Church Family,
This is a hard column to write. As you know by now, God is leading my family in a new direction, and I have accepted a call to a church in Texas. I love this church deeply and I am so thankful for my time here. While I know this is still a surprise to many, I want you to be assured that our Deacon body and our Personnel Committee have already set a great plan in place to ensure a smooth transition and to make sure that our church continues to build and pursue for the glory of God.
As I write in the Forerunner for the last time, I wanted to share parts of the letter that I read at the end of our services on September 25:
This has been an incredibly difficult decision to make. It’s incredibly difficult because I deeply love our church family and the community we have here at Fee Fee. However, even though it is a very difficult decision, I believe that God is opening this door and we want to be faithful and obedient to God’s will for our family.
This is a very bittersweet time for us. I am beyond grateful that God gave me the honor and privilege to serve as the pastor here at Fee Fee. I love this church and I love how you have loved my family. God has given me the blessings of great friendships, a loving church family, and the opportunity to be a part of God doing great things here.
I know that all the changes and growth that we have experienced have all been because of God and in spite of me, but I am humbled that God gave me the opportunity to shepherd and serve here. At the same time, my family and I have given God a blank check with our lives and told him that we will go wherever He leads. We believe He is calling, so we want to be obedient to that call and go where He is sending us.
Know that I will be praying for Fee Fee during this transition, and I ask that you pray for my family as we are relocating and starting a new ministry. I have been praying Philippians 1:3-6 for this great church. In this passage, Paul writes:
“I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Thank you for the privilege of serving you as your pastor. I love each and every one of you.
In Him,
Pastor Zach Crook