My Transition: Joining Landon and Heartbeat
In 1982, Diane and I drove to Wilmington, NC with our three-month old to begin our first fulltime ministry. That was nearly twenty-seven years ago. I’ve been blessed beyond expression to have served as the minister for churches in Wilmington (1982-1984), Searcy (1984-1991), and Abilene (1991-2009). Highland has been home in the deepest sense for these past eighteen years.
But this is a moment of transition for me. This morning I announced my resignation.
Landon Saunders has invited me to be his partner with Heartbeat Ministries, which I’ve accepted. Our main project is to try to reach 18-29 year olds through the avenues of social networking opened up by the internet. So many in that age are struggling to find faith; they’re searching for the meaning of community; they’re eager to know joy and to learn more about loving their neighbor. We’re going to try to walk by them and assist them. We’ll have some other initiatives, of course, but this will be a central focus.
You can read more about our new work and listen to Landon’s announcement at www.heartbeat.org.
Leaving Highland is difficult, but I’m also so excited about this project that I can hardly sleep. (And by the way, we’re not really leaving Highland. Both Abilene and Highland will continue to be home for Diane, Chris, and me!)
In 1991, Highland invited me to be their new minister when I was a 34-year-old Arkansas minister. Twenty years before that, Landon came to Highland as a 34-year-old Arkansas minister, as well. He was invited by Herald of Truth to launch a radio program.
Don’t many of you remember hearing Landon’s voice in the 1970′s and 1980′s? Perhaps at a college retreat . . . or on the radio (his program was first picked up by NBC and then eventually by most major networks) . . . or through the “Heart of the Fighter” film series? His lectures on preaching at ACU were foundational in my understanding of Christian ministry.
Landon and I have been close friends for a long time. It’s a joy to now join together in connecting with a younger generation.
I’ll have to do a bit of fundraising, of course. (If anyone is interested in supporting the project, you can find out how through the Heartbeat website.) And as it turns out — you may have heard this — this isn’t a great time economically to be starting something like this.
But seldom in my life have I felt like I was stepping out on faith. This feels right. I would appreciate so much your prayers.
Blessings, my dear friends.
Mike,
How exciting! I am happy for you. I am also happy for others who will be blessed because of this new ministry. This focus is so important.
Mike,
Ever since your announcement Sunday morning, I have been searching for words to speak my feelings. I never will be able to, but a song came to me tonight that speaks to me about this transition. My family will miss you as our pulpit minister. Hear my heart in the words of this hymn:
“Be Still, My Soul”
by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?
Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897
1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
IN EVERY CHANGE, HE FAITHFUL WILL REMAIN;
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
2. Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.
3. Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fulness all He takes away.
4. Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Hymn #651
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Psalm 46:10
Author: Catharine Amalia Dorothea von Schlegel, 1752, cento
Translated by: Jane Borthwick, 1855
What an incredible opportunity to participate in God’s work in cyberspace and beyond. As a teen and a college student at Harding I heard Landon many times. He spoke to one of our teen/college student devotionals on a Tuesday night in Ft. Worth, at a time when his demands were huge. However, he took the time to be with a small group of kids, trying to share the good news of Jesus in their school and community. He was just plain nice — which is also how I think of you. You will make quite the team!
For such a time as this, Mike Cope was given Freshmen Bible Classes to teach and has learned to touch this group one on one authentically. For such a time as this, Mike Cope learned to blog and thus entered the world of social media where 18-22 year olds dwell. For such a time as this Mike and Landon realized that this group must be reached in different ways (just as Landon has been doing all these years). Congratulations Mike on the move-I know it will be greatly blessed and will grow like Topsy–get ready! Much Love, Judy Thomas
Hmmm….I wonder how this effort might impact Tuscaloosa, AL, where I am located at the University of Alabama…
I am looking for and address for Landon Saunders to give him and invite to Mark Shepard’s 50thWedding Anniversary. The last one my Mother in Law Carol Shepard has she believes is the wrong one. So if I could get a mailing address to mail the invite out i would greatly appreciate it. I hope this is the right Landon B. Saunders that she was talking about. She said Marks and Landon new each other.
Hello, Angela. Thanks — here’s the address:
P. O. Box 470
Norwich, VT 05055