Parting thoughts from Pastor Tim
Staff writer
Editor's Note: In a press release last week, Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church officials announced their senior pastor, Tim Sullivan, has accepted the call to serve as the District Minister of the Southern District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches beginning Aug. 2. Sullivan will preach his last sermon July 4 and will end his duties as Parkview's pastor July 31.
Although he voiced some parting thoughts to his congregation, we thought it would be fitting to give Tim a platform to address the community. He agreed to sit down and have an interview and share some of those thoughts.
The Star-Journal staff would like to thank Tim for his willingness to contribute to our pastor's column for the past several years. We wish him and Donna God's speed in their future endeavor.
"A heart to serve" — that would be a phrase to describe Tim Sullivan.
When Tim and his wife, Donna, made the decision to accept the district minister's position, church officials received a written statement from SDC chair Gary Janzen
It stated: "We believe that Tim represents the leadership qualities as well as the spiritual integrity and pastoral heart that will enable him to minister effectively in our district."
Nearly 14 years prior in 1990, Tim and Donna had accepted the call, as a young couple fresh out of seminary school, to become the pastoral couple for the Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro.
"That was not an easy decision," Tim said.
Tim had attended Tabor College before going to the Mennonite Brethren Seminary in Fresno, Calif. At Tabor, the couple served as the women's dorm resident directors.
Tim candidly talks about their experience as resident directors.
"It was a hard and difficult experience for us, especially for Donna," Tim said. "We had small children to raise and that was hard enough."
"But, I think, Donna especially was hurt, because she was trying to be a mother to the girls, many of whom did not want a relationship in that way," he said.
After graduation, Tim and Donna left Tabor not caring if they ever returned to Hillsboro.
But God had a different plan.
When the pastor's position opened at Parkview, Tim and Donna, came to Kansas from Fresno, Calif., and briefly met with church officials in Wichita. With a little time on their hands, they decided to make a quick drive to Hillsboro. They wanted to drive around the town, not visiting anyone, but to see how God was leading.
"As we headed down 13-mile road, we both got a peace about coming back to Hillsboro. Donna felt it first," Tim said.
As a new minister, Tim found there were some struggles he would have to face not only with the church, but with the community.
"But, they now were open to accepting changes," Tim said.
That was 14 years ago, and now the couple finds themselves coming into another "season" in their lives.
According to Tim, he had been approached by the district several times to take the position as district minister.
"Finally, I said 'yes,'" he said.
"It was not an easy decision because Hillsboro has become our home, a place where our children have grown up," he said.
"We will be sad to go and we've cried tear after tear because we love the church and the community," he said.
"Our son, Ryan said, 'It will be strange not to come home to Hillsboro to visit Mom and Dad,'" Tim said.
"Right now, it feels like we are sojourners, starting a journey, and will never be home again — because home is here," he explained. "Maybe in five or 10 years we won't feel that way."
"But we are excited about the changes and challenges that will face us in the 'changing of the guards' in the SDC," Tim said.
Tim will succeed Roland Reimer, who retired in December 2003, and Ron Braun, who will conclude his work in July.
He will be responsible for 39 churches and pastoral couples, which includes Parkview. He will be involved in the selection process for choosing two pastors — a new senior pastor and a new youth pastor for Parkview — although not directly, but indirectly since he will be the district minister.
Tim's duties as district minister will include giving leadership to the conference, helping pastors build relationships with the laity, and supporting the pastoral couples spiritually and emotionally.
Tim also feels part of his calling as district minister is to help with vision casting, work with the commission, and assist in carrying out the mission of the conference.
He also will be involved with church planting and helping, in what Tim terms, "Ushering new believers into the kingdom."
With all the new challenges coming upon him and Donna, Tim is excited and feels he is up to the challenge.
But his leaving will definitely leave a big hole in the Hillsboro community.
During his years in Hillsboro, Tim has served on numerous committees and held various positions. Some of those positions include leadership roles with the Hillsboro Area Ministerial Association and Main Street Ministries. He also has served on the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce board, Site Council, and TAPP planning committee.
"I have appreciated Hillsboro," Tim said. "I have enjoyed worshipping and fellowshipping with others from different churches, especially in the ministerial association."
"We may be packaged differently, but we talk about the same Jesus and I've found a wealth of people who love God and want to follow Him," he said.
Tim also has served as a member of the Morning Star Ranch board of directors and the Mid-Kansas Community Action Program.
In the midst of all the changes, Tim and Donna will move sometime in July to their new home in Belaire near Wichita.
The couple plan to attend the U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren July 23-24 in Utah.
They will vacation in Utah, where Tim will do some fly fishing. They'll have one week of rest and be settled in their new home before Tim begins his duties as district minister Aug. 2.
