LETTER TO THE CONGREGATION FROM PASTOR HENRY

October, 2008

Dear People of Lamoine Baptist Church

At the end of August, Mary and I went to the Center for Career Deveiopment and Ministry in Dedham, Massachusetts, for an intensive two-day program of vocational evaluation anad career counseling. We went seeking answers to sevcral questions. How would Mary and I best work together on the recovery home for women we are planning? How would my involvement with the recovery home fit around or coordinate with my work as pastor? How can we deepen our marriage and strengthen our family life while doing these things? After twenty-four years as Pastor of Lamoine Baptist Church, should I consider a change? What possibilities are we not seeing? Where is God leading our family?

The Center for Career Development and Ministrry was founded by the American Baptist Chuirches USA in 1976 to provide career development services for its personnel. It now provides career counseling and vocational assessment services for several denominations for candidates for ministry, pastors, missionaries, and for other occupations as well.

We did not get very far answering our questions. Instead, the Center sent me home with a prescription: stop and rest. "David is a highly responsible and generous individual,ur prayers. And we are very grateful to Paul Resource Minister, Paul Dodge, to ask him to help me and the church figure out how to manage my leave of absence.

So I have not performed any pastoral duties since returning home from the Center (with one exception: a wedding on Saturday, Septemberr 27). I am seeing a counselor. And I have been getting some rest, but I don't feel that the "deep rest" has arrived yet.

To questions about the future, I have only one answer: I don't know. How long will I be on leave? Will I come back as pastor? If not, what will I do? Will plans for the recovery home go forward? I don't know. As the song goes, I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.

In the midst of all the uncertainty, our family is doing well. I am spending more time with Mary, Kelly, and Robyn. Robyn's new adventure this fall is running cross country. Kelly is excited about singing, among other things, and looking forward to cheerleading season. And Mary continues a busy combination of volunteer work and recovery home planning.

Several of you have sent beautiful cards and wonderful notes full of encouragement and support. Thank you very muich - I treasure each one. We really appreciate your prayers. And we are grateful to Paul Dodge for his help and guideance.

Know that we are keeping you and the church and its ministry in our prayers. May God's blessing continue to be upon you.