The announcement has been made. The letter has been read. The tears have been shed.

Wow. What a ride already.

I thank the Lord for how things went over the past couple of weeks of announcing feeling led elsewhere.

Telling our teens was definitely the hardest part, but I can say that our teens took things very well. After the initial announcement on Wednesday night last week, the teens asked some very good questions and then one of our girls asked if the teens could surround us and pray for us! It was an intense moment to say the least.

Telling the church on Sunday was a difficult task as well. I wanted to be “non-emotional” enough to NOT have to read a letter, but as soon as I got on stage to make the announcement, I knew I would need to read the letter that I poured my heart into when I wrote it.

The love we have felt from those who are affected by our calling elsewhere is overwhelming. The consistent response is one of sorrow but of understanding that God does call and that they will be supportive of us through this transition!

Continue to pray for us as we embark on this journey of transition. In the next few days I will be reworking my resume and getting it ready to send to numerous districts across the country!

God is in control!

What a nail-biter.

Ella was all worked up during tonight’s AFC Championship where our Colts showed up and finally shut-down those Pats.

Sad note:

Indy vs. Chicago @ Superbowl 40 and I’ll be in Haiti without a television.

Unbelievable.

January 21, 2007

Dear Warsaw Wesleyan Church,

Nearly 5-years ago, I sat here in this sanctuary as a candidate and interviewee for the Student Ministries position that was available. Through interviews with the senior pastor and the local board, my own seeking of the Lord’s will, I came to be the Student Ministries Pastor here at Warsaw Wesleyan in September, 2002.

It is no secret that in the past 5-years, our church has gone through quite the gambit of highs and lows as a part of ministry here at Warsaw Wesleyan. Putting my trust and faith in the Lord through these highs and lows has had quite the impact on who I am becoming as both a man of God and a local church pastor.

If there is one particular thing that I have learned while ministering here at Warsaw Wesleyan Church – it is this: TO LISTEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT’S LEADING.

In the past few months, I have confirmed a call upon my heart by the Holy Spirit to fulfill his calling in another ministry location. This decision has not come lightly and interestingly enough, has not come with the knowledge of where that new ministry setting will be. I have felt a distinct nudging of the Spirit to resign as the Assistant Pastor of Youth & Young Adults at Warsaw Wesleyan to be available to fulfill His call upon my life elsewhere.

I want to be clear in explaining that this call elsewhere is just that. I am not resigning because of problems in my areas of ministry. I am not resigning because of differences with Pastor J or any other on staff. I truly feel God asking us to uproot our family and be ready for his leading in another ministry position, and while I am nervous about not having a clue where that might be, I am excited and settled in my Spirit to know that what we are doing is following the will of our Heavenly Father.

I also want to be clear to say that while I feel called away from Warsaw Wesleyan, I WILL NOT weaken in my responsibilities while I remain here over the next few months. My desire is to remain here through the church year, with an end date sometime in June. While I am still on staff I pledge to give my all in each of the areas of ministry that I am involved in.

You are our home-church, Warsaw Wesleyan. Feeling called to go elsewhere has caused quite the emotional rollercoaster over the past few months. You first met my wife, Jessica, as my girlfriend. In October, 2003 you saw us engaged, then you attended our wedding in this very room in early June, 2004. A short 9-months ago you helped welcome our precious daughter, Ella Marie, into this world. Leaving here will be a difficult transition. The friendships we have made while here over the past 5-years will be heart-wrenching to move away from and will not be forgotten.

I ask that you pray along with Jessica and me as we seek the Lord’s will in this transitional time and that you continue to be the supportive, loving body that you have proved yourselves over and over to be in the past.

I ask selfishly that you pray specifically for my wife and daughter during this ministry-transition. I am honored to be married to a woman who chose at a young age to follow the Lord and who chose more than 2-years ago to marry a pastor and assume the role of Pastor’s Wife. Likewise, our precious daughter was born into this ministry family, and I desire for her to know that her father sought the Lord first in his life and that any transition we go through will be a result of God’s leading. I know that this transition will be difficult for our family and I ask for your support in getting through it.

I know with all of my heart that our Heavenly Father has a plan for this Sheets family and am as sure that he has great things in store for ministry here at Warsaw Wesleyan Church.

With a grateful heart and willing spirit,

Stevan Paul Sheets