It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye in this month's issue.  As of the 29th of August, I will be moving on to another position that God has brought to me that will allow me to work more heavily in music and drama...and regrettably this means we must part ways.

As I am sitting in front of a computer, wondering how to put into words the mixture of grief and joy at following the path set before me, I realize there is no paragraph that sums up the years time I have had the privilege of spending with this church family.  With this being my final goodbye before I move forward to what God has called me to do, I cannot even begin to express the gratitude I have for the memories, great servants of Christ I have encountered, forward thinking and people who have been willing to accept such a contemporary Christ follower with open arms.

We have cried tears together, fought the devils tricks and lies he has sent our way to destroy the relationships we have built, laughed until the wee hours of the morning and begun something incredible with more sweat and blood than I care to think about most days.  But we push forward because we have our eyes set on the prize.  We have staked our claim on this piece of Lima and on these young people and cried out "I have found my place of service.  I will not back down.  You move."

Keeping our eyes above has brought you and I through several lock-ins, Financial Peace, The Truth Project, Vacation Bible School, Answers in Genesis, Java Jive, Outpost, Triennium, and Youth Group.  Too many more adventures to name have come and gone, and here we stand at a small crossroads.

It's tempting to look back and say that nothing will ever be the way it was.  I hope that with this new direction, however, it refreshes our focus, our goals and brings a new partnership with new possibilities to the table.

I almost hate to spoil the fun when I say...you haven't seen the last of me my friends!