Streeter’s Farewell Message
It’s hard to believe it’s been more than 15 years since we gathered that first group in our living room committed to start a new church in Folsom. It was just a handful of us but we were excited to start something different in Folsom that we believed would engage those in our city who had left the church or faith.
In 2008, the church was born. We wanted to help people connect with Jesus and Christian community. Sean and Teri were there in those days, as were Adam Adams. Amanda McCall would join us just a few months later.
We’ve made our fair share of mistakes, but we are proud of the space we helped open up in Folsom for people who were far from God or church to re-engage and become like Jesus.
We raised our kids with you, so many of their childhood memories involve you. And in a lot of ways you served as the community that helped Jen and me grow up too!
However, since early 2021 Jen and I, together with our kids and some close ministry friends, have been discerning our future in pastoral ministry. It is with mixed emotions that we announce my resignation as Lead Pastor.
In the fall of 2023, we felt God’s Spirit tell us it was time to step away from pastoring the church we planted and love with all our heart. We opened discussions with the Elders in January, and have been discerning and planning our departure since.
The Elders, which include Vincent Hill, Sean St. Clair, Tom Harrer, and Patrick Nation, have brought in our NAB Regional Minister, Kent Carlson to provide insight and leadership to the transition. Additionally, a Transition Team has been assembled that contains the Elders, Kent, Sarah Ivey, and Amanda McCall. They are working wisely and strategically to prepare for my transition and will be providing regular updates on that process.
For now, I’d like to answer the “Why?”
Life changes for us as well as career demands outside the church have intersected with changes in our city leading us to the confidence that now is the right time to hand over the reins and step away from pastoral ministry.
Three main changes have been underway for a good number of years and though we hoped some of the changes would resolve over time, they just have not. All of this made it pretty clear to us that it was time to step aside and open space for the next leader of Disciples who can give his or her full ministry energy as pastor.
- Change 1: My pace has grown unsustainable and I simply desire to slow down in life.
- Change 2: Our kids are growing up, three are now living out of state and our desire to remain present with them, making visits and showing up for milestones is greatly blocked by my demanding calendar of commitments.
- Change 3: Jen and I are both juggling careers these days. She is a full time RN at Marshall Hospital and my full time role as VP of Ministry Advancement and Church Multiplication at the NAB means we simply do not see much of one another and we really like each other!
Rest assured the Elder Team of Vincent, Sean, Tom, and Patrick are working together with our staff, which includes Pastor Dan, Josiah, Amy, and Michelle to prepare for our departure. The search for the next Lead Pastor of Disciples is underway. In the meantime, the Transition Team is working to secure an Interim Pastor to fill in the speaking duties and lead meetings so our current staff are not overburdened.
It has been one of the greatest highlights of our life as a family to plant Disciples and share life with you for the last fifteen years. We have triumphed together and walked through the difficulties of life together. And we believe now is a crucial time in Folsom for a church like ours. With new families moving to our city everyday, I believe your future is just as exciting as our past. Jen, the kids, and I will be praying for you, cheering you on from afar, and will forever love you deeply.
I will be here normally for the next several weeks, and my last Sunday will be August 18. There is a Farewell Party that my family and I will be back for after Labor Day on Sep 8.
Below you will find a page of Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions please do not hesitate to reach out. While we are stepping away soon, we remain in this together.
FAQ
No. We will be finding a church nearby our home to attend and learning the rhythms of church community in a non-leadership capacity for the first time in our adult lives.
Yes. We have no plans to move from our home in Shingle Springs.
Not at all, in fact, it was in the fall of 2023 that we really settled on the confidence that the time was right, not because anything was wrong, but just the opposite: So much was going well and we just knew the church was ready for its next leaders!
August 18th will be Stu’s final day on staff. The Streeters will return on Sunday Sep 8, 2024 for a farewell Sunday.
The Elders (Vincent Hill, Sean St. Clair, Tom Harrer, and Patrick Nation) and Stu have been processing this since January. Just a few weeks after that the pastoral staff (Dan Crouse, Amy Murakami, Josiah Haddleton, and Michelle Nation) were brought into the conversation. Other changes have delayed my departure somewhat, but we have moved methodically and slowly in order to do this with wisdom and grace as best we know how. We have invited Kent Carlson, our NAB Regional Minister, in to provide additional leadership as well as inviting Sarah Ivey and Amanda McCall to come alongside the Elders in the formation of the Transition Team which is currently seeking out an Interim pastor to serve temporarily and help prepare us for our next pastor.
Questions you still have that are not answered, please reach out to our Elder Team. Click here to send them an email or you can call the church office at 916-850-5655.