Hello to you my friends!
I have decided to write a blog on this season as a way of updating each of you on the recent events in my life. I want to start by saying I know many of you have been praying for me during this time of transition and I want to say that I am extremely grateful for each of the prayers. You are each very dear to me and I so value having the gift of your friendships.
As some of you may or may not know I have been sensing in my spirit since February that the Lord has had me in a season of transition. I spent several months seeking the Lord and asking for wisdom and direction. The word I continued to hear was that it was time to step out of the boat.
I wasn't sure what way the Lord meant for me to do this. I recently took a trip to Kansas City to visit some friends. While I was there I spent the week continuing to research opportunities and to seek God for clarity. I felt the Lord prompting me to stay in the Harrisonburg area and to leave my current job at First Assembly as Associate Pastor and Chi Alpha Campus Pastor. I thought I might wait until my lease for my apartment was up in March, but received a job offer that will cover my rent exactly through the end of March almost as soon as I returned from my trip.
There are many things the Lord has laid on my heart to pursue during this time. My heart to see justice continues to grow daily. I will continue to be apart of the Shenandoah Valley Justice Initiative and would request your prayers for us as initiative as we partner together with Him to bring freedom to captives of human trafficking. There are also a few other areas I feel the Lord asking me to pursue that have been on my heart and I will continue to seek His direction as I take steps.
This transition has been exciting and at times difficult as I have so loved my time here at the church. I want to publically honor and state how much I have appreciated getting to know each of you. The friendships and relational connections I have made during my time here have been priceless. I have grown so much as a person under Pastor Jeff's leadership. His intergrity and father's heart make him an absolute stand out leader. The board here has also always been very gracious and giving to me as a staff member and I am grateful for their vote of confidence in the call of God on my life.
I would also like to publically honor and thank Stefanie Chappell for her leadership and insight over the years. All of the Chi Alpha staff at every university that I have been to have always been quick to share encouragement and wisdom. They have been treasures to run beside.
I want to express my love and pride for our students of Chi Alpha and the young adults here at First Assembly. I see the Lord in each of your lives and working with you has been the joy and pleasure of my life. I am excited to see a continuation of the things the Lord has birthed in each of your hearts and the leaders He is calling and molding you to become.
These past five and half years have meant the world to me and I will always remember this season with fondness and thankfulness.
The Lord asked me a few months ago if I wanted to stay where I felt safe and comfortable or if I would follow Him out into the unknown.
I have learned following the Lord at times does not feel safe, but it is an adventure.
He is certainly worth it.
Blessings to each one of you. Feel free to contact me if you would like to chat more. I would still love to keep updated on your lives and hear your stories of what Jesus is doing in and through you. I pray each of you has a blessed year in 2012 and He does exceedingly and abundantly above all you can ask, imagine, or think according to the power that works within you!
All my love,
Stephanie
