Today, it was with mixed emotions that I announced to the Faith Community Church family, that my season as the Lead Pastor of FCC has officially come to an end.
After 10 unforgettable and faith filled years, our last day at Faith Community Church will be Sunday, December 18th 2016. The Lord is calling the Hall family to Atlanta, GA where I’ll be serving as the Lead Pastor of Life Church International.
I’m not going to try to summarize 10 years of ministry in this blog, that would be impossible, but I do want to take a moment and share my heart.
1. WE LOVE YOU.
Faith Community Church – we love you!
Never doubt that. At FCC we’ve had the pleasure of building the Kingdom of God with some of the most amazing Staff, Elders, Ministers, Leaders, and Church Members that any Pastor could ever ask for! Our decision to move to Atlanta is not an act of rejection, but rather the answer to a divine call. Faith Community Church is an AMAZING church with an INCREDIBLE future, but just like God called the Apostle Paul to a new city in Acts 16:9-10; and just like God called us from Saginaw to Mount Pleasant 10 years ago; the Lord is now calling us to a new city and ministry today. But please, whatever you do, make no mistake about it – we – love – you. You’ll ALWAYS be in our hearts.
2. THIS DECISION DIDN’T COME EASY.
Just because this appears to be happening quickly doesn’t mean that it came easy.
Don’t think for a moment that this act of obedience to the will of God was a painless one – because it wasn’t. When God first revealed to Tina and I that He was calling us away from FCC (before He ever revealed where it was that He was calling us to) we prayed long and hard over a period of several months (and cried a lot of tears) knowing that no matter where He was calling us, it would mean saying goodbye to a church family that we love and have spent the last ten years sharing our lives with.
FCC is the place that our kids have grown up and had some of their first encounters with God. This is the place where we’ve raised sons and daughters in the faith and worked with some of the most gifted, anointed, and intelligent leaders anywhere on the planet. This is the place where we’ve seen countless lives transformed by the power of God (including our own). No, this was anything but easy. But when Jesus is Lord of your life you make the choice to embrace His will and trust that His plan is the best plan for everybody involved: Faith Community Church, Life Church International, your family, and my own.
3. GOD HAS A PLAN.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
God always has a plan.
Faith Community Church, I need you to hear what I’m about to say; Tina and I believe with all of our hearts that your best days of ministry are still very much ahead of you! God is calling and anointing a new leader to come to this city to steward the Lords vision for FCC. Just as God has been preparing the Hall family these past few months to go to Atlanta, GA to Pastor Life Church International, He’s most certainly been preparing another pair of gifted and anointed leaders to answer the call to come to Mount Pleasant, MI and lead FCC to an entirely new level of Kingdom significance.
Elders and Altar Ministers of FCC.
FCC, you have a remarkable team of Elders, Ministers, and Staff members who are going to work closely with Bishop Tim Nuckles (the State Administrative Bishop and Pastor for the Church of God in Michigan) to identify and discern God’s chosen leader for this new season of ministry for FCC. I know you’ll show the same honor and support for your new Pastor and First Lady as you have shown to Tina and I. I believe that the next Five Fold Ministry Gift that God is bringing to this church is going lead this ministry to an entirely new level of REAL ministry; I really do.
4. WHAT ABOUT THE SAGINAW CAMPUS?
Faith Community Church WILL remain 1 Church in 2 Locations.
Bishop Nuckles (Our state Overseer and Pastor) has confirmed that the Saginaw Campus will indeed remain a FCC satellite campus. The only thing that changes is the Leader that God is calling to come and steward this vision and take it to the next level!
Saginaw – you’ve come such a long way in such a short amount of time. People are giving their lives to Jesus at the altar, you’re intentionally evangelizing your community, high impact leaders are being developed, people are being transformed by the Word of God, and disciples of Jesus Christ are being made each and every week. On top of all that, you have two of the best campus Pastors that a church could ever ask for in Darryll and Brittany Stinson. They are equipping you to do the work of ministry and you’re doing it! To say that you’re in good hands would be a gross understatement. God is just getting started there.
FINALLY
From the very beginning our focus has been to build our ministry foundation on the living Word of God. We’ve strived to do ministry the way Jesus showed us and taught us in Scripture. With that being said, Tina and I would like to leave you with these words from the Word of God written by the Apostle Paul. We hope you’ll receive them as our own:
[shareable]’5 for you have been our partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And we are certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 7 So it is right that we should feel as we do about all of you, for you have a special place in our heart.'[/shareable]
We love you Faith Community Church.
These last 10 years have been – R.E.A.L.
With much love,
Pastor Travis & Tina Hall
