Letter to Grace
In January the pastoral staff (Wendell, Jennifer, Lee, Marshall, and myself) were invited to share at our Governing Elder Board meeting. We were asked what we thought about the state of things at Grace. Without previous discussion or conversation with one another, every person on staff shared how excited we are about what God is doing at Grace. That we can see the Spirit on the move. We all shared this without prior knowledge of what the others were thinking!
You see, we’ve all noticed and felt that God is on the move here at Grace. That God is doing something in our city and nation. And I believe there is revival happening in our nation and churches…in our church. This is exciting news, y’all!
What I didn’t know during this time was God had other plans for me and my family.
During a Prayer & Retreat Day on February 18thI began the day with a list of things about ministry and life to pray about. To listen to God about. What I didn’t expect was to end the day with God saying, “Ansel, your time as a youth pastor is coming to a close.”
I drove home and shared this with my wife, Englund. We immediately prayed together. Both of us heard the Spirit saying, “Ansel’s time as a youth pastor is coming to a close.” We wept together, prayed some more, and Englund went into planning mode…she’s a planner and I’m extremely thankful for this.
This was not an easy decision. I wrestled with God on this. Youth ministry is what I’ve done for the last 15 years in church and another 5 with YL. Being a youth pastor has been a transforming journey for me and a number of kid. But every time we prayed God kept telling us, “It’s time.”
Now I know there have been a lot of staff changes and it’s been a surprise from this side as much as it has been for you. I know it seems like all this stuff is happening but I’m not connected to them in this decision at all. I’m thinking that God is on the move here. And I can’t help but say, “I’m excited about what God is doing!”
I shared this news with the elders. They were surprised then asked me what I think should happen. I said I thought it would be best for the students, leaders, families, and our church if I worked alongside a new pastor as we transitioned from me to them. I’d work up through the end of August and be available for the new pastor on occasion following my departure from staff. So I won’t be leaving staff immediately. I’ve been doing the same thing for over 15 years and I want to make sure there’s a good hand off to someone, I believe, is going to take it to a new level. I think it makes sense that I would finish out the school year and to be a bridge for the new youth pastor with events and trips this summer.
I do want to make clear that we have no plans to leave Greensboro (the city we love very much), to leave Glenwood (the neighborhood we love very much), or to leave Grace (our family who we love very much). We believe in our mission and want to be used for God’s Kingdom at Grace.
I love the staff, the students, the families, and the leaders I’ve gotten to do life with. I believe that God has all this in His hands. I believe we have all we need in Jesus for every student to know that they are loved by an amazing Father. I believe this hasn’t caught God by surprise and that He already knows who will fill this position.
I’m excited for this new person because God is going to use them to help us be even better at “making disciples who make disciples crossing racial and economic lines.” I’m excited I get to help, that we get to help, the new youth pastor and that they get to help us.
At the same time, we are sad. I don’t know what I’ll be doing after this. I’ve been doing this for a while and there are some things I’ve grown more passionate about, there are some things that I want to pursue. I believe God has been moving me towards these things and away from youth ministry for the past year and a half. Not knowing what’s next is scary but also exciting! We’re trusting Jesus with these plans as He works them out for us.
There’s nothing that keeps us from being involved with the church or youth at our church. I don’t want to disappear from the lives of kids. I want to help our youth ministry go to a new level and I want to help the new person do this well. We’re not going anywhere, we’ll be right here.
We have some such an unbelievable staff here and I’m sad I won’t be working with them in the same capacity. We’ve been through a lot. Most churches don’t go through what we’ve been through and survive. But this is our family, this is your family…We are family. And we are so so excited that we still get to be a part of what God is doing in and through Grace albeit in a different role with you.
Things to Remember:
- I’m not leaving until the end of August
- I believe I’m being led by the Lord in this as does my wife
- I’m
committed to staying to help with the transition. I’ve been doing the
same thing for over 15 years and I want to make sure there’s a good hand
off to someone who’s going to take it to a new level
- We aren’t leaving Grace
- I’m planning on going on summer trips and running the ministry until we have someone new
- I know there have been a lot of staff changes and it’s been a surprise from this side but what’s happening with me is in no way connected to past changes
- We’re excited about what God is doing!
Love In Christ and His Peace,
Ansel Talbert