thank you crbc

Teri, Taylor, Tallie and I want to thank you for last Sunday. We were absolutely blown away by the outpouring of love and affection that we felt from you, our church family. We feel as if we are the most blessed pastor's family in all the world to be a part of such a wonderful Fellowship of Grace- and that is what you have been to us these past five years.

Of course, the entire weekend was planned behind my back- which makes me a little nervous now that I think about it- and was a complete surprise. We were expecting a congratulations and a thank you and a "we love you!" but nothing like what you gave to us. I truly wish that every pastor could feel such love and support from His church.

Thank you for our generous and wonderful gifts. The picture frame and portrait will be a part of our lives from this time on- and we will always remember the circumstances of this beautiful gift. Thank you for thinking of my children, and for making the day special for them. I am most grateful as a pastor and as a father, that my children are surrounded by such a spiritually mature and loving congregation. They have only felt your love and your joy and your strength and excellent example of how a church should love their pastor's family- my children's experience as "PK"s has been nothing but positive and uplifting- they have grown to love their church and to understand what true Christian love looks like. For that Teri and I are eternally grateful.

And thank you for the monetary gift. Teri and I have decided that we will set it aside and use it next summer to help pay for a family mission trip to the Middle East. This will allow us to spend some very important and quality family time together the summer after Taylor graduates from High School. We are so blessed to have this opportunity.

Thank you for your continual encouragement, grace and steadfast love. Thank you for the grace you have shown in allowing me to be myself and to make mistakes and find my way while gaining my bearings during a time of transition. Thank you for your love and maturity that has allowed us to see together what God is calling us toward even as we have experienced the awkwardness of trying to figure each other out.

What a joy it is to be your pastor!

I am very excited about what God will do as we journey together from this moment on. Truly, in many ways I believe we are just now starting this journey. And I am as excited to see what our future holds as I am confident in the One who holds our future!