Pastor Search # 3

"Leaving"

This has been a month of lasts….I had my last deacon’s meeting at my current church…..I had my last Baptist Life Communities board meeting…..I had my last book study with my friends…..I am preparing my last sermon for New Banklick Baptist Church.

Joy and I have announced our retirement and will be moving in July to our new home in Hickory, NC where we will enjoy spoiling our grandchildren. Pastoring in areas that are far from family is one of the most difficult things to do. We have missed a lot of firsts with our grandchildren. We were not there when they lost their first tooth or came home with the first A on the report card or any number of other very important things. So God is giving us some time to make up for all of those things we have missed.

What I need some of you to help me with is how to deal properly with the lasts. I have to confess that the lasts have been much more difficult for me than the firsts. I was not nervous at all nor did I dread my first sermon at this wonderful church. I did not have any bad feelings about the first deacon’s meeting, first business meeting or anything at all surrounding our first few months here. I certainly did not dread any of the wonderful meals we were fed. But the lasts have been a different story. My heart breaks every time someone hugs me and weeps or just says “I’ll miss you”. I could become a blubbering idiot if I let myself.

This blog is about going to a new church but sometimes we just need some feedback on how to leave a good church. This is something that we have not addressed on our website http://www.ministrytogether.com. Perhaps we should………Well, during the two and a half weeks that we have left I am sure there will be many lasts…I just hope I can make it….Please share your experiences and thoughts…..Preacherman