Dear Members & friends
As many of you will know by now, this will be my final letter to you as Pastor at Upper Beeding Baptist Church. The past couple of months have been a process of doing certain things 'for the last time'. Whilst the future is both exciting and daunting, this process of leaving behind something that has not only been a part of your life but has actually been your life for almost the past 12 years is not easy. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week regardless of 'time off', as a Pastor your mind is always alert to what God is or might be saying for the church, how the vision for the church in its community grows in your heart and how it can best be shared, and also how best to stand alongside those who are the church. To be free from this kind of responsibility will be strange. I'm told there will be a 'grieving process' and I'm beginning to understand that.
However, I believe that God has led me to take this new role of Ministry as Chaplain at St. Wilfrid's Hospice, Eastbourne. It comes with all sorts of new challenges, new responsibilities and new experiences. As we have said to those we have sent overseas, we know that God will continue to equip and resource all who follow his call in faith and obedience.
The past years here at Upper Beeding Baptist Church have been of tremendous blessing, allowing me to experience new and exciting opportunities to serve God and to lead the church both locally and internationally with trips to Romania, India and Kenya. I have always believed that I was merely building on the foundations of previous ministries and my hope and prayer is that the ministry that I have been able to fulfil will have prepared you well and is furthering the work for the future.
UBBC will always have a special place in our hearts. We have enjoyed many good things together and have made some good and hopefully lasting friendships.
Over the years the church has been a place of comings and goings, a place of 'refuge and refreshment' for some. Our membership has fluctuated, many have passed through our doors and some have moved on. We have seen people come to faith (although never as many as one would hope), others grow spiritually; and some respond to the call to ministry and mission overseas.
As many children have become young adults it's always exciting to see those grow in faith and go on to serve God in other places.
It has been a particular joy to invest in the community. I believe passionately that is where the church (as the corporate body of Christ) should be both seen and known. As I have shared over the years, this has been the vision for UBBC that I believe God laid on my heart and I have sought to fulfil.
There is still a lot of work to do and new challenges ahead. Some projects I would loved to have seen brought to completion, but I recognise that, as God's work and plan, he will continue to lead if you let him, and its time for another to take you on to the next stage. Some things may change in the process and certainly will change under the leadership of a new Minister, but the calling to fulfil the greatest commandment and the great commission will not change and I implore you to work at these.
You won't go far wrong if you do and you will be well prepared for what God has in store.
With our family now settled locally, there is every probability that Ruth & I will be around from time to time and as Sundays will not be as committed we will no doubt be joining you for Worship occasionally. Meanwhile we will look forward to see how things develop.
You will be in our prayers as the church enters the period of interregnum, that it may not be too long but will be a time for coming together and prayerfully seeking God together.
May his wisdom and discernment be evident amongst you and may His blessings be rich and providential.
Yours in His service
Tom & Ruth
