Big Changes and an even BIGGER GOD!!

Sunday night, May 7, 2017, was a really challenging day ministry-wise.
Below is part of an email we mailed out to some of our church family after a very important church family meeting that night.

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This is a hard email to send.  Please prayerfully read through the entire email knowing that God is sovereign!

Here is the statement I read at tonight's IMPACT service (05/07/17)

On April 14, the following Kevin DeYoung quote I posted in 2011, popped up in facebook memories section.

We can stop pleading 
with God to show us the future 
and start living and obeying like we are 
confident that He holds the future.

This is what I wanted to do 

when my internship was coming to a close in 2011

and 

it is what I desire to do today.

I am so very thankful for Emmanuel Baptist Church.  I am thankful for your investment in my wife, my children and me over these 18+ years. 

That is why it is so very difficult to share with you that Krista and I have begun looking for a new ministry.  We have loved our time here and yet we know it is time for us to move on.

We are excited and nervous about what God has next for us. 

We are prayerfully looking forward to taking what we have learned here to another church.  I would greatly appreciate your prayer as I seek to lead or join a pastoral team that would provide this opportunity.

At the end of many of my emails, I usually put Acts 20:24.  I want to read this as a reminder for you and me. 

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, 

if only I may finish my course 

and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus,

to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.

Acts 20:24

I want to thank all of you and I especially want to thank God for his provisions.

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Here is a brief explanation of what has led to this decision. 

In October Pastor Duke shared with the pastors about Emmanuel Baptist Church’s budget deficit and the need to reduce the pastoral staff. 

At tonight’s IMPACT service, http://www.emmanuelbaptist.com/podcast/impact-evening-service-walking-in-the-light-of-love-pt-4-important-emmanuel-family-talk/, Pastor Duke shared with the congregation a plan to help with these things.  After talking with me and the other pastors, Pastor Duke shared how he had asked Pastor Shane and me to begin looking for new ministries as he believes we both could lead a ministry.  In the meeting, Pastor Duke shared a lot of details and Pastor Shane also read a letter similar to mine.  
It would be very helpful to listen to the recording of the meeting.  The business meeting part begins at the 21-minute mark. 

At the end of June, my current responsibilities, along with Pastor Shane’s, will change.  Our new roles will be advisory/transitional as we are looking for new ministries.  Emmanuel has been very generous in continuing our salary and benefits through December. 

It is my prayer that with an end date of June 30, 2017, for our current ministry at Emmanuel and by sharing that with the church now, I and my family will be able to focus on searching and preparing for a new ministry.  This decision also helps the church move forward with the plans for the future, sooner rather than later.  

Once again, we are so thankful for you and the rest of our Emmanuel family!!
We would greatly appreciate your prayers as we work through the many details of transitioning our ministry.

Added on 5/17/17:  
HERE  is Pastor Duke's blog post on the church site.