Goodbye Pastor Dan

Well as many of you all know Pastor Dan will be leaving us at the end of school in June 2008. He has accepted a position as pastor at Grace United Methodist Church in Waverly, OH. I know it has been hard for Tina and I to accept his leaving, but we will not nor cannot stand in the way of God’s calling on Dan. Just as he would never stand in the way of God’s calling upon our lives. You see when you read Revelations 3:7-8;
“3:7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write the following:
“This is the solemn pronouncement of the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open: 3:8 ‘I know your deeds. (Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut.) I know that you have little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name.”
You see God has opened a door for Dan and his family to go through. He has also opened one for each and every one of us. So each of us and collectively need to be following God’s lead. That has already started but now it needs to be completed, the coming together as one body of Christ through our 4 separate churches. You see we are all in this and as Stockport begins the process of getting to know a new pastor, we will all be involved. We need to keep praying for Stockport and the New Vision Cooperative Ministries as we are all going through this change together. Let us all during this remaining time of Lent come together with Jesus as He is in the wilderness, and fast and pray with Him, to know and follow the will and prodding of God the Father.
We have all admitted that there needed to be change for us all to survive and grow. We did not want to see Dan leave. We all love Dan, Ann and the boys. But now we are not able to just sit back and watch. Now is the time for each and every one of us to step up and step out on faith. Coming to the table with an open mind and open heart to following God’s leading of this Cooperative. Let us be Churches that remain open to the Gospel by listen and following God’s directions for our churches as well as individually. When God opens the door, allow us to boldly enter but if the door is shut may we wait patiently for God’s guidance.
God bless to you Dan and family. Know that we will be praying for you and your new church family. May the love and light of Christ show thru in all you say and do.