A Note from our Elders
With heavy hearts, we bring you the news that Mike has submitted his resignation and as of May 19 will be stepping away from Grace Point Lead Pastor. Let us be clear, this is not news that we ever wanted to be sharing.
Let us also be extremely clear, this transition is not a result of any moral or ethical unfaithfulness or failure on the part of Mike or Lori! For over 23 years, they have faithfully loved God and given their lives to serve Him and His kingdom. While there are many, here are three things we know are true and will be forever a part of Mike and Lori’s legacy.
First, Mike and Lori have a deep passion to see people come to know Jesus. They’ve planted that heart for the lost deep into the very DNA of our church.
Second, Mike and Lori have cared for so many of us, individually, in our times of sorrow and of celebration. They’ve walked alongside so many of us in our lives. We know they care for each of us deeply.
Third, Mike and Lori have modeled a passion for the nations that will forever be a priority for our church. We are so grateful for this legacy!
As you know, over the last two years, God has instilled in the hearts of all our elders and pastors to be more intentional in making more and better disciples. This past year, that passion led to many of our members coming alongside our pastoral staff and elders to serve on a Discipleship Leadership Team who together crafted a deeply biblical, intentional discipleship pathway and vision to see deeper spiritual formation in our church.
As the Discipleship Leadership Team of church members along with pastoral staff shared our new discipleship pathway with our elder team, there was alignment, unity, and excitement. The vision clarity began to reveal areas where we as a church could immediately become more intentional toward a deeper focus on spiritual formation for our members. We also knew that this vision would need to have a direct impact on all of our long term ministry goals, the health of our staff culture, our weekly events and Sunday gatherings.
As Elders, there is not one of us greater than the sum, which means that we all have to come around the table for God’s glory, His will and greater good of our church family. For this model to work, all nine of the elders need to be able to lead together, aligned on a vision from God and in a way that’s responsive to God’s Spirit.
Unfortunately, while eight of us fully and completely aligned in an understanding that we needed to reassess all that we do, including Sunday morning gatherings and how it aligned toward deeper spiritual formation in our church, we could not reach that place of open assessment and conversation with Mike. Mike’s response did not give us the confidence that he could lead us to the next season of Grace Point. Like in any relationship, this reality does not mean that Mike is not loved or highly valued. It does, however, mean that we have reached a point where a transition is needed.
While we know Mike has been an amazing founder and visionary for leading our church to where we are today, through prayer and spiritual discernment, we have sensed that championing and leading a renewed vision for the new season of ministry for our church and for a thriving staff culture falls outside of Mike’s strengths.
As we sat with Mike and our church staff team and began to grieve this transition together, we talked about one specific phrase: “disagreement, but not division.” Mike’s deepest desire for us as a church family, as is ours, is that we as a body of believers remain unified in Christ and will thrive. Mike is our founder, pastor, brother, and friend. Though we’ve reached a fork in the road where we will no longer work side by side in the daily ministry of our church, still we go forth blessing one another and believing that God leads us both on in His good plan.
As this body continues to face change, we are ever grateful to our consistent and gentle Father, who comforts us, brings us peace, and has greater plans in store than anything we can ask or think. We love you Mike and Lori. Thank you for all you have given to us. Thank you for your blood, sweat, tears, time, and heart, and for the countless times you have touched our lives through your ministry here.
Mike and Lori will continue their plans for their sabbatical immediately following this Sunday morning gathering. Join with us as we pray they find great rest and renewal in their time away.
We as elders, pastors, and staff are committed to serve our church to see us transition well. We understand change like this can bring different emotions and questions, and we want to walk through this alongside you and your families. Life brings challenges that we must wrestle through, and we want to wrestle well, standing together with an unyielding pursuit to be a church of disciples who are making disciples from NWA to the Nations.
Jesus is the cornerstone of our church. It is in Him that we are joined together in unity, and it is in Him that we will continue on. (Ephesians 2:20-22). We can find peace and rest in the unchanging goodness and faithfulness of God.
We know you have questions or just need to talk. Please feel free to reach out to the pastor or staff you know best. You can also reach out to:
Eric King, Executive Pastor (eric@gracepointchurch.net)
Grace Point Elders (gpcelders@gracepointchurch.net).
To learn more about our leadership team, check out https://gracepointchurch.net/leadership
Let us also be extremely clear, this transition is not a result of any moral or ethical unfaithfulness or failure on the part of Mike or Lori! For over 23 years, they have faithfully loved God and given their lives to serve Him and His kingdom. While there are many, here are three things we know are true and will be forever a part of Mike and Lori’s legacy.
First, Mike and Lori have a deep passion to see people come to know Jesus. They’ve planted that heart for the lost deep into the very DNA of our church.
Second, Mike and Lori have cared for so many of us, individually, in our times of sorrow and of celebration. They’ve walked alongside so many of us in our lives. We know they care for each of us deeply.
