Hey, Church! 

As I head off on a sabbatical next week, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your many years of love, support, and prayers. 

When Julie and I joined the staff at Rio, we were 23 and 22 years old (funny how I’m unrecognizable in this picture and Julie has literally not changed one bit–fairy wings, glitter and all). We had been married for less than two years when I took the job of Worship Pastor and Julie began teaching 2nd grade at Bethany. Around that same time, we were told we may never be able to have children. Our Rio family came around us in prayer, and after more than five years of infertility, our son, Noah, was born. We announced the good news at a Thanksgiving-Eve worship service, and we were cheered by applause, happy-tears, and many cries of “Praise God!” Our hearts were full, and you celebrated with us!  

Three years later, in 2012, our second son Jethro (“Jet”) was born in respiratory distress. 

Doctors told us gravely, “Best to cherish the time you have left, and say goodbye.” He required 97 days of intensive care, with all the medications, devices, and surgeries you can imagine. Our hearts were broken, and my spirit was utterly crushed. In addition to prayers and frequent words of encouragement, you gave us gas cards for the commute, filled our fridge with food, and helped cover our medical expenses (including much-needed mental-health counseling services). 

I wish I had a picture of the turning point moment of that brutally difficult valley experience, but it will live in my mind’s eye forever: our pastors, elders, and their wives appeared at the end of the long hallway, walking towards us in the NICU reception area. We burst out in tears–a bitter-sweet mixture of pain, relief, and sheer exhaustion. They enveloped us with hugs, laid hands on us to pray, and shared words of God’s peace and wisdom. We wept, and you wept with us. 

After our long stay at Joe DiMaggio’s, we were finally able to bring baby Jet home. Our Rio family surprised us with a welcome party! There were handmade signs, “Welcome Home!” banners, balloons on the mailbox, noisemakers, and people lining our street with shouts and claps of joy as we arrived at home! We rejoiced, and you rejoiced with us! (Again, I wish I had a picture of that moment, but a shot of us leaving the hospital is the best I can do for now)

By the time our third born, Zion, came around, we were fifteen years indebted to this community.

Whenever we have had a need, our gracious Father employed you so faithfully to be our provision, support, and comfort. 

When we were still in the NICU with Jet, a friend in the church heard that my weed-ridden yard was another point of stress for us, so he paid to have a landscaping company completely renovate our front and back yard. Another time, when our car engine quit, someone stepped up and bought us a new car–totaly unsolicited, simply from the goodness of their family’s heart! When Julie broke her tailbone earlier this year, you provided meals, offered rides for the kids, and even hired a housecleaning service! Countless other blessings have been poured out on us over the years–too many to name here but all of them have been precious reminders of Jesus’ love. 

Julie and I will have been part of the Rio family for 21 years this July. You are our spiritual mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers. We’ve even had the privilege to help raise a few of you as spiritual children. All along the way, when we wept, you wept; when we rejoiced, you rejoiced; when we had need for any material thing, you provided for us. Some of you literally clothed our boys throughout all of their growth stages with your hand-me-downs (I see you, Michelle Hartog)! When you cared for us, you cared for Jesus. We are His, and we are beyond grateful–it’s overwhelming, truly–that we get to do life with you all. You are everything Christ’s Church is meant to be. 

As much as this sabbatical is a much-appreciated time of repreive, to reconnect with the Lord, invest in our family, and gain a renewed sense of vision and energy for the ministry, we will miss seeing you every week. I have pre-written 12 Saturday personal worship writings to be released each week in my absence. If all goes according to plan, the first three Saturdays will examine our denominational distinctives (the PCA). The following three will focus on the meaning of the sacraments. As we approach the 250th anniversary of our great nation, late in June and early July, I have written about the miraculous circumstances that delivered George Washington through the battlefield to the presidency, and a bit about the history behind our patriotic songs. My hope is that you will continue in the habit of prepararing your hearts each week for church and arrive ready to give the Lord your best worship. 

From our family to yours: “Thank you!” From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being our precious Church family. We love you all and look forward to worshiping with you again soon.