A Sad Goodbye

Dear Fellowship Family,

 

When Heidi, Maylee, Lauren and I moved here four years ago, we moved here with the idea of planting a campus for Fellowship and being the kind of church in Cabot that was reaching people, equipping people for ministry and being used by God to transform our community.  In four short years, we have seen God do some amazing things.  The growth of Fellowship Cabot has been tremendous and we have had great impact in our community and world.  The last four years have been great for me and my family.  However, during the last year, I have felt an urge from God that he had something different in mind for me–that he wanted me to be a lead pastor somewhere where I could use my teaching gift on a more frequent basis and be the primary leader of the church.  Over the last few months that voice has gotten louder and louder.  I want to tell you that I have taken a job in Fayetteville, AR as the lead pastor of a church called The Grove.

 

The vision of Fellowship Cabot was to be a multi-site campus, not an independent church and doesn’t call for a sr. pastor but a campus pastor.  Those are two very different roles.  A campus pastor is not responsible for the direction of the church and doesn’t shoulder the teaching load.  I believed in 2006 that being a campus pastor was a perfect fit for me and would be a job that I would have for 10+ years.  I didn’t think I wanted to be a lead pastor.  I didn’t feel that it fit my gifts or my passions.  Over these last few years, God has grown me as a pastor, leader and teacher.  I believe that for this next season in life that is exactly what I need to be and what God has crafted me to be.

 

The great thing about the model of Fellowship is that it was never built around one person or personality.  Our church was built around a mission and team.  One person leaving doesn’t change what God has called this church to be and doesn’t really affect our ability to accomplish that mission.  God is the reason this church has done well.  You are the reason that this church is doing well.  Your commitment to God and to the mission that he has called us to.  I would like to think that emotionally I will be missed, but as far as who this church is and what God has done, is doing and will do, nothing has changed.  God will still use this church in incredible ways.  We are part of an incredible church in Fellowship Bible.  There are great pastors and leaders still here and more than all of that, you are here and will be used by God to reach people who are far from God build them up and unleash them for ministry.

 

I love you guys and I have loved my four years here and will always look back on my time here with great happiness.  We are not leaving right away.  I will remain with Fellowship through the end of June.  We will transition and July and start in Fayetteville on August 1^st.  We ask for your prayers for the transition of our family, the sale of our house and that God would be with us in this new ministry.  Thanks.

 

 

Charlie Loften