Maundy Thursday: Give Me Those Feet

 

One Last FMC Shreveport Podcast

The season of ministry at First Methodist Church Shreveport is coming to an end, and I am forever thankful for the time we have had together. Our Communications Director and I filmed the above video to reflect on the last 10 years! 

And this is the letter I posted on Sunday, February 25: 

Nearly eleven years ago, I was laying in the Port Au Prince, Haiti airport, plagued with a parasite and simply trying to get a flight home. It was there that a team from First Methodist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana came over to check on me. (Well, not everyone on that team came over. I’ll never let Kay Ferguson and Jann Cox, two of my very best friends, live that down.) Not too long after that chance encounter, I received a call from Dr. Jonathan Beck and Dr. Pat Day, and as they say, “the rest is history.”  

 

As I write to you today, my heart overflows with love, gratitude, and a bittersweet ache. For ten years, you have been more than just a congregation; you have been my family, my haven, and my home. You welcomed me with open arms, celebrated my joys, supported me through trials, and nurtured the gifts God placed within me.

 

It was within these sacred walls that I met the love of my life, Christopher Harbuck, and your blessings filled our wedding with warmth and grace. When the storm of cancer threatened to drown me, your prayers became my life raft, keeping me afloat with hope and love. You challenged me and encouraged my journey to become a preacher and teacher, and witnessed every step of my transformation with unwavering support. And when my son, Mac, arrived from Haiti, you loved and cared for him as if you’d known him his whole life. 

 

And so, with a heavy heart, I must share that God is leading me on a new path. After much spirit-stirring and prayer, I have accepted a pastoral position at a church in Texas. (And to honor that great church, I will wait and announce the specifics of the call after they have announced the transition at their church.) This decision did not come easily, for leaving this sweet community is like leaving a piece of my heart behind.

 

But I trust that God's hand will guide my steps, and I believe this new opportunity aligns with His calling on my life. As our Lenten study taught us this week, growth often requires change, and Christopher, Mac, and I are ready for this next season of growth.

 

This transition won’t take place until this summer, as Sunday, June 23^rd will be my last Sunday. I have a lot of traveling to do to say farewell to the global mission family we have built together. And my husband, Christopher, will be designing his schedule to split time between locations to continue his commitment to the clients he loves so very much. And so, I hope these next few months will be a beautiful time of reflection and celebration of our great church. 

 

Though miles may separate us, the bonds we formed in Christ will remain forever strong. I cherish the memories we shared, the laughter we enjoyed, and the tears we shed together. Your unwavering love and support have shaped me into the person I am today, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

 

May God bless each and every one of you abundantly. May He continue to shower you with His love, grace, and guidance. And I love you.