Dear Church Family,

In our last Church Council meeting there was a combination of excitement and wonder as we worked through our agenda.  Excitement as we reflected on how God has used our transition period to grow us as a church body and what lies ahead as our Pastoral Search Team gets underway.  There was a sense of wonder as we contemplated together God’s plan with the changes in leadership I’ll cover in this weekly update.

Brian Peterson, Daniel Geske, and I will be stepping back from leadership roles in the coming weeks and months.  While there’s similarities between the reasons we are stepping back, there is not a collective event or cause for it.  If I were to sum it up for the three of us, there’s a need for rest, margin, and renewal.

Brian will be stepping down as an Elder at the end of June. After much prayer and reflection, he feels confident that now is the time to step away because of the strong Elder Team now in place. Through the many challenges we have encountered in the last few years at LTCC, Brian has been committed to making sure our Elder Team is healthy before stepping back. Please know that Brian and Justine are committed to LTCC. They have no intention of leaving. In fact, they are more excited now than they have been in years for where God is leading us as a church family. Brian looks forward to continuing to serve the body with his gifts, even if not in a position of leadership. It is with great confidence and eager anticipation for what’s ahead at LTCC that Brian steps down.

Last winter I let the leadership know this would be my last year as a Deacon for the foreseeable future and recently I added a little more detail as to timing.  I will be stepping down as Deacon of Men’s Ministry as of August 1st and stepping down as Council Chairman on December 31st.  As I prayed about this transition, God put two things on my heart: 1) Participate on the Transition Team and help address gaps in By-laws and Constitution, 2) make sure there’s time to transition to a new Chairperson.  As I told the leadership recently, I’m a little burned-out and I need to take some time to recharge.  I couldn’t be more excited about what God is doing at LTCC and I look forward to serving as God directs within our church body.

Daniel is stepping down as Treasurer effective the end of June. Daniel has been through a lot of changes in both his personal and professional life over the last few years. He's adjusting to more responsibilities at work and a whole new life as a married man. While these changes have all been positive things overall, they have left him with less and less time to devote to his Treasury duties. As a result, Daniel has reached the conclusion it would be in the best interests of himself, his family, and LTCC for him to step aside and hand the reins over to someone who has enough time to fully commit to this important role. He is praying that God will raise that person up quickly.

Each one of us will share this info again at our Member Meeting on June 30th and you will hear from each of us and can ask questions and encourage us.  Growing up in the church, I have observed how when God calls people “out”, he also calls people “in”.  We know his sovereign hand is at work.  Join us as we pray for clarity in God’s will for next steps in the coming months and for men and women to respond to His call to serve.

Perry Maxfield

For the Elders and Deacons