A New Journey for the Lewis'

Friends, it's with both considerable sadness and excitement that i write this short blog this morning. Some of you may remember that last year i was ordained a Presbyter. This is a fancy title but all it meant was that churches who were looking for a Senior Minister could start talking to me. And surprise surprise that happened! To cut a long story short, one month ago the Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen wrote to Jane and i to ask whether i'd be willing to accept appointment as Senior Minister of Christ Church St George (down in the Kogorah-Hurstville area). Just over a week ago we informed him that i would accept that appointment. What that means is that we'll be leaving 645 at the end of March to prepare to take up this new position in early May.

This has been a very hard decision for us. Our 6 years at Northmead and Winston Hills have been so wonderful. In particular, i've had so much joy in the 645 community over the last 2 years. I've been encouraged and humbled by the love that so many of you have for Jesus and each other. I've been so thankful to God for the growth i've seen in so many of you. I've had so much joy in seeing some of you connect with Jesus for the first time. So again this has been a very difficult decision for me and the family. There have been countless hours of prayer and wrestling with God's will on this. Many times i've found myself saying 'Am i crazy? Why would i leave 645?'

But friends you know at what great cost the Lord Jesus saved us and rescued us from sin and judgement - the cost of his own life on the cross. Friends, you know that Jesus is alive now and ruling the universe now. And so our lives are not our own, they belong to Jesus. Life is completely, totally, beautifully about trusting and serving Jesus. So mixed with the sadness is considerable excitement. Excitement at new opportunities to serve Jesus. Excitement about how God might use us to share Jesus with one of the least churched areas in Sydney. There is so much more on my heart that i want to say to you but i'll save that for the farewell. But right now i ask that you'd pray for me and the family (Jane, Jack and Harry) as we go through the roller coaster of stress, grief, excitement and big changes over the new few months. Pray that in all that we would bring glory to Jesus.

In Jesus,

James