During this season of Advent, which, defined, is the eager expectation of an arrival, we anticipate the coming celebration of the birth of Jesus. Families and churches fill this season with traditions that help us to “remember” and to “feel” that eager expectation. But what do you do when you are so busy or empty that you can’t feel it anymore? Where do you go? Who do you tell?
One year ago, the leadership of Matthew 5:9 Fellowship invited me onto their team as a Pastor to Pastors, a Pastoral Coach. I am passionate about walking alongside pastors who feel stuck, lonely, or empty or who simply want someone with whom to process ministry in a way that is difficult with someone within their congregation.
I feel privileged to have been in a recent conversation with a senior pastor who said (I’m paraphrasing), “I want the people in my church to have a real encounter with Jesus, but I’m not sure I know how to do that for myself. It almost feels like Jesus is for them but not for me.” I was honored by the trust it took for a pastor to say that out loud to anyone, and quite honestly, without a coaching relationship, he probably would have never said it. Since it has now been said, we can talk about where it comes from and even begin to remember what it was like to personally encounter Jesus in his earlier ministry. I’m praying with him to remember and to encounter, in a personal way, Immanuel, God with us.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
Our team is praying for you as well that if you relate, you’ll allow us to walk alongside you just as Advent reminds us that Christ did. We believe the Lord is at work to build a Church that is resistant to division and polarization. And we see evidence that his disciples are truly known by their love for one another (Jn 13:35). We persevere in hope that God has even greater things in store for us in 2025.
May you experience the wonder and joy of the God who became flesh and made his dwelling among us. May you see His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
Dean Kuest
Dean Kuest was one of the original pastors who met in 2018 to dream the dream that has become The Matthew 5:9 Fellowship. He is on a life-long journey of discovering how his passions for loving Jesus and teaching the simplicity of the Gospel can best be used for leading others to be peacemakers in an increasingly polarized world. Dean has spent the past thirty-three years pastoring within the local church in the greater Phoenix area and planting a church in Seattle, WA.
He longs to have the heart of Jesus, supporting pastors and congregations in pursuing the Gospel and placing their identity in Christ above all other partisan and societal divisions. He also coaches pastors and leaders through PastorServe.org, believing that when leaders are healthy and thriving behind the scenes, the church and its people become healthier as well.
He and his wife, Leslie, have been married for thirty-two years, and they have five sons, four daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. If you can’t find him, he may have disappeared into a local baseball card hobby shop.
Dean Kuest was one of the original pastors who met in 2018 to dream the dream that has become The Matthew 5:9 Fellowship. He is on a life-long journey of discovering how his passions for loving Jesus and teaching the simplicity of the Gospel can best be used for leading others to be peacemakers in an increasingly polarized world. Dean has spent the past thirty-three years pastoring within the local church in the greater Phoenix area and planting a church in Seattle, WA.
He longs to have the heart of Jesus, supporting pastors and congregations in pursuing the Gospel and placing their identity in Christ above all other partisan and societal divisions. He also coaches pastors and leaders through PastorServe.org, believing that when leaders are healthy and thriving behind the scenes, the church and its people become healthier as well.
He and his wife, Leslie, have been married for thirty-two years, and they have five sons, four daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. If you can’t find him, he may have disappeared into a local baseball card hobby shop.
