For those for whom my leadership has been a disappointment, I want you to know I am very much aware of my weaknesses and short-comings. I have often confessed you are being led by an imperfect pastor, who, despite his failures, has sought to faithfully honor the gifts God has given me. In the past months, I have not been able to provide a strong, unifying and supportive presence and voice in our church, particularly around the Leadership table. This has been a disappointment to me.
But friends, please know this, many years ago as a young pastor just starting out, I made a covenant with my God based on the words of 2 Corinthians 12:15, I will gladly spend and be spent for you, the Church. As I step away from my role as the pastor at Valley, I do so feeling ‘utterly spent', but I know that my time here has not been in vain. I hope in some way I have encouraged you in your faith.
I have seen so many in this place grow as worshippers and servants of our Lord and in your knowledge and understanding of the Word. This is not the same congregation were were back in 2007. Thank you for working with me to build a church where worship and the Word have had such a high priority.
I pray you will stay the course. Stay connected to the Church, to one another, love one another deeply, from the heart (1 Peter 1:22). Serve faithfully, do all that you can, with all that you have, as long as you can; remember, if you're not dead, you're not done! Continue to give generously and pray fervently.
It is my sincere desire that you stay faithful and finish well for the honor and glory of Christ, our Lord.
To that end, I leave you with these familiar words of blessing:
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26), until we meet again - amen