This morning I read this letter to my church after the sermon I preached:
Dear Lakeview Bible Church Family and Deacon Board,
Four years ago I first began coming to Lakeview when I was
Freshman at Northland. After attending services at several other churches, it
became clear that God was directing me to come back to Lakeview. On my first
Sunday coming back, Brenda Womer came right up to me, remembered my name, and
gave me a big hug. I felt immediately welcome. Over the next few months God
made it clear that Lakeview was where He wanted me, and so I chose to make it
the church I would go to during my time as a student at Northland.
During my 3rd year of attending church here,
Pastor Dick asked me if I would take up the position of “Student Pastor.” After
seeking godly counsel, and praying a lot, I decided I would take the position.
The church voted, and I took up the position in February of 2014. In November
of that same year, Pastor Dick decided he would resign from the pastorate at
Lakeview on January 1st of 2015, and so I was the natural
consideration to take up the position of pastor at Lakeview. That summer I had
already prayed a lot about this potential position, and had decided I would
take it if the opportunity presented itself, and the church voted me in. In December of 2014, the church voted me in
as Pastor of Lakeview, and in January 2015 I officially took on the duties
associated with that office.
It has been a challenging year for me in this position.
Challenges that I often had no idea how I would handle. I have felt very
ill-equipped to be the pastor of this small church. When I first took up the
position of pastor here, it was with the understanding that Northland would be
close by, so I could go and continue to be discipled and trained by the staff
and faculty there. But as you all know, Northland closed, and so that support
has not been available to me.
As situations have come up at Lakeview, I have so often had
no idea how I would deal with them. Even with technology that has enabled me to
call or email mentors, I have felt the need to have closer mentorship and
training with an experienced pastoral staff.
So, it is for this reason, that I have decided to resign
from being pastor of Lakeview Bible Church effective March 27, 2016. God has
opened doors for me to be able to go down to Grand Haven, MI, where Rachel is
from and be discipled by the pastoral staff at her church. My plan right now is
to work full time in a secular job, while serving in the local church, and
working on an M.Div. on the side online.
In the mean time, between now and March 27th, I
will be continuing to preach most Sundays, while preparing to move. I will also
be helping the church in whatever way I can to find a new pastor. I do not want
to, nor do I plan to slack off in any way my responsibilities at this church in
the time I have left. I will seek to love and minister to this church in
whatever ways I can before I leave.
The plan right now, should the deacons & this body
affirm, would be for Clayton to stay on as Interim Pastor at least until June.
At that time, depending on whether the church has found a new pastor, Clayton
will decide what is best for him and LBC.
I did not make this decision lightly, and it is with a heavy
heart that I made the final decision. It was an extremely hard decision to
make, especially because I have grown to love this church so much. I
sought out counsel from many godly men, and prayed a lot, and genuinely believe
that God has led me to the decision I have made.
Between now, and when I leave, I would like every Wednesday
Night Bible Study to be dedicated mostly to praying fervently for the church to
find a new pastor. So, if you would like to come out to that, I know it is very
important for this church to be seeking the Lord in that matter.
And now, I want to close this with the words of Paul in
Romans 11:33-36:
"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and
knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are
How unsearchable are
his
judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
“For
who has known the mind of the Lord,
or
who has been his counselor?”
“Or
who has given a gift to him
that
he might be repaid?”
For
from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.
Amen."
Amen."
All Glory Be to God Alone,
Pastor Jason Hunsicker
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