Leaving PBC

How do you ‘leave’ a church that you’ve loved, laughed with, grieved with, walked with and experienced many of life’s profound events together? It’s so much more than just leaving a job; we’re leaving home and friends and a deeply fulfilling role. PBC was the church where I met Jem, the place where our children were born, and the community in which I’ve learned some vital lessons about myself and about leadership. PBC was the church where I had the immeasurable privilege of leading and serving with great staff, volunteers and Elders as we saw ministries strengthen, and many new initiatives begin, and many lives being impacted. I couldn’t have picked a better ‘first’ church, though I never saw PBC as my ‘first’ church until I felt God’s call to move; when God led me to PBC, he was giving me a wonderful gift. I had no idea how the journey would turn out! Eugene Peterson sums up my experience of PBC when speaking about his own experience of being in a church family:

‘Every once in a while a shaft of blazing beauty seems to break out of nowhere and illuminate these companies: Word of God-shaped, Holy Spirit-created lives of sacrificial humility, incredible courage, heroic virtue, holy praise, joyful suffering, constant prayer, persevering obedience.’

During last week as my official last few days, it was a roller-coaster of events and emotions. The church gave us a wonderful last Sunday and truly awesome goodbye bash on Tuesday. On Sunday I taught my last sermon, David Chaput gave a wonderful tribute, the children led a special prayer for us, and then the church gathered round us to pray. Tuesday had people gathered from far and wide, tributes, a live jazz band, and generous gifts. We were blessed with so many generous gifts, words and memories. I’m still amazed by the heartfelt things that were said to both of us.

Though I am confident that becoming Senior Minister at Tonbridge Baptist Church is God’s will – a role I am thrilled to receive – I leave PBC with a deep mix of sadness and thanksgiving. As I had no idea how the journey would turn out at PBC, I’m sure the same will be true of our time at Tonbridge Baptist Church, and I look forward with expectation to see how God will move us all forwards into the things of His heart.