Dear friends.

I wanted to let you know of a recent decision to step down from my Associate Pastor role at Westside Pentecostal Church. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity I’ve had at Westside, and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead as I continue to focus on doing few things better.

I’m continuing my doctoral studies in Leadership & Spiritual Formation with a focus on spiritual care at the end of life. I’ve nearly completed my first of three years!

My studies are structured to accommodate working people - which I do part-time in hospice, and as adjunct faculty at Horizon College & Seminary where I teach one or two courses a year.

As I mentioned in a recent post on Instagram, the world often measures spirituality by business and visibility. It’s a wrong measuring stick.

As Christians, we’re meant to mature and grow in Christ, becoming more and more like him. Works are a part of living for Christ, but they must flow from a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus.

It’s pretty hard to do that if we don’t have the margin in our lives to be with Christ and to learn from him.

It took a while for me to discern that this was a necessary letting go, but now that the decision has been made and communicated, I feel deep peace.

In this season, I’m choosing to focus more narrowly on leadership development, end-of-life care, and being with Christ so I can learn from him how to be like him. We’re not promised a weariless, burdenless, or yokeless life, but Jesus did make this invitation to all of us:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

If you’re seeking the wisdom and guidance of God in this season, may the Lord guide your steps according to His Word. May you have ears to hear and a heart that knows the deep wisdom of Jesus. May you discern the work and the pace the Lord has for you. Amen.

Carmen