Dear Meridian Baptist Church

 

Thank you.

Six years have passed quickly.

When we came to Meridian, Emma, our oldest, wasn’t yet ten. As we leave, she’s spent the last few months on the roads of South Jackson learning to drive. Sarah sings solos in church now. Brenna is growing so fast her feet hurt. Tessa is still the center of attention.  What seems like a short time for adults, is a major part of a child’s life. Thank you for loving our girls.

So much happens in a church’s life. We’ve been together as God’s family for Lord’s Suppers, baptisms, weddings, and funerals. In hospital rooms, we’ve prayed together for healing, successful surgeries, and for God to bless a new baby. We’ve had countless conversations in the church hallways, fellowship hall, Wal-Mart, and Los Portales. In all those instances, I was honored to be your pastor.

Several folks have teased me about being sent by God to Meridian just to conduct funerals. So many godly people have gone home to Heaven these past six years. They left faithfully, unexpectedly, tragically, and heroically. The Bible doesn’t give much detail about what we’ll do in Heaven (except worship, of course), but I have a few lingering questions about our folks who are with Jesus. Is Brother Ronnie actually “kicking up gold dust?” Has Miss Dot met Lottie Moon? What is my friend Jerry Wallace up to? We miss them all and look forward to the day we see them again.

When I look back over our time together, what brings me the most joy is seeing so many of you grow in your faith. Through small group discipleship, many of you have developed the indispensable spiritual discipline of Bible reading. Others have grown in their role as leaders. Watching you serve God’s people in new ways encourages me as I strive to equip the saints. I’m proud of you.

Donna, Emma, Sarah, Brenna, Tessa, and I leave with mixed emotions. We are sad to say goodbye, but we are looking forward to what God has in store for our future. Moving from one church to another is a strange emotional journey. So, keep in mind that whoever God has chosen to be your next pastor is already beginning the journey towards Meridian, even though he doesn’t know it yet. I have no doubt you will love him and his family just as you have mine.

As you read this blog, I’m no longer your pastor, but I’ll always be your friend and brother in Christ. We Enochs are so grateful for our time with you. We are leaving some of the best people we’ve ever known and some of the best friends we’ve ever had. South Jacksonians are a special bunch. Thank you for letting us in.

I’ll leave you with Jude’s final verses:

24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.