You say goodbye, I say hello

I’ve been procrastinating.

We’ve had some pretty significant news to share with everyone, but I’ve been struggling over exactly what to say. Over the last three years, one thing we’ve learned about this life is that it is a long series of hellos and goodbyes. Right now, we’re getting ready to say goodbye to our 2021-22 team. Some of them are moving on from Life Action to other opportunities; others have committed to serve with our team next year. So we’re a jumble of excitement and sadness this week as we make plans for the future and say farewell to dearly loved co-laborers.

Joy is almost always mixed with sorrow.

There’s an even bigger shift coming. My partner Shane Black has accepted a leadership role at Life Action’s headquarters. This means Shane, Leigh, and their family will be transitioning off of the road this May and no will longer travel with the Silver Team.

This is a great move for the Black family. They’ve been traveling full time for close to a decade, and though there are lots of benefits to this life, it can be exhausting. This will allow them to be at home, to have more a consistent sense of place and belonging, and to be close to the rest of their family in Michigan.

This is also great for Life Action. As our new Operations Lead, Shane is joining a team of gifted people who we believe are going to solidify and amplify Life Action’s mission and message. I can’t think of anyone else who is more suited to this position. I’m genuinely excited for our organization and what’s ahead for us.

There’s another exciting part of this change: Brent and Shannon Shoalmire have accepted the position on our team and are in the process of raising support. We are praying they will reach full support by this July so they can be with our team through training and roll out with us in September. They are a great couple, and they have kids that match up with our own. That’s a huge answer to prayer for our family, and we’re excited to be working with them soon.

But there are some hard things ahead.

We often tell new team members that a year on the team is like seven years in terms of relationship building. I don’t know if it translates the same way for us, but over the past three years, the Blacks have become part of our family. In the words of Wesley Hill, they’ve “become regular fixtures in our lives.” We’re going to miss the comfort and familiarity of our constant neighbors.

It’s also going to be a big transition for the team to get used to new leadership. We’re going to have growing pains while we all figure out how to work together. After three years on the road Amanda & I finally feel like we’ve hit our stride in this unusual role. For our part, we wonder why God is putting us through such a huge change just as we were getting settled. Here are things that keep coming to mind.

There is no growth without change.

Joy is almost always mixed with sorrow.

God has something better.

So we’re walking forward in faith. God hasn’t given us a new assignment yet, so we’re going to continue the work – mentoring team members, pouring into church leaders, and helping families follow Jesus together. Please pray for wisdom and strength as we lead our team through change and support the Shoalmires through their own transition.