This past Sunday my wife and I announced that we would be leaving the church we started in Pontiac, Michigan to start another church in Kansas City, Missouri (see previous two posts). In the next few weeks I want to share some of the things that I'm learning through this transition.
First things first. Vanessa and I love the church here in Pontiac, but God loves the church even more. When I think about how much we love and care for the people at PFWC I'm quickly reminded that God's love and care is far beyond what I can ever comprehend.
That's encouraging for a few reasons:
1. If God loves the church the most then He will always do what's best. Sometimes transitions
don't make sense to us. It can be difficult to understand the why or the how, but God knows best. He loves and cares more for the church than anyone else.
2. Jesus died for the church, not me. It's His church. It always has been, and it always will be. I'm thankful that the Chief Shepherd allowed me to serve here as an under-shepherd these past 4 1/2 years. Though I'm gone Jesus is still here, and He always will be.
3. God doesn't rob from one church to bless another. God loves the people in Pontiac and the people in KC. He not sending us to the people in KC at the expense of the people in Pontiac. God will provide new leadership for PFWC and bless the new work in KC.
God loves His church...and I love being part of it!
Friday, December 7, 2007
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Resignation Letter
Below is a copy of the resignation letter that I shared with the PFWC family today. The entire message will be available this week through our podcast or our website. This has been the most difficult day we've ever had in ministry. Thanks again for all of your prayers during this time.
Dear PFWC Family,
“The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord.” Every time I read this passage from Psalm 37:23 I’m reminded that my life is not my own. I belong to God. Vanessa belongs to God. We’ve committed both our individual lives and our marriage to His calling and purpose. We’ve resolved to travel together down the path that He has set before us. We’ve entrusted our steps to Him.
It was God’s leading that brought us to Pontiac in May of 2003. It was His plan for us to start Pontiac Family Worship Center. He gave us a passion for this city and over the last few years we’ve developed a love for each and every one of you. The blessings of God have been abundant and you have made this journey so wonderful. I’m convinced that our days here have been ordained by the Lord.
That’s why today is so difficult. Through many months of prayer and Godly counsel we are convinced that God is asking us to travel down a new path, a path that will lead us away from Pontiac and away from the PFWC family. This decision is the most difficult one we’ve had to make up to this point in our ministry. The difficulty comes not in saying yes to the Lord, but in saying goodbye to all of you.
In our hearts we never thought this day would come. I guess that’s why God has reminded us lately of Proverbs 16:9. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” We’ve served here with the mindset that we would never leave. However, the Lord has been stirring our hearts and we can say with full certainty that our time here is coming to an end.
Today, December 2, 2007, we are officially resigning as your pastors with the full intent to provide transitional leadership for the next 90 days. Our last Sunday will be February 24, 2008. During this transitional time we will be working with Steve Bradshaw and the leadership of the Michigan District of the Assemblies of God since our church comes under the umbrella of the Assemblies of God fellowship.
After this time of transition Vanessa and I will be moving to Kansas City, Missouri to start a new church in my hometown. We are stepping out in faith believing God to do a similar work like He’s done here in Pontiac. It’s our desire to continue to see souls come to Christ and church planting is the best way to see that mission accomplished. God has asked us to pioneer another church and we’ve said yes to His call.
Please hear these words from the bottom of our hearts. Though our relationship as your pastors will change, our love for all of you will not. That’s why this is so difficult. We’ve become family over the past few years and now we’re moving away. As hard as it is to say goodbye the fact is we’re still family. As a matter of fact, maybe goodbye is the wrong word. The phrase “see you later” seems more appropriate.
One day we’ll all be together again, but this time it will be forever. We’ll spend eternity together in the presence of the Lord. What a glorious day that will be. In the meantime, let me share verse 25 of the Psalm that I opened with: “I was young and now I’m old, but I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken or the children begging for bread.” That’s a promise that we can all hang on to during this time.
God directs our steps and promises not to leave us nor forsake us. I’m confident that if God is leading us on to something new and wonderful then the same is true for all of you. God will not take from one at the expense of another. If God is preparing to bless Vanessa and I with a new work then He’s preparing to bless all of you with a new pastor. We really believe that your best days are yet ahead, and though we will not always be your pastors we will always be family.
