If you haven't heard...

So a while back I was acking you all for some prayer for direction and decisions. Well direction has come and the decision has been made. The short and the long of it is that I am leaving the church position that I have been at for almost 7 years [Fairview Church] and moving to a new church. Those of you who know me know that I have been doing youth ministry for almost 13 years now and that I still love working with students. And on top of that I got a MA in counseling and have felt for a long time that I needed to use my gifts in this area more effectively. Well with that and the fact that I now have not only a home to pay for, but an incredible wife and beautiful daughter to provide for as well, this new church will allow me to do everything I have dreamed of!

I will be an associate pastor at Calvary Chapel Seattle overseeing the youth ministry - which we will be starting basically from scratch, AND I'll be doing all the counseling (premarital, marriage, divorce, family, addictions, etc.). As you know this was a very difficult decision, but I do believe it is the right one and that it is a clear calling from God!

So last Sunday was my last Sunday at Fairview. I did my Sunday school class, led worship, and preached to the congregation, and afterwards they had a party for me. To say it was a long day would be an understatement, but it was worth it and it was a total blessing! This Wednesday will be my last time with my students and we are going to be having a party! I'm gonna miss them a lot! But kind of like when you grow up and move out of your parents home you do so because it's time not because you hate your parents. This is the feeling I have with Fairview. It's a family I dearly love, but it's time. And the beauty is that I can always come back to visit and always am welcome!

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we have lots of transitions to do, moving, back to school, meeting new people, and getting connected into a new church community! And pray for the ministries that I've been a part of at Fairview that the people God wants to lead them would come and take it to the next level!

And lastly, pray for me as I work to turn our basement room "the dancefloor" into our brand new family room! Talk about a learning experience!

Love to you all!

rich