By Mark A. Taylor
The most important part of any project is not the budget or the building or the technology or the method. Each of these can help, but not as much as one other factor: The people are always the most important ingredient.
This is why leadership is the biggest challenge for the local church. Nothing matters more than the combination of faithfulness and giftedness in those overseeing the church’s various ministries.
It’s true for Standard Publishing, too. Consider our Publishing Committee. Formed about 50 years ago to help guarantee the faithfulness of Standard Publishing’s products, the Publishing Committee has always sought the right people for its membership.
As we mentioned December 10, two outstanding leaders retired from their term of service on the Publishing Committee last year. Replacing E. Ray Jones and Floyd Strater are two others whose insight, wisdom, and experience are indispensable for our future:
Eddie Lowen , senior minister with West Side Christian Church, Springfield, Illinois, has served there since the year 2000. Ministries before that were in Ohio and Virginia.
According to the West Side Web site (www.wscchurch.org), “The focus of Eddie’s ministry is communicating the Bible in compelling and accurate ways, and leading West Side toward more effective outreach and cultural relevance.” Attendance at West Side is averaging about 2,100.
His national leadership includes service with the boards of Orchard Group and the North American Christian Convention. He has spoken before audiences around the country and at the North American Christian Convention and written for both The Lookout and C hristian Standard .
Dudley Rutherford became senior pastor of Shepherd of the Hills Church in Porter Ranch, California, in 1995 when it united with Hillcrest Christian Church where he was then preaching. The congregation listed its average attendance as almost 6,200 in last year’s C hristian Standard megachurch report. Besides the Porter Ranch campus, Shepherd presently has eight daughter churches and satellite campuses stretching from Southern California to Washington.
Dudley continues the legacy of a whole family of preachers (grandfather, father, uncles, brothers, in laws).
He is also a sought after speaker who preached at the North American Christian Convention, which he has also served as vice president. He has written for C hristian Standard and published three books: Proverbs in a Haystack, Romancing Royalty, and Keeping a Smile on Your Faith , which are available from his Web site, www.callonJesus.com.
These brief highlights only indicate the integrity, enthusiasm, and ability these men bring to their ministries. They’re the kind of people we need to help shape our future, and we’re very grateful to welcome them to service with our Publishing Committee.
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