How Do You Say "Good-bye?" by David O. Cofield

(Today is my tenth anniversary as pastor of CrossRoads Baptist Church; but this Sunday is my last day of official ministry at CrossRoads as their pastor.  In light of that....)

How do you say "goodbye" to family?  We have been together for years - sharing the Word, seeing God move in our lives, meeting and receiving new people, rejoicing at weddings and birth of children, weeping at open graves of loved ones, breaking bread together, praying together.

We are family and there is no family like the brothers and sisters in the Lord.  But it's time to say "goodbye."  Since human words are inadequate for me, let me turn to Paul's words when he left Ephesus in Acts 20: 36-38

1.  They prayed together - verse 36

We need the prayers of each other.  As I pray for you, I pray for you to remain strong and stedfast in your calling as CrossRoads. You are a unique church with a fablous future. Don't give up or let up.  Stay strong.  

2.  They wept together - verse 37

I have shed more tears in the past few weeks over this than I have in a long time.   They wept - cried and wailed.  They embraced - hugged and held one another for support.  They kissed - expressed fervent affection and devotion.  They grieved - they felt pain. Its okay to cry....parting hurts and it causes pain.

3.  They went to the world - verse 38

They accompanied him to the ship to see him off.  Then they turned their back on the departing ship and went back to their lives.  They sent Paul off to the world and they returned to their world to continue to reach and disciple people.  We both have a task to complete in reaching our worlds for Christ.  We must return to our labor in our specific places where God has called us.  It is not a dishonor of the past to move forward in the future.

Let me add one final word...let's all give glory to God.  He alone is worthy of praise and adoration.  It is to Him and Him alone we submit our lives.  It's All About Him.

So, thank you church for your love, prayers, support and just "being you" to Roxanne and me for these ten years.  We love you and will always count it an honor to have been the first pastor of this great church.

So we say, "Goodbye until we meet again."

Love you and have counted it an honor to be your Pastor;

Blessings;

David