The following is a letter I drafted to the crew who pray for us and help support us financially. It is related to a huge change that is happening in the Fairbanks' lives. I thought it might be a good note to drop in here as well to keep the readers of this blog in the loop, just in case your not on my email mailer. I will be filling out more what we are doing as things get clearer. Pray for us, will you? Peace.
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness
and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
Frederick Buechner
I am writing to inform you about a weighty decision that I have made concerning my role with Christian Associates. After much prayer and ample counsel, I have made the decision to step down as president of CA. It was a very difficult decision because of the opportunities that the role presented and the need that is still very real, but after over three years in the role it became apparent that my heart was being re-drawn back into local ministry.
Before I share a bit of what I am thinking about for the next step in our lives, allow me to accent a couple of things.
1) This decision had little, to anything to do with CA and everything to do with God’s beckoning. I love CA and it’s mission. Whenever stuff like this happens, people eventually conjecture about the back-story. Well, not to diminish the drama, but there is none except God stirring something in me.
2) I am profoundly grateful for each of you and the support you have given Robi and I over these years serving with Christian Associates. It has meant so much to us.
Ok, why then, you ask? Thanks for asking. Over the time I served as president of the organization, I had a growing realization that my personal call was first to the local community, the church. God has wired me to lead in the church, in a local context. I do not see that as a contradiction to what has been fleshed out in me in the more trans-local. It simply has to do with the directional flow that my giftings work best in (something I didn’t understand until I stepped into a more itinerate role). I have discerned that my gifting and personality work best with the directional flow of the inside-out, rather than the outside-in. I am not sure if that makes sense, but my leadership has always flourished through significant relational investment, investment that cannot happen in a trip or a conference, but over significant time of loving, sharing and investing. The local church is where, as Buechner writes, “…our deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” So, what I know is, while not where yet, I will be headed back to local church leadership, with the more trans-local (or apostolic orientation) drafting in behind.
Some important details:
- When will you wrap up your role as president: The end date for my role was effective November 30.
- What is next: While I do not know for sure what is next, beyond what I just explained above, Christian Associates graciously gives each of their missionaries/staff a 3-month window for transition and for discernment.
- What should we be praying about for you: Please pray that we would assiduously be in a listening posture about what is next. I like to think of it in terms of listening to the church, our own hearts and to the gracious voice of God. Pray that we are still enough and awake enough to listen well. I would love to hear from you also, if God speaks to you about us – ok?
All right, that was a load. I am almost certain that I did not cover everything. If you have other questions, please, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’d love to talk. You know I do. :)
Lastly, and once again, thank you so much for the love you have communicated to us over the 3 years we have been with Christian Associates. It is not an overstatement to say that we could not have done the good things that have been accomplished without your prayers and support.
Peace, dear friends,
r
