In June of this year, I will begin a new pastoral appointment as Senior Pastor at Spring Creek UMC in Fair Oaks Ranch. Keith, Daniel and I are very excited to get to know this community of faith. We all agree this is a good and right next step, serving a church just four miles from our home.
It is with a tremendous amount of gratitude that I conclude my years at AHUMC. In 1997, I came directly to this congregation from seminary. Over the years, you allowed me to experience many different areas of ministry and grow my own faith. Author Brian Zahnd teaches that faith is essentially trust, and we grow our faith in God by trusting our community. Likewise, by trusting God more, faith in the people around us grows. You have provided a fertile ground for my faith in God to thrive. Even times of struggle and pain were grace-filled.
Keith and I raised our children here and have many fond memories of Sunday School, Sunday Sounds and Weekday School, Christmas pageants and Turkey Tangos. My children allowed me to travel with the New Zion Youth Choir and teach their Confirmation classes. These are cherished memories.
I’m grateful for time spent in Emmaus groups, Disciple classes, Stephen Ministry, trips to Africa, pastoral visits, spiritual formation classes, and worship planning. In these, and many other places, you have shown me the importance of relationship and acceptance. This has brought joy to my own soul and to my family.
My last Sunday with you will be May 8. The leadership of this church is in conversation with the Rio Texas Conference and prayerfully considering the next pastoral appointment. You are in good hands and always in my heart.
