For anyone who knows me, the fact that one of my all-time favorite songs begins with the words, “Off we go…” is no surprise.

So, here I am, three days from my 72nd birthday (can’t get my head around that) and it is time again for me to say, “Off we go!

This time, I am off on a new adventure as the “Transition Pastor” of Summit Fellowship in Decatur, Illinois. After doing a Church Health and Growth Evaluation for this congregation last year, the Pastor Search Team asked me if I would consider coming to lead them through the process that I had outlined.

Believing it to be the LORD’s will, I said yes. This will be a multi-year effort involving rebranding, (we are now calling ourselves “Summit Fellowship” and refocusing, (our new focus is “Let’s Start Over Together” since there are tens of thousands of people in our beloved City who need to start over in their relationship with God, their marriages, their families, and their careers; and, restructuring the congregation to a biblical leadership structure.

We plan to try 25 or so things and if a few of them work, I will likely write a book!

In my work with Central Association, I was able to help a few churches a little, whereas in the role of Transition Pastor at Summit Fellowship I trust that I will have much more impact for the Kingdom and for the members of this one congregation.

So, a plan is in place… my sermon schedule is set for the next three years (as the LORD allows) the hard work is beginning… so… OFF WE GO!