Below is a letter that I read to our First Baptist congregation May 21, 2023.
God has been gracious to our family and taught us so much in life and ministry in our current context. Over the past eight years, we’ve had the unique opportunity to come back and invest in my home church. To love and disciple those who loved and discipled me. I’ve been able to help build the youth program here, as well as be involved in several other ministries. As I have sought to teach and lead, the people of First Baptist have taught and shaped me immensely.
Our goal in coming to First Baptist was always to invest well while learning and growing in other leadership responsibilities – sensing that God would someday lead me to a senior leadership role. God has been faithful in preparing me through the love and mentorship of Nate Archer and the leaders here at First Baptist and training in seminary.
In light of all this, God has confirmed a call recently to Blue Course Community Church in State College, PA (home of Penn State) as a lead pastor. I believe this is a terrific fit for our family and will allow me to bring what I’ve learned here to love the congregation and community there. Blue Course Community is growing with young families and is intentional in reaching international and grad students. I believe the transient nature of student ministry has prepared us well for ministering in a college town.
In addition, Ashley is planning on taking a position at Centre County Christian Academy where she formerly taught. She has always dreamed of working in a Christian school and having our kids attend with her, and I am so thankful she can do that. Please pray for her as she juggles multiple hats along with the move.
An announcement like this is bittersweet. We’ve built lasting friendships here that we will enjoy for eternity. And we will miss our friends and church family deeply. We’re also excited about what God has in store in this next chapter. May our lives be poured out for His glory and the good of His people.
Boonstra Babble 