Some Sad News

The news has got around, I guess, but for those who want to know, this is the text of the announcement I made last Sunday 14 March.

Although we know this is the right time, it still grieves us. In a funny mixed up way we are both sad and happy that leaving is so difficult.

I have one last announcement to make.

An announcement of some
importance, one that I find very difficult to make.

After eight
years of learning and growing, of some mistakes and some lessons, of many
successes and many positive experiecnes and significant friendships, Meredith
and I believe that this is the right time for us to leave Ariah Park and
prrepare ourselves for new ministry opportunities.

We believe that
though we will miss this church dearly, there is much that has been achieved and
that there may be someone better able to achieve what needs to be done in this
church in the next decade.

We believe that the church may be
invigourated by fresh leadership.
We believe that the time is right for our
family to pursue other options
And we are painfully aware that although it is
not easy to leave, and we perhaps did not expect to, nonetheless every ministry
ends, it is wonderful for ours to finish here with such sadness at leaving and
such fondness for all who remain.

At the end of May we intend to
pack out family up and spend some time on the road learning from other churches
and pastors. We will travel around Australia to experience a wide range of
ministry situations. We will spend some time reflecting on our time here
and the mistakes we have made and the successes we have had. Seeking to
learn from the stresses we have experienced and the joys we will treasure.
We will spend some time reflecting on what types of ministry we are gifted for
and more importantly what kinds of ministry we may be able to cope with.
In particular, God has laid on my heart a concern for the indigenous people of
Australia and a concern for church planting.

At the end of the year
we hope to embark on a new ministry opportunity, but at this stage we have no
definite plans and are trusting that God will both equip us and lead us to a
ministry experience as wonderful as this one has been.
We trust that
God will guide you all under the leadership of a fine diaconate into the road
ahead, and we trust that God will continue to bless you all and keep you all in
the Lord Jesus Christ until he returns.

Because there are so many people that we care about so much we plan to give everyone a chance to say goodbye, we're thinking of having everyone over for lunch after church (not all at once) look out for your invitation.

Our confident prayer is that Ariah Park Baptist Church will go on in faith and service, firmly founded in the Lord Jesus Christ.