Resignation Letter

I read this letter to the church congregation this morning @ 10:15...it wasn't easy.

Dear Church Family,

Over the past two and a half years here at Brookhaven Wesleyan Church we have struggled together, we have grown together, we have triumphed together, and we have worshiped together. In this time Stephanie and I have been more than welcomed by you, looking back it was something that she and I never expected being a new couple in ministry. Stephanie and I have cried with you and mourned the losses of loved ones, just as you have so recently with us.

We entered into this position 2 years ago with a great calling on our hearts to serve here, but also a calling for missions overseas. This is a calling that cannot be tossed to the wayside in our life. You have heard me speak on the importance of listening to the voice of God in our life and this is where His voice is calling. Our time here has been one of great love, and there are relationships that we formed here with this church family that we will never forget.

At this point He is calling me back to school to better equip me for the future ministry that he has intended for Stephanie and me. We will be moving to Deerfield, IL where Trinity Evangelical Divinity School is located, while there I will begin studying for my Master of Divinity and upon completion of that, move onto Doctoral studies. This is an emotional time for us, as we have never resigned from a church let alone moved to a completely new state where we know no one.

In light of this my ministry here will not end until the time I turn in my keys and we say our final goodbyes. Our goal for moving is tentatively set between April and July, all because we will have to sell our home and we do not know how soon it will sell. This is of course something that must be surrendered in prayer to God. We ask that as we make this transition and change in our life that you would join with us in prayer for a few issues. We would ask that you would pray for the selling of our house to go smoothly and quickly, pray also for the packing and moving process, pray also for job opportunities for Stephanie as we move to a new area, but most importantly pray that the Holy Spirit would be our guide and our leader in this endeavor, and that we would always heed his voice and not treat it as every other voice that we hear, but as sacred.

In Him,

Phil & Stephanie Stuller