By Mark Taylor, Publisher

“The temporary becomes permanent.” Dale McCann, senior minister at the first church I served full-time, repeated this proverb whenever I was tempted to slap something together till we could do it right later. 

Short-Term Fixes

Dale was observing a tendency of human nature and long experience working with the local church: A cardboard sign announcing a room number might never be replaced with one professionally made. A haphazard approach to ushering or serving Communion will continue for years because no one tackles the task of organizing something more efficient. 

When the temporary becomes permanent at home, we see an ugly extension cord where we needed a new electrical outlet. Or a makeshift shelf in a closet out of control. 

My preacher was questioning temporary measures, and I quickly learned his point. But sometimes a short-term fix can lead to a wonderfully permanent solution, and that’s exactly what we’re announcing today. 

Interim Becomes Permanent

Kelly Carr, who has served this year as interim editor of The Lookout, isn’t interim any longer. She’s our editor, and we couldn’t be happier.

We were pleased when Kelly was available to step in temporarily after editor Shawn McMullen left us to become senior minister with LifeSpring Christian Church in Cincinnati. And the magazine hasn’t missed a beat—or a deadline!—since then. 

The inspirational and helpful features you depend on have continued every week. And Kelly’s column here has showcased her fresh perspectives and insights. She’s a good writer with a keen eye for what’s happening in the world and what should be happening in the church. We had full confidence in Kelly when she took the interim role, and her work has proved that our trust was well placed.

But this was not a test. If she had been available, we would have called her onboard full-time from the outset. Now she’s available, and now she’s here. We’re looking forward to her leadership in the years to come.

This is one time everyone can be glad a temporary fix led to a permanent solution!