Moving Forward Process

In simple terms, the Moving Forward Process provides a steady, consistent voice in the pulpit, helps us care well for the church during the transition, and sets our next pastor up for long-term success. The "Moving Forward Pastor" helps guide the church and works closely with staff, deacons, and leaders throughout the transition. This process is designed to bring structure and clarity in this unique season. The “Moving Forward Pastor” comes alongside the church to understand where the congregation is, help them work through any hurts or challenges, identify strengths and weaknesses, and highlight opportunities for growth. During this time, the church refocuses on its mission, aligns its ministries, and addresses any relational or organizational issues that need attention. The “Moving Forward Pastor” will help us establish a “Moving Forward Team” – a collection of 20-25 individuals who are tasked with advancing the Moving Forward Process, under the leadership of the Moving Forward Pastor. Ultimately, the Moving Forward process prepares the church to welcome its next pastor with unity, clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose, ensuring the new pastor steps into a healthy and ready congregation. 

Joe Ligon will be the first to tell you that he doesn’t deserve to be where he is. He grew up in
Seminole County in Oklahoma. He didn’t grow up going to church (at all). But he did grow up
with a notion that he wanted to be a school teacher.
Joe completed his degree at East Central University and received his first teaching job at
Konawa, OK. He had accomplished his life’s goal but felt quite unfulfilled. It wasn’t long, that
as a 22 year old man, Joe was saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Within a year, Joe had accepted the Lord’s call on his life to serve in ministry. He would spend
the next 19 years in various roles in public education even as he served in a variety of
bi-vocational positions in several churches in Oklahoma.
During that time, Joe met and married the love of his life, Gayla. They have two sons: Andrew
who works in computer programming; and, Aaron who works in the construction industry. Both
boys were married in 2017.
In 1999, First Baptist Marlow called Joe to be their senior pastor. It was his first full-time
ministry position. The church allowed him to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
where he would earn a Doctor of Educational Ministry.
Over the years that Joe served at First Baptist Marlow, the church grew, was active on the
mission field, was very involved in local ministry projects, helped plant churches in Phoenix,
Arizona, expanded facilities, and launched two satellite campuses.
Joe has a heart for churches and the pastors that serve them. He is particularly passionate about
trying to encourage pastors that serve in the small towns and rural areas of our state. And he
continues to focus on learning to be a better leader.
God has given Joe many opportunities to serve in his community, his association, his state
convention, and, even the Southern Baptist Convention. In fact, in March 2019, Joe resigned his
position at First Baptist Marlow and took on the position of Senior Associate Executive Director
of the state convention. In this role, he gets to work with the great men and women of the
convention to encourage even more pastors and help even more Oklahoma Southern Baptist
churches.
Joe will be the first to tell you that all of this has nothing to do with his abilities. It is all about
the amazing, marvelous grace of a great God who has chosen to bless him. 

December 14 (after 2nd service) - Brief business meeting to vote on beginning the process and affirming the Moving Forward Pastor.

Dec 14 - Jan 25 - Staff, deacons, and leadership teams work closely with the Moving Forward Pastor to provide stability, identify needs, and support ongoing

January 25 - The church will nominate individuals for the Moving Forward Team. More details about this process will be shared once the Moving Forward Pastor is regularly preaching.

Note: After the Moving Forward Team is in place, they will meet regularly with the Moving Forward Pastor over several months. Later in the spring, we will begin praying about and selecting a Pastor Search Team.

The Moving Forward Team is a collection of 20-25 individuals who are voted on by the church body to serve in the Moving Forward Process. This team takes stock of the current state of the church, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and highlight opportunities for growth. 

Once Moving Forward Team is in place, they will meet regularly with the Moving Forward Pastor over several months to identify areas of weakness, strength, opportunity and challenge in our church. 

The Moving Forward Team will compile this information into a Moving Forward Report which will be provided to the church and given a vote of affirmation. This report will then be provided to any personal search candidate which the church interviews in the future. 

You can get involved by being in prayer for our church as we move forward. Prepare your hearts in prayer to volunteer and serve in the ministry area you are most involved in. 

We will be in prayer about forming a Pastor Search Team in the Spring, at the conclusion of the Moving Forward Process.