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New Pastor at Libanus

Date Added: 20 Mar, 2007

Libanus' church secretary below offers us a sketch of the calling of Rev Stuart Dainty after several years without a pastor

On May 22nd 2000 the diaconate met with Stuart Olyott, seeking advice on the calling of a new pastor to Libanus Evangelical Church, Morriston. The man retiring was Neville Rees, who in June 2002 would have served God at Libanus for 40 years. Just over two years would give us enough time for a man to be in place before he retired. He would also be around to help the new pastor settle in and to ‘hand over’ the reins! And so we thought everything would be done orderly and in good time!

But our time was not God’s time! Stuart’s advice to us was to speak to one man at a time and choose the first suitable man! It sounded so simple. We spoke to men, one at a time, and we did not consider anyone else while we were speaking to that man – and after the initial conversation sometimes we did not pursue and sometimes the man in question did not wish to be pursued. So we waited, sometimes patiently and sometimes not so patiently. There were occasions over the following years where we could have despaired had we not known God was in control, and had we not believed that God had a particular man for us.

In the autumn of 2005 Stuart Dainty came to preach at the church. His diary had made us wait for just over a year before he had an available date. His ministry was appreciated and he was invited back to preach at another time. At this time we were meeting in a local school while the church was being renovated. Stuart came back to the school and preached again – once more his ministry was appreciated, but we were speaking to someone else! Then the ‘someone else’ withdrew from discussions.

We were left in a position where we had to ask ourselves why we did not consider Stuart Dainty as a potential pastor! Was there any reason why we should not approach this man? The deacons concluded that there was no reason why we should not approach him, so we met with him initially, we appreciated what we learnt, and we met again, with his wife and himself. Unknown to us, Stuart felt during this time that God may well be leading him to Libanus, but he did not tell us this at that time! He preached with us on two more Sundays, took two midweek Bible Studies, and we invited him to meet the church for them to ask him questions – a daunting prospect!

Following the unanimous recommendation of all nine deacons, the church overwhelmingly voted to call Stuart Dainty as Pastor, commencing January 21st 2007. The church is eagerly looking forward to what God will do at Libanus under its new pastor.,

Mark Cole, Church Secretary

Associated Clusters: Swansea (Click to view)