Rob McDonald announced his resignation as superintendent of the Dallas District in a letter this week. 

McDonald expressed his thanks in the letter to the district family and leaders, explaining that he and his wife, Sue, feel directed to transition to pastoral service. He will now serve as senior pastor at the new Lone Star Cowboy Church of the Nazarene of McLennon & Hill Counties, a church-type-mission located near West, Texas. 

"For the last 4-5 years the scripture from Luke 10:2 has been on my heart and mind — 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you ...'" McDonald said in his letter. "We have been praying this for others to feel the call and to enter the mission field of God's design where He is already at work. It is now apparent that God is answering that prayer through sending Sue and me personally to the mission field."

McDonald has been an advocate and leader of the USA/Canada Region's Nazarene Cowboy Church Network since its formation. Under his leadership, the Dallas District has planted 10 successful cowboy churches, and McDonald is currently chair of the network. He hopes to continue and expand this ministry into additional areas in Texas and the southwest.

"Over the past nine years and three months, we have enjoyed the co-ministry that we have experienced together on the district," McDonald said. "God has blessed the district with good membership growth, SDMI growth, and years of continual morning worship growth. God has blessed us with many new churches. God has blessed us with great eternal friendships."

A graduate of what is now MidAmerica Nazarene University, McDonald later received a master's degree at the University of Oklahoma. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Southern Nazarene University, which conferred upon him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in May 2013.

Originally from Iowa, McDonald met and married Sue Shearrer at MNU. He began his ministry career as a youth pastor in Iowa and Oklahoma before pastoring churches in Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Illinois. McDonald became district superintendent for Mississippi in 2000. In 2005, he was appointed and then elected superintendent of the Dallas District.

Rob and Sue have two married daughters, Melissa (Mitchell) Ferrer and Meagan (Jonathan) Sprang, and five grandchildren, Abigail Ferrer, Isaiah Ferrer, Isaac Ferrer, Jacob Sprang, and Ezekiel Sprang.
--Church of the Nazarene Dallas District via NCN News submissions

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