PASTOR BOB AND JEANNE CLAYCAMP

** POIMEN MINISTRIES **

I have been serving the Lord at Calvary Chapel North Phoenix for the last 29 years as its Founding and Senior Pastor. We began as a small home Bible study in September of 1981. From simple beginnings we have watched the Lord grow our congregation spiritually and numerically.  Many have gone out from our church to either plant or help other churches throughout the country and around the world. Looking back it is easy to see that the Jesus has used this church to be a discipleship center as well as a sending church.

During this past year I have continually been prompted by the Holy Spirit to expand my ministry beyond our church family. There currently is a great need for older, seasoned pastors to make themselves available to younger pastors within our Calvary fellowship of churches, to come alongside and just encourage, help, provide perspective and counsel. There are many church pastors and their wives that need this kind of help.  My wife and I have prayed long and hard about this new venture. It has been confirmed so many times during the previous months, both by Scripture and by word of mouth.

Seeing the potential of Pastor Jesse to fill the role of Senior Pastor at our church in the future, I have asked him to pray about this opportunity. He and his wife, Michele, have been in prayer over this since last November.  The board of Calvary North has been in prayer over this as well.  Now, it is official; Pastor Jesse Claycamp will be the Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel North Phoenix effective Jan. 1, 2011.

Although I will still be on staff at Calvary North as an associate, the board has allowed me great flexibility to reach out to other pastors and churches around the country as the need arises. Last June, I joined the Poimen Ministries group of pastors in this regard (www.poimenministries.com). Poimen is the Greek word for ‘shepherd’. This ministry has been set up to offer seasoned pastors to help, encourage, fill pulpits or as mentors to the younger pastors within our fellowship of Calvary pastors, and even beyond.

Jeanne and I ask for your prayer coverage in this new step of faith for us. Prayer is the most important work that can be done. The Lord Jesus is our Helper. He knows what we will be needing as each month goes by, should He tarry. But as we look at the opportunities before us, here are the needs we see:

**We need continual prayer coverage over this new venture. Spiritual warfare is real and we need all the protection and confidence that He will supply.

**We see the need for wisdom and discernment on when to step into a situation, and when to hold back.

**We need finances to cover our travel expenses for most of these small churches that cannot afford to bring us out there, but still need our help. This also includes being at regional pastor’s conferences around the country to be at the Poimen Ministry table, sharing this ministry with the local pastors.

**We will be needing family financial support as the months go on. I have made arrangements with our church board to take a decrease in salary on a gradual scale effective immediately so that finances can be freed up for Pastor Jesse to slowly build up the staff at the church.

**We will be needing family logistical support to care for our dogs, our home and other communication issues while we are out ministering in the opportunities that present themselves.

I will be putting together a monthly newsletter of all that has happened during the previous month. This will keep you updated on just how the Lord is using us in this new venture of faith.  If you would like to be on the mailing list, please sign up on the sheet provided in the foyer. All support monies will go through Poimen Ministries (see address below), with our names placed separately from the payment.

Thank you for considering joining us in this new ministry.

POIMEN MINISTRIES, 3285 Ashwood Way, Soquel, CA 95073

Poimen Ministries is a tax-exempt non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of California’s Franchise Tax Board.

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