Monday, March 10, 2014

Big Annoucment!

Usually when you have a really big announcement you want to tell everyone personally.  But, I think I'm running out of time so I'm just going to throw it out there for everyone....Here goes. 

We're moving!

Chris recently accepted a job as senior pastor at Stanton Christian Church in Stanton, Kentucky.  At the end of March, we'll be packing up and moving our family 12 hours east of here to a small town in the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky.  Since Chris is the writer in the family, I'm going to let him say what we're feeling. Below is a copy of what he wrote for our church newsletter.  I would also add - to all of our extended family nearby and the friends we've met from the kids' schools, swim teams, and our neighborhood - we are really going to miss you!   Saying goodbye to the life we've led for the last 7 years and the great friendships we've made is really, really hard - even when we're excited about our new opportunity. 

From Chris: 
The past year has been an interesting one for us in the Moon household. About a year ago, we felt God kind of nudging us to look beyond our comfort zone (which is here in Valley Center, KS) as we thought about our ministry to his church. It was difficult to think about because this has been our home for so long. But there was something exciting, too, about being willing to follow God wherever he may take us. So we gave him an unqualified "yes" to whatever he had in store for us.
 
It turns out, after a lot of twists and turns along the way, that God wants us to minister in Kentucky. Chris will be starting work at the first of the month as pastor of Stanton Christian Church in Stanton, Ky. It's in a small town on the eastern side of the state. We felt such a comfort level there that it just felt right. When we visited the church, our kids met some friends immediately, and we're all excited to be living close to some awesome areas to explore outdoors.
 
But then there's the hard part. Leaving our church family here at Valley Center Christian Church is very difficult. The people here are so loving and, for the past seven years, have been an integral part of our lives. They've helped us raise our kids. They've encouraged us. And they've comforted us. We run through the faces of the people of VCCC in our minds, and we can't help but smile. The are just WONDERFUL people. And so there is excitement -- and tears -- as we move forward in following God's call on our lives. Pastor Chuck said today that it is all about the kingdom of God. That's the priority. And we know that he will take care of us wherever we go, and he will take care of all of our loved ones here at home. And we now look forward to meeting more of our church family in Stanton, Ky.!
Love, Chris & Mary Moon