Randy's Retirement Announcement

Dear Church,                                                                                                1/16/2010

Every church sees challenges in its life. In the last year we have had many. One of the greatest issues we have faced has been financial. New budget constraints have forced us to think of ways we should change. Some of the changes have been challenging, and have forced us to think hard about what we do and why we do it. These kinds of decisions never come easy, but in my experience, when considered wisely and with prayer, always put us on a road to a better place.

Even with having to endure the financial challenges and resulting changes of the last year, I have been encouraged. Look at the successes we have seen. Financial pressures have forced us to rethink our Child Development ministry. We have come out of that struggle with what I think is a better vision and understanding of the ministry potential among the families we serve. This work is not complete, for I think that we have barely scratched the surface of the impact we could have for the kingdom among these families and with these kids – but I do believe that we have moved ourselves beyond the crisis point, and to a place of new horizon.

We have implemented a world-class website where we can be found by people searching for a solid, Bible-teaching, Christ following church, and where you can instantly access information you need as a member of PBC. If you miss a sermon, you can access it within hours on Sunday afternoon - in seconds - for free. If a friend or family member needs to hear a message, you can instantly link them to it. If you need help understanding an issue, or doctrine, there is a resource leading you to articles, and information to help. There are daily devotions you can use in your quiet time, and Bible reading programs to lead you through the scriptures, as well as calendars, and schedules for each ministry, and links to the blogs of wise, godly men and women who will help you think through the difficult issues of our culture and our day. We have worked hard to make this resource available to you. I am proud of this success and I hope that you have found it, and are availing yourself of its wealth.

Despite the financial crunch, your generous giving has helped us to address the terrible acoustics of this room. The Audio Renovation of the Sanctuary was a project that did not come easily. It has been on the drawing board for 5 years or more. A lot of giving and a lot of thinking, a lot of hours and a lot of work were required to make this room a good place to hear the gospel of Christ proclaimed and the name of God glorified. My thanks to the men who worked so hard to see it done. It was a huge challenge undertaken in a difficult time, but we succeeded, to the Glory of God.

It has indeed, been a difficult year of challenges but on the other hand, it has been a great year of successes. We know that we follow a great and sovereign God. We know that each challenge and change we face is guided by a wise, powerful, and loving hand. We know that each challenge and change will always result in our good and God’s glory. Therefore, we know challenges and changes are not to be feared, but received with an open hand with courage, strength, and a view towards the future. I firmly believe that the last year has taught us this lesson.

I wanted to take time today to remind you of these things, and encourage you with these lessons of success in change because the upcoming year holds yet another challenge which also must be viewed with vision, faith and trust in God’s provision.

The time has come for me to announce to you my intent to retire this year from full-time ministry here at PBC. This decision has not been made hastily, but with much thought and prayer. I have known for several years that this change was coming, and some of you have understood it in your hearts as well. I believe that now the time is right, and I make this announcement in an attitude of faith – confident that this new change and challenge, while difficult, will ultimately work for our good and God’s glory.

This is not an easy thing for me. I trust you know that I love you. This church has been my home for my whole life. You have loved me, dicipled me, taught me, put up with me, and encouraged me in my life with Christ. You ordained me, and called me into ministry here. Since then you have supported me and given me the resources to change student’s lives. You have been my family. Leaving a church or ministry position is never easy (or so I hear – I’ve never actually left one). But giving up THIS position is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, yet I know it is for the best.

Because the rumor mill is always grinding, please understand that I am not leaving mad, or disgruntled, or angry. It is not because of a word, or person, or action that I have made this decision. I am leaving because I feel it is God’s timing. I began my career here at the CDC in 1982 while in high school and college, ministering first to Mrs. English’s 5 year olds in the afternoon, and then the after school kids. I returned in 1991 while in seminary, as an office and youth ministry assistant. I began my full time ministry to students when you called me to a ministry position in May of 1994. Randy Overstreet had left me an unfinished mission trip to Raleigh NC to complete. (Several of you were there on that trip as adult sponsors, and many of our young adults now were middle schoolers on that trip – Josh Bruce, Alex & Kelley Sisson, Kelse Henderson, Jennifer Middleton). Whew! That first trip almost killed me. I wondered for a while if I had bitten off more than I could chew – but I hadn’t. It was God’s will for me to be here. I hope you will agree. This May will mark 16 years of consistent student ministry here, which is rare among my peers. When I tell people that, their mouths hang open.

I remember when I agreed to take this position, I told Barry that I would stay for at no less than 3 years – because I believed that continuity was the key to success and I didn’t think I could accomplish anything significant in kids lives in less than 3 years. (It turned out to be a looooong 3 years.)

Ultimately, my  “3 years” turned into “3 GENERATIONS”. I jokingly refer to these as:

            The “Josh Bruce” generation

            The “Mark, James, & John” generation

            The “Zack Fowler” generation

             -- My only regret is that I leave the next generation unfinished and unnamed.

These 16 years, although filled with challenges and 18 hour work days, have been the best of my life. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you, and shape generations. It has indeed been my delight.

As for my retirement, I will not be leaving immediately. I have laid out a plan for transition that I believe is a wiser approach.

Knowing that this day was on the horizon, I have spent the last 2 years training Gus as my student ministry assistant. I feel confident in my plan to relinquish my Student ministry responsibilities beginning Feb. 1 and place them in his hands. Gus is solid in his theology, growing in his faith, has a good work ethic, and has a great relationship with our students, parents and staff. Most of all, I trust him. After Feb 1, I will transition myself to an advisory role in the Student Ministry, which will run under Gus’ leadership.

The myriad of other responsibilities that fall to me under my unofficial title of  “Minister of Stuff,” will take a bit longer to transition. These include the many administrative and facility management jobs that go on behind the scenes.  My plan is summary is this:

Mon, Feb. 1 – turn over official leadership of the student ministry to Gus, but remain on staff until Sunday, May 30. During this period, I will work to transition myself out of the many ministry and facility responsibilities that I now handle-- completing certain physical plant projects and creating written procedures and guidelines which will smooth others into my former responsibilities. More than anything, I want to leave PBC healthy, prepared, and ready for growth and the future ministry God intends for her. It was to this end that I worked so hard in 2009 to begin and complete both the web project and the sanctuary audio renovation. I hope to lay the groundwork to see this kind of progress continue in the future.

During these 4 months, I will continue to teach the second session of Adult Sunday School and the Spring session of Varsity. I will also continue to host Youth Bible Study at my home- but leadership and teaching responsibilities will belong to Gus. I will also advise Gus through the planning and implementation of spring and summer events - giving him the knowledge and experience he needs to handle any future event planning. 

Ending my career here at PBC in May at the end of the school year seems both beneficial to the church and appropriate given that I started in May 1994 (16 years full time – 24 years total!).

Although it is hard for me to make this announcement, I know that it is the right one, both for me and for PBC. May God lead us all in His Will for the growth of the Kingdom.

Sincerely,

Randy Sims