Dear Church Family,

The year is 1999. I have just been laid off, which ended a 30-year career in the business world. After three months wrestling like Moses at the burning bush, I accept a “call” to be a part-time pastor here at our church. Who would have thought almost a quarter of a century later I would be having a retirement reception on the church patio.

Thinking about these past 25 years, so much has happened. Coffee Connection was developed because I had a little vision, and our Heavenly Father had a greater one. Another vision grander than mine was 10+ years of Classic Car Nights (CCN) which brought classic cars, grandparents, grandchildren, outreach, prayer, and Chili Cook-offs, totaling over 3,000 people a summer to our parking lot (don’t remind Levi about the Rocket Car). CCN was a place where “Intergenerational Living,” “The Salvation Message,” “The Greatest Commandment,” and “The Great Commission” were lived out to the fullest. It was an incredible season.

There are so many other stories, but here are a couple more. Through our Marriage Ministries we have seen devastated marriages healed. From Jeanne and I leading the Emotionally Healthy Discipleship ministry, we have watched hundreds of individuals from our church and other churches “deepen their walk with God,” heal from past emotional injuries, and develop skills to “love our families, church members, workmates, neighbors, community, and culture” as Christ commanded us in Matthew 22:37-40.

All Jeanne and I say is, we were open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and as best we could, we tried to act where prompted.

March 23 was the celebration of my/our being on staff. Jeanne and I want to thank you for the “over the top” time of honoring my/our serving on staff. We both know that it has been an honor and privilege to do the work our Heavenly Father called us to do so many years ago. We appreciated seeing and speaking to so many of you. Thank you also for so many cards and gifts.

As we stated on March 3, we are excited to see how our Lord will be preparing and leading us in our next season of ministry. We are going to take the months of April and May to be away, rest, pray, and ask the Holy Spirit to direct our next steps. Know it is our plan that the next steps will be here at LAC.

We want you to know how deeply we love LAC as this has been our church home since 1982. Also, while I was on staff, Jeanne and I developed a deeper love than we ever could have anticipated for each of you as members of our “unexpected family.” This deep love developed as we came to understand and attempted to live out “The Greatest Commandment” stated by Christ in Matthew 22: 37-40.

Finally, thank you church family for allowing me to grow in my faith before your very eyes, learn what it means to be a Pastor/Shepherd, and live it out as best as I was able.

Blessings to you all. We look forward to our return early in June.

Love,

Bill and Jeanne