Faith
is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don’t see.
-Hebrews
11:1
This
past Sunday, March 12th, the SPRC of Grace UMC in Pickens
announced that there would be a pastoral change in June. Both Ashley and
I will be serving as pastors in new appointments.
After
hugs have been shared and tears shed, I have been asked an important
question – a question that I believe deserves an answer. “Why are
you moving/leaving us?” At the heart of the answer lies a truth
that is at the core of our faith.
Upon
hearing the news, one of Ashley’s friends commented (something to
the effect of) “what a wonderful example for your children! So many
people talk about what they believe and what they will do for God.
Your children get to see what it looks like to live your faith.”
I
think I understand what she means. We live in a world where people
are willing to argue with others for what they believe. A Facebook
post or a bumper sticker touts what they adamantly believe. They
will shout at others and shun those who think otherwise. But, when
it comes to actually living, that is an entirely different subject.
(For example, I know people who spoke out against a lottery in SC but
who have been willing to buy tickets.)
Fatih
isn’t about what we feel alone. Another James correctly stated
that “faith without works is dead.” Our faith must have handles.
People should be able to see the evidence of our faith in our lives.
This is what makes our faith become alive and bear witness to
others.
Look
at the evidence in Hebrews. So many are listed who had faith: Abel,
Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah to name a few (Hebrews 11:3-11). How
do we know that they had faith? They offered, they walked, they
built, they followed, and they bore (a child). Faith is described by
pointing to the faithful actions of those who believed.
This
is why United Methodist pastors move. We believe that God works in
and through our connection. We have faith that the same God who
called us into ministry will lead us and move us according to the
right timing. Every United Methodist elder promises, before the
conference and before God, that we will go wherever we are sent.
Those words may spill easy from our lips as we recite the vows of
ordination, but those words carry great meaning.
Why
do we move? We move because we say that we trust God. We believe in
the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to guide us. We say that
we will take up the cross of Christ and follow him. Our words of
faith are empty if they are not joined by actions which seek to live
out that faith in all that we do.
We
move because we have faith. We move so that we may continuously grow
in our striving to be like Christ who said, “not my will, but thine
be done.” We move so that others may see that the words that we say
are not merely words, but they make a difference in our lives.
So,
please pray for us during these days. Yes, there will be sadness as
our time at Grace draws to a close. God has been faithful and has
been present in powerful ways through our years here. We also look
forward with anticipation and with joy, knowing that God who brought
us to this time and place in our ministry will be faithful and has
already prepared another place for us to serve.
We
know this without question, for “faith is the reality of what we
hope for, the proof of what we don’t see.”
Grace
and Peace,
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