Respectfully submitted with love for all you,
Bobby and Vanessa Hawk
Dear PFWC Family,
“The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord.” Every time I read this passage from Psalm 37:23 I’m reminded that my life is not my own. I belong to God. Vanessa belongs to God. We’ve committed both our individual lives and our marriage to His calling and purpose. We’ve resolved to travel together down the path that He has set before us. We’ve entrusted our steps to Him.
It was God’s leading that brought us to Pontiac in May of 2003. It was His plan for us to start Pontiac Family Worship Center. He gave us a passion for this city and over the last few years we’ve developed a love for each and every one of you. The blessings of God have been abundant and you have made this journey so wonderful. I’m convinced that our days here have been ordained by the Lord.
That’s why today is so difficult. Through many months of prayer and Godly counsel we are convinced that God is asking us to travel down a new path, a path that will lead us away from Pontiac and away from the PFWC family. This decision is the most difficult one we’ve had to make up to this point in our ministry. The difficulty comes not in saying yes to the Lord, but in saying goodbye to all of you.
In our hearts we never thought this day would come. I guess that’s why God has reminded us lately of Proverbs 16:9. “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” We’ve served here with the mindset that we would never leave. However, the Lord has been stirring our hearts and we can say with full certainty that our time here is coming to an end.
Today, December 2, 2007, we are officially resigning as your pastors with the full intent to provide transitional leadership for the next 90 days. Our last Sunday will be February 24, 2008. During this transitional time we will be working with Steve Bradshaw and the leadership of the Michigan District of the Assemblies of God since our church comes under the umbrella of the Assemblies of God fellowship.
After this time of transition Vanessa and I will be moving to Kansas City, Missouri to start a new church in my hometown. We are stepping out in faith believing God to do a similar work like He’s done here in Pontiac. It’s our desire to continue to see souls come to Christ and church planting is the best way to see that mission accomplished. God has asked us to pioneer another church and we’ve said yes to His call.
Please hear these words from the bottom of our hearts. Though our relationship as your pastors will change, our love for all of you will not. That’s why this is so difficult. We’ve become family over the past few years and now we’re moving away. As hard as it is to say goodbye the fact is we’re still family. As a matter of fact, maybe goodbye is the wrong word. The phrase “see you later” seems more appropriate.
One day we’ll all be together again, but this time it will be forever. We’ll spend eternity together in the presence of the Lord. What a glorious day that will be. In the meantime, let me share verse 25 of the Psalm that I opened with: “I was young and now I’m old, but I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken or the children begging for bread.” That’s a promise that we can all hang on to during this time.
God directs our steps and promises not to leave us nor forsake us. I’m confident that if God is leading us on to something new and wonderful then the same is true for all of you. God will not take from one at the expense of another. If God is preparing to bless Vanessa and I with a new work then He’s preparing to bless all of you with a new pastor. We really believe that your best days are yet ahead, and though we will not always be your pastors we will always be family.
Respectfully submitted with love for all you,
Bobby and Vanessa Hawk
The BIG Announcement
I haven't blogged the last couple of months because Vanessa and I have been seeking the Lord regarding a transition in our ministry. I've been completely focused on hearing from God and needed a break from the blogosphere. Today we made the BIG announcement to our church family at PFWC. Vanessa and I will be leaving Pontiac to start a church in Kansas City, Missouri.
We will continue to serve and help facilitate transition at PFWC for the next 90 days through the end of February. Then we will be moving to KC at the beginning of March. Our goal is to start building a core team and prepare to launch the new church in April 2009. I will share more updates through this blog as we continue on this faith journey.
In the meantime, we covet your prayers and appreciate your support. I will start posting again this month and I look forward to your comments. In addition, I've already been asked to post our letter of resignation for some who were not in attendance today. Please see the next post. The complete message from today will be on our website and podcast this week. God bless!
We will continue to serve and help facilitate transition at PFWC for the next 90 days through the end of February. Then we will be moving to KC at the beginning of March. Our goal is to start building a core team and prepare to launch the new church in April 2009. I will share more updates through this blog as we continue on this faith journey.
In the meantime, we covet your prayers and appreciate your support. I will start posting again this month and I look forward to your comments. In addition, I've already been asked to post our letter of resignation for some who were not in attendance today. Please see the next post. The complete message from today will be on our website and podcast this week. God bless!
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