Martin's e-Note Oct 16 Issue

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Dear Church Family, This week our Executive Pastor, Rob Huckaby, has an important message to share with you. Before he does, I need to mention two things. First, if you were out last weekend and would like to fill out the "Real Life Ahead" worship commitment card, please click here. Second, it was good to receive Noah Cameron and Kyle, Jennifer, Charlotte and Liam Stribling as new members. Welcome to our church family.

In Christ's Love and Service, Martin Almost eleven and a half years ago, Susan and I made the journey from North Carolina to Tennessee to begin an exciting journey of ministry with the people of Brentwood United Methodist Church. These years have been filled with both unbelievable joy and great challenges. We have come to love the people at BUMC and the potential for ministry that exists in such a wonderful place. BUMC has been a place that has allowed me to grow in my faith journey and see God work in marvelous ways in places and people around the world.

Many of you have heard me speak of another special place our family loves in the mountains of North Carolina, Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center (lakejunaluska.com). We have spent many weeks there over the past

thirty years, being renewed and refreshed in this beautiful part of God's creation. Our children have come to love it as much as we have and they, too, hold it as a special place in their lives.

So, it is with mixed emotions I tell you that, beginning January 1st, I will accept a position at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center as Chief Operating Officer. I am thrilled to be going to one of my favorite places in the world but sad to leave our friends and colleagues in ministry at BUMC. God is continuing to do great things at BUMC and my hope is that greater things are yet to come for this congregation.

Susan and I hope you will take the opportunity to discover Lake Junaluska and come and visit often. Our son Philip, as well as our daughter Tess and family (including two of our precious grandchildren) are still in Nashville, so we will be back.

My prayer for our family and BUMC during this transition will be as Isaiah stated when he said: "Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history.

Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new.

It's bursting out! Don't you see it?"

Isaiah 43: 20-21 The Message Like Isaiah, I can't wait to see what God has for BUMC and our family and the ministry of Lake Junaluska as we stay alert and are present to join the movement of God among us. The people and ministry of BUMC will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Rob