Like this:

Dear Friends,

I trust this update finds you rejoicing in the goodness of our God. I have not given an update concerning our church planting efforts for quite a few months now and this is purposeful. As I write this note, I do so with mixed emotions. On one hand it is encouraging to know we are exactly where God wants us, on the other it is hard to see a ministry door close. Nina and I are going to be staying in Windsor, Virginia as I continue to serve as the Associate Pastor of Antioch Church. We have not come to this decision lightly or hastily. It has come over months of earnest prayer and insightful counsel from others. We prayed all along that God would open doors to make this church plant happen and while our burden never diminished for a church in the Valley, another burden deepened to a greater extent. We both feel so burdened for our current ministry and we know the timing is not right for us to leave Antioch. We prayed for many things specifically for the plant and some of those things God paved the way for immediately. Our partners for the church plant are families that are choice servants of God. We thank God for their friendship over these past years and look forward to continued times of mutual encouragement in the future. We have seen God provide in extraordinary ways for this church plant, and so we know He is going to raise up a church in the Valley in His timing, with His people, for His glory. This excites us!

Thank you for your prayers for us over these months. My declining health has been an enormous struggle and on Tuesday, July 13, I will be having major surgery at the University of Virginia Medical Center to hopefully ease my suffering. I ask for your continued prayers for us during the next months of recovery. Let me be clear that my health was not the primary reason for us sensing God’s leading us to stay here in Windsor. Obviously it was a reason, but our hearts are with our family here in the country. This is our home. Pastor Mark Habecker and the deacons are extremely encouraged that we are staying here and some in the church have admitted that they were praying for us to remain. God’s people were praying for His will and while many people had many different prayers, we are thrilled that God’s will is being accomplished in our lives. It’s exciting to know we are exactly where we are supposed to be right now.

For those of you who have supported us financially, know that the money you donated is still in an account under the care of Community Baptist Church. I will be contacting each of you individually in order to make arrangements for us to return those gifts to you, should you desire. We were overwhelmed by the generosity of God’s people. Thank you for your support.

We look forward to years of God’s continued blessing here at Antioch Church in Windsor, and want you to know that you are always welcome at our church and in our home. If you are ever in the Tidewater, VA area please let us know and we will show you some good old hospitality—Southern style. Thank you for your prayers and friendship. God bless you.

In Christ Alone,

The Whitcomb Family

Advertisement