The only two constants in life are that Jesus loves us and everything else changes. You may have already heard the two big changes for Kimberly, Eli, and me, but in case you haven’t let me share them with you.
First, our family is expecting a new addition. Kimberly is pregnant and the due date is in mid-December. We don’t yet know the gender and are only praying for a healthy baby. Eli doesn’t quite grasp the concept that he will soon be a big brother.
Second, on August 1st I will begin a new appointment as the pastor of Wolfforth United Methodist Church. Wolfforth is on the southwest corner of Lubbock. This happened very quickly around Annual Conference time and was not a change that we, or Saint Stephen, were looking to make. The pastor at Wolfforth, Curtis House, is a very good friend of mine. Curtis has experienced some health concerns and unexpectedly needed to step down as pastor. I was asked by the Bishop to consider moving to Wolfforth to be their new pastor, and after much prayer felt that this was indeed what God wanted me to do. The SPRC (personnel committee) for Saint Stephen will be working with the Bishop order to find the perfect person to move into Saint Stephen West.
I will be preaching at Saint Stephen East on June 27 while Stan preaches at West. I will preach at Saint Stephen West on July 4th, and my final sermon on July 11th. The 11th will also be the time we commission our Kenya Mission team during the 10:55am service at St. Stephen West. I will lead our mission trip to Kenya July 14 – 26 and then be at Wolfforth for my first Sunday on August 1st.
Kimberly and I are grieving leaving you all; but at the same time we are very excited about what God has in store for us, and for the church at Wolfforth. We covet your prayers during this time of transition, and I know that whomever God has in mind for Saint Stephen West will also covet your prayers.
The last seven years has gone by very quickly. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was asked to move to Saint Stephen. You have been an import part of my life for almost twenty years. In 1993 I left the Marine Corps and moved to Amarillo and began attending St. Stephen. I was mentored in the faith and encouraged in ministry. I went to Asbury Seminary in the fall of 1998 and then pastured in Rotan for two years only to return to my home church in June of 2003. In the last seven years you grieved with me during the loss of both my parents and celebrated with me during my wedding to Kimberly and then the birth of our son Eli. I am honored that you have allowed Kimberly and I to be a part of your lives and will always be grateful that you have been a part of ours.
If you’re ever in Wolfforth or southwest Lubbock, stop by!
Grace and Peace,
Rich