Today marked Gary & Jennie's last official day at The Chapel. During the morning services, Pastor Doug Clark asked us to share with the Green Campus congregation about our new opportunity to Senior Pastor at Delaware Grace Brethren, and prayed for us with the whole church. During our young marrieds group, our friends gave us a beautiful and heart-felt collection of letters and pictures and scrapbook for us to remember forever the friendships and times that God has given us here at the Green Campus. Dan Bahry, our class leader, led the class in a prayer for us and was terrific at encouraging us! For lunch, my parents and our wonderful young marrieds group, MOSAIC, threw us a huge celebration party in the senior high room. After quickly feeding Allison, we then went to a Baby Dedication for two families we love from Akron, Dave & Kasey Firestine (their son, Benjamin), and Ryan & Kristi Sacha (Luke). Later this evening, we went to The Chapel's "Illuminate" evening service, where Pastor Knute Larson introduced us and prayed for us with the evening congregation.
We rejoice with Mike Arnold (pictured, with me above) and his wife Rachelle - as The Chapel also gave them a royal "sendoff" to their new ministry in Las Vegas. Yes, THAT Vegas! Mike is going to be the lead pastor for the young adult ministry at Central Christian Church, one of the most exciting and progressive churches in the country! Over the last two years, I have grown to know and love Mike for his passion for Christ and his love for young adults both inside and outside of faith in Christ. Mike and Rachelle (and Laney) will be sorely missed at The Chapel, but they are also following God's lead in this Great Adventure!
While Jennie and I are excited about this next chapter of our lives together, this time at The Chapel has been phenomenal. I want to publicly (on my blogger?) thank Pastor Knute Larson (and everyone else at The Chapel) for their support and encouragement of me (and Mike Arnold) with this new opportunity. This church really does have the heart to impact the world - not just Akron and Green - and we are thrilled to be part of this ministry at this point in our lives.
I'm sure I'll have a lot more to journal about this whole transition and all that we are thinking and praying through, but today was definitely one of the most memorable days in our lives!
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