Hey guys, Jered here.
It’s felt a little strange not having a chance to say goodbye in person after fifteen years. I’m not exactly sure what happened. There’s been some confusion and pain, and I’m doing my best not to dwell on it. Right now, my focus is simply on trying to provide for my little girls however I can. But even with all that, I’ve had this nagging sense that I should at least say “goodbye” as a staff person, for lack of a better word.
I want to share the love I have for you all—rooted not in my personal feelings, but in Christ. I trust that my fondness for each of you is born not from my own needs or wants, but as fruit of God’s Spirit. Whatever differences or frustrations we carry now will not last forever; only the love we have in Christ and the healing mercy of his kindness to us.
In that same spirit, I want to say how much I’ll miss you. The hallways felt like an extension of my arms and legs. I loved those ugly cinder block walls, the damp sanctuary (which I think we fixed actually lol), and all the little quirks I took for granted. I remember the games at Ridge Haven (I’m still secretly proud I won that “catch-a-bunch-of-pencils” game because of my huge hands (and pure, raw skill, of course.) I could go on forever with memories of each one of you (I started writing them out, but it quickly turned into a novel).
I’m sorry if I hurt any of you. I still don’t fully understand what went wrong or the suddenness of my removal, but I never meant to be a problem. My dream was always to see the ministry thrive. Like all of us, I’m a work in progress—shaped by past wounds and ongoing healing. And I guess this means I no longer quite fit in at Mitchell Road, even though I deeply wanted to.
Still, like you, I have been blessed with the peace of God that passes understanding. I believe God is moving me into new good works, just as He’s doing with each of you. However messy things feel, they’re still held within His sovereign and perfect plan of redemption—and we all get to be part of that.
Thank you for your patience, your grace, and the ways you’ve shown me the forgiveness and mercy of Christ, the gentleness and humility of the Spirit, and the unconditional love of the Father. I carry that with me.
With love,
Jered