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Monday, November 15, 2004 Volume VI Number 46

As you know by now, change is in the wind for Carolyn and me. While we enjoyed five days' retreat in Southern Wisconsin, I wrote a letter to our church family. It was mailed out this week.

Because you've become a friend, a fellow-leader, a comrade in the journey, I want to share this personal account as we relayed it to our friends from Ridgeview.

Here it is - uncut - just as I wrote it...

* * * * * * *

Dear Ridgeview family,

It may be presuming, to think that a letter is necessary.  We’ve had ample opportunity to share our journey… and we’ll have yet another on Sunday, November 14^th.  Bill’s invited me to preach that morning.  But Carolyn and I want to relay something more of our story with you in writing.  Bill liked the idea.

            Already, many of you have shared your appreciation for our friendship.  We are grateful for and humbled by your kindness. 

Some of you have wondered why we are leaving our beloved Valley Center.  I suppose it sounds to some like we’re covering something up when we speak of God’s direction… it’s hardly that.  We have lots of evidence of his gracious leading.  One cannot minimize or eliminate the variables that influence our decision – like letting go of a business, adjusting to an empty nest, the magnetism of family (including grandchildren and extended family), and deep roots.

Ridgeview Church

But none of that diminishes the impact that Ridgeview Church has had in our lives, or our appreciation for Pastor Bill and Sharon.  Their decision to come to our little town some six years ago has paid rich dividends for many of us, especially Carolyn and me.  I can not begin to list the memories, from that first knock on the door Saturday morning, Fourth of July weekend 1998.  I turned Bill away at first, explaining that I was in no position to help start a church.  I was happily engaged elsewhere (as an anonymous attendee, sad to admit) and had a business to run, thank you.  I wished him well and told him I’d pray for him.  (Sound a little like James’ cynical reference to a cold-hearted believer who glibly says to the needy - “be warmed and filled”?)  How silly that all seems now.  Bill and I have become brothers in ministry – a kinship that I believe will never change.

Now, in retrospect, it has become clear.  God brought us to Valley Center not for my business or the open sky or the country air or the broad vistas or the elbow room.  It wasn’t, I realize today, to build a monster business or even to write books. 

He brought us here to draw us close to himself - to teach us that he knows us and loves us and wants us to know his joy and his presence and his grace.  He wanted to fill our cup ‘til it overflowed.  And he wanted to teach us to spill the excess over on everyone we meet.  He wanted us to know his presence and transforming power.  He wanted us to witness life-change in real people – to see marriages and families come together and find joy and vitality and purpose in him.  All this right here in Valley Center – and specifically, Ridgeview Church.

Six years ago, I wasn’t in this place.  I was disconnected.  Distant.  Tired.  Confused.  Even cynical.  God’s word was on the shelf gathering dust.  I liked my anonymity.  There were only rare and sporadic quiet times of reflection and intimacy with Jesus.

What happened came along because Ridgeview Church gave me the opportunity to get to know you. 

Valley Center 

Valley Center taught us to plant a garden.  To trim rose bushes.  To dig in decomposing granite.  To despise gophers.  To pull and chop weeds.  To squeeze fresh oranges in the morning.  To sip hot coffee at sunrise.  To walk with Barnabas up and over the ridge out to our very own inspiration rock where we take in a spectacular Southern California view of mountain ranges, green valleys and citrus groves and avocado trees and the Pacific Ocean way out there on the horizon.

Ridgeview gave us a place to serve: to open God’s Word, in small group and in corporate gatherings.  Ridgeview gave me a new song to sing.  In my participation on the worship team, I learned to worship.  Bill drew us in, challenging us week after week to get centered in Christ, and to live out the faith we say we believe.  I started making announcements.  And before long, I led you in prayer.  Without knowing it would happen, God met me there, right before your eyes.  It changed me.  And I knew it then – better is one day in his house with you than thousands elsewhere.  I developed an appetite to know God, to sense his presence, and to be there right along with you.  In the storms and the crises and the challenges, we learned that he is faithful.  And good.  We uncovered all this together.

It got me.

Carolyn, too.

Time to Re-Consider

And that’s when I felt it – grief over a decision I made twenty-two years ago to leave the ministry position I held.  Don’t misunderstand – I have no regrets.  God in his sovereign wisdom took me where he wanted me to go.  My experiences and real life journey taught me and shaped me and molded me.  But what emerged from the grieving was a powerful longing to do the things pastors do.  I wanted my old job back.  I lost interest in the work I’ve done for twenty-two years.  Carolyn saw it from close range.  I asked God to help me figure out what it meant.

I pulled together my mentor of fifteen years and some of my closest friends (including Bill).  We had long talks.  I wrote and wrote.  Thousands of words on the page.  There was consensus in it all.  Pastoral ministry is where I belong.

All told, it was at least a year long process (it started before the Paradise Fire).  Along the way, mid-summer this year, an unanticipated telephone call came that brought it all into clear focus.  After months of interviews, prayers, consultations and seeking the Lord, with Carolyn’s support and encouragement, I accepted the call to be Pastor of Adult Ministries at Richfield Community Church in Yorba Linda.

There is so much more I would like to tell you.  But this is quite enough (if you’ve read this far, bless you for your endurance).  For now.

A Place to Serve

Remember this – Ridgeview is many things.  But most of all, it is a fantastic place to serve.  It is a privilege to serve.  It’s in the serving that you learn the most.  Ask anyone you know who serves – it’s in the giving that we receive.

So what can you do?  Pray.  Give.  Serve.  Encourage.  Equip.  Jump in with your unique giftedness and energy and vision and determination. 

If, as some have generously said, we are going to be missed, I am confident that God has already prepared others, willing to stand in the gap who will learn, as I did, about his all-sufficient grace.  Others will step up, and lead and develop and grow – and be abundantly blessed for it. 

Just like we have been.

Who knows where it might lead?

An Open Line – An Open Door

We are going to keep the line between our new home and our Ridgeview family wide open.  We will divide and multiply!  I’m certain of it.

Thank you for your loving support and care.  We love you.  And we love Ridgeview Church.

See you on the 14^th!

Sincerely,

Ken and Carolyn

* * * * * * *

It's Monday morning, we are leaders, aren't we?

Change is bittersweet.  We'll embrace a new collection of friends and at the same time, bid farewell to the former.

It's good and it's right to remember, to cherish, and to turn the page, and start a new chapter.

You'll be right there with us.

Posted in Valley Center, California

© Copyright Kenneth E. Kemp 2004

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