Introduction:

Welcome to theFormed.life podcast! In this special episode, we share a significant announcement in the life of Christ Community Church. After 37 years of faithful service, founding pastor Tom Nelson is preparing to pass the baton to a new generation of leadership. Joined by Andy Root and Gabe Coyle, the episode celebrates Gabe’s unanimous recommendation by the Elder Board to become the next lead senior pastor. With reflections on the church’s legacy, the importance of spiritual formation, and a vision for building deeper people—not just a bigger church—this conversation invites you into a pivotal moment of transition and hope for the future. Whether you’ve been part of Christ Community for years or are just tuning in, you’ll hear firsthand from those at the heart of this inspiring next chapter. 

3 Main Takeaways:

1. Leadership Transition Announcement: Tom Nelson, the founding pastor, announces that he will be passing the baton to a new generation of leadership at Christ Community Church. After 37 years of dedicated service, he shares the news that the Elder Board has unanimously recommended Gabe Coyle to be the next lead senior pastor.
2. Strong Endorsement for Gabe Coyle: Both Tom Nelson and Andy Root express their excitement about Gabe Coyle stepping into this new role. Gabe has been part of the church for over a decade and already serves at the downtown campus, giving him deep familiarity with the church’s mission and culture. The continuity provided by his leadership, along with the senior team and campus pastors, is highlighted as key for the church's ongoing mission.
3. Focus on Spiritual Formation: There’s a strong emphasis that the role of lead senior pastor at Christ Community is about much more than growing the size of the church; it’s about nurturing spiritual depth and formation—building “deeper people.” Tom Nelson specifically underscores that a pastor's primary calling is to be a “gardener of the soul,” shaping the spiritual health of both the congregation and themselves.

Overall, this episode marks an exciting and hopeful transition period for the church, centered on faithfulness, legacy, and a renewed commitment to its core mission.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• A Long Obedience in the Same Direction - Eugene Peterson

Keywords:

Christ Community Church, Kansas City, pastoral transition, lead senior pastor, Gabe Coyle, Tom Nelson, Elder Board, succession, church leadership, spiritual formation, church mission, continuity, campus pastors, downtown campus, church family, legacy, stewardship, Christian leadership, values, mission, sound doctrine, long obedience, Eugene Peterson, spiritual growth, deeper people, church team, prayerful work, church era, voting, transition date, new generation

Hashtags:
#LeadershipTransition #SpiritualFormation #ChurchLegacy #FaithfulLeadership #GabeCoyle #TomNelson #ChurchFamily #ChristCommunity #PastoralSuccession #theFormedLifePodcast
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