Dear Church Family,

 

We can hardly find the words to express the depth of our gratitude that fills our hearts as we write this letter to you today. It has been the highest honor of our lives to serve Grace Assembly of God / Mustang Creek Community Church for 30 wonderful years, including five as Student Pastors and 25 as Lead Pastors. Never in our wildest imagination could we have envisioned the beautiful journey that God would take us on, with you as our family, our partners, and our greatest joy.

 

Through every season, the mountain tops and the valleys, the celebrations and the challenges, we have watched in awe as God built something far greater than we could have ever constructed on our own.

 

You have loved us, supported us, and walked alongside us as together we sought to make the heart of heaven visible in our community. We praise God for every salvation, baptism and extraordinary life transformation! The marriages we have witnessed being restored, the children who have grown into passionate followers of Christ, the hurting who found healing within these walls, and the countless moments of God's faithfulness have etched indelible marks upon our souls.

 

With hearts full of thanksgiving but also with peaceful assurance, we want to share with you that the Lord has been speaking to us about a new season. After much prayer and seeking His face, we are announcing today that we will be retiring from our role as Lead Pastors of Mustang Creek this coming July. We take comfort in Jesus' promise: 'I am the vine; you are the branches' (John 15:5), knowing this church remains rooted in Him, not us. 

 

We want you to know that we are not stepping away because we are tired or because our love for you has diminished. Rather, we are stepping forward into obedience, believing that the timing of the Lord is perfect. And what makes our hearts overflow with confidence is the incredible leadership that God has prepared to carry this vision forward.

 

This morning, we had the privilege of sharing that we believe Pastors Brian and Mandee Loudermilk will be continuing the mission and vision of Mustang Creek. This will be voted on during the business meeting February 22nd. We personally believe that they are the correct choice to be the new lead pastors. We have watched them grow in grace, wisdom, and anointing, and we can testify without reservation that they carry the same fire and compassion that has defined this house. They are fully aligned with our founding vision to develop effective Christ followers who demonstrate the heart of heaven on earth. 

 

God has already blessed this church and filled it with fresh energy, increased community investment, and hundreds of souls coming to salvation in Jesus every year. We see leadership rising up with boldness, the church body strengthening in unity, and the manifest presence of God becoming even more tangible in our midst. This next season for the church will be better than ever, because the God we serve is faithful to complete the work He has started.

 

These remaining months until July are precious to us, and we intend to make the most of every moment with you. We will continue to stand with you, pray with you, and celebrate all that God is doing in this transition. When July comes and we depart, please know that our love remains, even if our presence here will not.

 

Thank you for allowing us the privilege of being your pastors, your friends, and your family. The story of Mustang Creek is written with your names inscribed upon our hearts, and we will carry you with us always.

 

With all our love and deepest affection,

 

Pastor’s Robert and Judy Kennedy