Dear Ones:

First, let me say how sorry I am that I can't be with you in person today. I hope, however, that this letter will convey the ways in which I am with you in heart and spirit.

Rev. Lea's announcement today that God is calling her to candidate at MCC San Francisco is something for which none of us is prepared. In the smallness of my own ability to understand things, I can't quite fathom why God would call Rev. Lea away from Wichita Falls . . . at least not yet. But, as I have tried to live with this reality over the last few days, I also know that my smallness is almost always God's greatness and it's a paradox that I am learning to embrace.

Another way of thinking about it is that two conflicting things can both be true. It is unfortunate that Rev. Lea will probably be leaving Wichita Falls and the great ministry that she has worked with you to build. It is also true that we have to trust God's call to Lea and support her in listening to that call. I hope that each of you will embrace both of these truths with all that you have in you. The pain of one will be the hope of the other . . . of this I am certain.

Please know, above all, that Rev. Lea, the board and I will be working closely together over the next couple of months to make this transition as smooth as possible. This congregation has such a sweet spot in my heart and I want you to know that you are not alone and that we will travel though this with great conviction that God is at work. With that in mind, my prayer for you today is from scripture: "God, who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it."

With love,

Rev. Elder Lillie Brock
MCC, Region 7