By the time you read this, we will have made the announcement to the rest of our soldiery (congregation).  As of the end of June, my wife and I will be leaving the beautiful Piney Woods of East Texas and wend our way north to the Mecca for Salvation Army operations in Texas.

That's right.  We have been appointed to the Divisional Headquarters where I will serve as the Finance Officer (training to be essentially a regional CFO for The Salvation Army) and my wife will serve as the Assistant Secretary for Women's Ministries (which is a little easier to explain; it is pretty much what it is). I'll give you all a moment to pick your collective jaws off of the table (mine is still a little bruised).

Needless to say, we are both a little shocked by this turn of events.  We had hoped to be in Lufkin for at least another year, if not longer.  This appointment ranks quite highly on our list of favorite appointments; we have an incredible staff here, the corps (church) is very supportive, we have seen wonderful spiritual growth, the community loves and respects the Army, and the entire operation is mostly solvent.  We have seen God at work in so many ways and it has been a joy to serve here for the past two years.  In fact, this may be the hardest one to leave.

Our new appointments will be a challenge in that we never saw ourselves serving at that level.  We have always been, and always aimed to be, corps officers (pastors).  This is what we have done for the past thirteen or so years, and it is certainly where our hearts remain.  I've never seen myself much as a 'numbers guy' but that will have to change.  I have been told by the 'powers that be' that they have every confidence that I can handle the challenge based on our work to date.  So, in approximately six weeks, we will leave our home and begin a new chapter in our lives and service to God and the Army.

At this point I want everyone to know, that in spite of the surprise and apprehension we feel at this moment, we know in our hearts that this is what God wants for us.  If we didn't believe that, then we would leave the ranks and find something else to do.  We have seen God at work over the past thirteen years, and it has all worked out.  We are not about to start doubting Him and His goodness now.

Will it be easy?  No.  My job will involve a lot of traveling, conducting internal audits for many of the sixty plus operating units of The Salvation Army in Texas.  I am already aware that I most likely will be on the road away from my Princess Bride more than I will be home with her.  My pastorate will change.  Instead of being confined to a local corps and its soldiers, friends and employees, I will now find my ministry among employees at Divisional Headquarters, on the road, and among my fellow corps officers in those 60+ corps.

I do ask that you would please offer up a word or two on our behalf over the next few weeks and months as we make this difficult transition.  Also, say a word or two for the people we will be leaving behind.  While we are thankful we will be staying in Texas, and we should see our friends often at events, it will still be hard on both sides to say farewell for now.  We deeply and dearly love each one.