ensure a welcoming, up-to-date parsonage (if applicable). Wissink says fresh paint and new light switches and outlets can make a big difference in making a pastor’s new home feel nice.
Lastly but perhaps most importantly, help the pastor—and their spouse and/or family—get to know the congregation. Use name tags, hold small “meet and greet” events, and open hearts and doors in creative ways. In particular, Wissink says it’s a kind gesture to have greeters who help introduce members of the congregation to the pastor. He says that alleviates some of the pressure from the pastor and also allows the people of the church to provide highlights and brief histories of fellow congregation members, including positive character traits that people may not necessarily share about themselves.
With intentionality and care, even small acts go a long way in helping welcome a new pastor and incorporating them into the life and ministry of their new church home.
How a new pastor can lead a healthy transition
As made evident in the match story of the Wissinks and Spring Valley Reformed, the successful transition of a new pastor and a church takes effort from both parties. Here’s some of the guidance for pastors.
“We try to go outside of our way to introduce ourselves,” says Wissink.
For the first month at Spring Valley Reformed, the Wissinks stood at a table before Sunday morning worship and handed out name tags to everyone. They had simply printed the church’s roster on mailing labels ahead of time and used the name tags as a way to connect names and faces. The Wissinks later followed up with the people whose name tags were “left over,” connecting and telling the folks they were missed in worship.
Additionally, hosting meals (with name tags) has proved to be a key element in the Wissinks getting to know congregation members and enjoying fellowship together in a casual setting. It’s a good way to “introduce yourself more than your ministry style,” says Wissink.
As for leading the congregation through a pastoral transition, Wissink recommends a backseat approach.
“For the first three months, I observe,” he says. “At consistory meetings, I let them lead the meetings. Then I adapt my way to how they do it. I’m an observer rather than a leader to see how they do church, to see how they’re used to doing it. I let the elders continue how they’ve been doing worship services during a vacant time. That way, it’s nothing completely different.”
The final word from Wissink is advice for discerning the match itself:
“Be open to God leading,” he says. “Ask: ‘Is this where I’m supposed to go?’ Try not to be desperate and just take what comes along, but look at the congregation and see if the personality fits. I’ve taken a job just because I needed it, but it wasn’t a good fit. You can’t make it work with square pegs and round holes. Be patient until you find the right fit.”
Are you navigating a pastoral transition?
A pastoral transition can be both an exciting and challenging time for a church. This comprehensive guide will help your church take an intentional, patient approach to the transition process so that your church can not only sustain its ministry but also prepare for ministry to thrive in the next chapter.
Becky Getz is a writer and editor for the Reformed Church in America's communication team. You can contact Becky at bgetz@rca.org.
