04/19/2024
My Emory Chapel UMC Family,
As I write this letter, it feels like my heart is filled with too many deep and conflicting emotions for one little heart to hold it all. It is with a heavy heart yet hopeful spirit that I announce my departure from our church as I have been called to serve in a new appointment, Trinity United Methodist Church, in Fayetteville AR. This move is calling for us to trust in God’s plan not just for me but for all of us.
From the moment I stepped into our church, I was embraced with warmth, love, and a sense of belonging. During Covid, I was inspired by the commitment to serving and protecting others, that everyone in our church displayed. Together, we have journeyed through seasons of joy, sorrow, and growth. We’ve celebrated our church’s growth, both in attendance and in spirituality, we’ve shared out joys, concerns, and sorrows together; lifting each other up in prayer.
I am deeply grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me. Your faith, resilience, and commitment to serving God and the community have inspired me every single day. I’ve witnessed incredible acts of kindness, compassion, and love within these walls and beyond, and it has been nothing short of a privilege to serve alongside each of you.
As I prepare for this new chapter, I carry with me the lessons learned and the love received from all of you. I am hopeful and excited about what God has in store for both our futures. While the nature of my role in your lives will change, the bonds we’ve formed will remain. I encourage you to extend the same warmth, openness, and support to your new pastor, as you have to me.
In the coming days, I look forward to personal conversations, to share memories and hopefully some laughter. Let us keep each other in our prayers, asking for God’s guidance and blessing as we step forward in faith.
Though farewells are never easy, they are a part of our journey, reminding us of the constant presence of change and the perpetual guidance of the Holy Spirit. Please know, in July I might not be your pastor anymore, but you will ALWAYS be my church family.
Blessings,
Rev. Tonya Hancock
