Ministry Transition Information
For those who would like more details about our transition from Campus Crusade for Christ and FamilyLife to Fellowship Bible Church - Little Rock, we've attempted to answer below some of the questions we thought you'd be most likely to have. If you have questions not addressed here, please don't hesitate to contact us!
What is Scott's new role at Fellowship Bible Church?
His title is "Business Operations Director." He will serve as part of the church's Central Support Management Team and be responsible for the finances of the church as well as providing leadership to the Business Operations Team responsible for campus maintenance, facility housekeeping and event set-up, cafe services, and Cross Reference Bookstore.
The name "Fellowship Bible Church" sounds familiar. Tell me more about it.
The name could sound familiar to you for a variety of reasons. First, if you're in NW Arkansas, there is a very large church there of the same name. Is there a connection between the two? Not really. The ministry philosophies of the two churches are similar and there is a lot of common DNA going back many years, but there is no formal relationship. Both churches are 'nondenominational' and are not affiliated in any official way. Second, you may have heard of Fellowship Bible Church because of its reputation. For many years, FBCLR has been regarded as a leader in innovative ministry and is well-known in church circles. You may have heard of it connected with Robert Lewis, Men's Fraternity, FellowShip Kids, or another pioneering ministry. Yes, it would be considered a "mega-church" with a weekly attendance in the thousands and a staff of over 100. You can learn more about Fellowship Bible Church at
www.fellowshiponline.com.
When does this transition officially take place?
Our last official day on staff with CCC/FamilyLife will be May 15. We'll be working the Weekend to Remember conference in Rogers, AR, the weekend of May 15-17, and Scott will report for work at Fellowship on Tuesday, May 19.
Are you leaving CCC/FamilyLife because of losing financial support during these difficult economic times?
Absolutely not! In fact, due to the incredible faithfulness of our team our financial support has remained largely strong and consistent. One thing that made this decision even harder was the fact that we had not seen a significant decline in support as has been the case with many of our staff and with the ministry as a whole. Interestingly, though, since we made this decision but before we communicated it to anyone we have been informed of the loss of some large ministry partners. The circumstances surrounding this have served as just one more way that God has confirmed this move!
Okay, Scott, you're starting a new job but what impact does this transition have on June?
As you're probably aware, both of us have been CCC/FL staff members. So, this change means that both of us are leaving staff. While on staff with CCC/FL, both of us have been precluded from pursuing any sort of outside income. With this change, Scott will be an employee of the church but June will not. She will be free to do as much or as little as she wants or needs to do with regard to outside employment. We anticipate that she will continue on in her role as yearbook adviser at Little Rock Christian Academy (except she can get paid for it now!) and may even look into taking on a class or two next year.
You have mentioned in your recent letters that there have been layoffs at FamilyLife. Is your transition in any way related to that?
No. The decision to make this transition from CCC/FL into ministry through the local church was our own decision based on what we felt to be God's leading in our lives. Why God would choose to lead us to make this change at this time when FamilyLife is already experiencing a shortage of staff is not immediately clear to us. But we are trusting that he knows what's best for both us and for the ministry.
What do Hayley and Kyle think about this change?
The reality is that it won't really impact them too much. Hayley is excited about it. She feels like it is a great opportunity and that it makes a lot of sense. Kyle is okay with it but a little more ambivalent. He is disappointed that we won't be traveling to Colorado this year for CCC's US Staff Conference in July. Frankly, we're disappointed that we won't get to participate in that, too. It's always been a highlight for us.
Will you still be raising financial support for your ministry?
No. The position at Fellowship is a salaried position and we will no longer be dependent upon the financial contributions of our team of ministry partners for our salary as we have in the past. We will, of course, continue to be dependent upon God as our provider even though it will be in a little more conventional way. We have been so privileged and humbled over the past 12 years to see God bring around us a great team of friends who have partnered closely with us in this ministry through their prayers and financial support. That will be one of the things that we will miss the most.
When should we discontinue our finanical support for your family?
We're asking that you please continue your support through the month of May. This will ensure that we're able to finish strong financially before we make this transition. If you give electronically, after your May gift has been processed, please contact 1-888-CRUSADE to have your monthly gift stopped. If you give via check, then please send your May gift and then you are done!
What if we want to continue supporting someone at FamilyLife?
Great question. We hope you'll consider doing that. We are leaving behind a great number of friends and co-workers who also raise their own financial support. Some of them are really struggling right now and could use a boost. If you feel led to continue supporting a staff family at FamilyLife, please let us know and we will have someone follow up with you.
Will we still be able to follow your ministry and pray for you?
We hope you will! Although we will no longer be sending out our regular monthly newsletters with updates, we do hope to be able to send occasional updates via email. So, if you want to stay connected with us, PLEASE make sure we have your current email address! Send us an email or use the "Contact Us" page on this site to let us know your email address. We will also probably maintain this site to some degree. And, you can always follow us on Facebook. That's becoming more and more a part of our everyday lives. Scott's even on Twitter.
Can we still use the discount certificates you sent us for the Weekend to Remember?
Absolutely yes! The most recent certificates are good through the end of 2009. You don't have to attend before the end of the year, but you do need to register by then.
Will you still be involved in any way with Campus Crusade for Christ or FamilyLife?
We sure hope so. Our experience here will always be a part of who we are. The past 12 years (10 here in Little Rock) have been some of the best years of our lives. The impact that the opportunity to be a part of this great ministry is immeasurable. As time permits and as needed, we want to continue to volunteer to work at Weekend to Remember events around the country. With the kids getting older, we will likely have even more flexibility to do that. And, who knows what opportunities God may open up through the many ministries of Campus Crusade for Christ. Obviously, our new roles will get most of our focus (certainly for a while), but we'll see what happens.