Third, Mike and Lori have modeled a passion for the nations that will forever be a priority for our church. We are so grateful for this legacy!
As you know, over the last two years, God has instilled in the hearts of all our elders and pastors to be more intentional in making more and better disciples. This past year, that passion led to many of our members coming alongside our pastoral staff and elders to serve on a Discipleship Leadership Team who together crafted a deeply biblical, intentional discipleship pathway and vision to see deeper spiritual formation in our church.
As the Discipleship Leadership Team of church members along with pastoral staff shared our new discipleship pathway with our elder team, there was alignment, unity, and excitement. The vision clarity began to reveal areas where we as a church could immediately become more intentional toward a deeper focus on spiritual formation for our members. We also knew that this vision would need to have a direct impact on all of our long term ministry goals, the health of our staff culture, our weekly events and Sunday gatherings.
As Elders, there is not one of us greater than the sum, which means that we all have to come around the table for God’s glory, His will and greater good of our church family. For this model to work, all nine of the elders need to be able to lead together, aligned on a vision from God and in a way that’s responsive to God’s Spirit.
Unfortunately, while eight of us fully and completely aligned in an understanding that we needed to reassess all that we do, including Sunday morning gatherings and how it aligned toward deeper spiritual formation in our church, we could not reach that place of open assessment and conversation with Mike. Mike’s response did not give us the confidence that he could lead us to the next season of Grace Point. Like in any relationship, this reality does not mean that Mike is not loved or highly valued. It does, however, mean that we have reached a point where a transition is needed.
While we know Mike has been an amazing founder and visionary for leading our church to where we are today, through prayer and spiritual discernment, we have sensed that championing and leading a renewed vision for the new season of ministry for our church and for a thriving staff culture falls outside of Mike’s strengths.
As we sat with Mike and our church staff team and began to grieve this transition together, we talked about one specific phrase: “disagreement, but not division.” Mike’s deepest desire for us as a church family, as is ours, is that we as a body of believers remain unified in Christ and will thrive. Mike is our founder, pastor, brother, and friend. Though we’ve reached a fork in the road where we will no longer work side by side in the daily ministry of our church, still we go forth blessing one another and believing that God leads us both on in His good plan.
As this body continues to face change, we are ever grateful to our consistent and gentle Father, who comforts us, brings us peace, and has greater plans in store than anything we can ask or think. We love you Mike and Lori. Thank you for all you have given to us. Thank you for your blood, sweat, tears, time, and heart, and for the countless times you have touched our lives through your ministry here.
Mike and Lori will continue their plans for their sabbatical immediately following this Sunday morning gathering. Join with us as we pray they find great rest and renewal in their time away.
We as elders, pastors, and staff are committed to serve our church to see us transition well. We understand change like this can bring different emotions and questions, and we want to walk through this alongside you and your families. Life brings challenges that we must wrestle through, and we want to wrestle well, standing together with an unyielding pursuit to be a church of disciples who are making disciples from NWA to the Nations.
Jesus is the cornerstone of our church. It is in Him that we are joined together in unity, and it is in Him that we will continue on. (Ephesians 2:20-22). We can find peace and rest in the unchanging goodness and faithfulness of God.
We know you have questions or just need to talk. Please feel free to reach out to the pastor or staff you know best. You can also reach out to:
Eric King, Executive Pastor (eric@gracepointchurch.net)
Grace Point Elders (gpcelders@gracepointchurch.net).
To learn more about our leadership team, check out https://gracepointchurch.net/leadership
Pastor Mike's Letter of Resignation
Dear Grace Point Church,
It is with deep sadness for Lori and I, that after 23 years of ministry at Grace Point Church, effective May 19th, I will no longer be the Lead Pastor.
This decision has not come without much prayer, conversations, and reflection by the Elders and myself. As you will hear the Elders affirm, I can absolutely assure you that this transition is not in response to any ethical or moral failure. There are simply moments in ministry, as evidenced in Scripture, that disagreements among leaders happen and the determined outcome is that we must part ways (Acts 15:39). Disagreement is not the same thing as division. I love the Elders, and they are not only my brothers, but my friends. Under their continued leadership, Grace Point Church will move forward as a church that makes disciples locally and around the world. My heart’s desire is that “I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith in the gospel”(Philippians 1:27).
On behalf of Lori and myself, I want you to hear me say emphatically – Church family, we love you! Each and every one of you! We are sincerely grateful to God for the opportunities to share our lives with you. “We loved you so much that we shared with you not only the gospel, but our own lives, too” (2 Thessalonians 2:8). We have laughed together and cried together (Romans 12:15). We have studied God’s Word together, worshiped together, prayed together, served together both in the church and in our community, and we have gone to the nations together. As in any family of 23 years, we have struggled together and grown together. We have taught your children and baptized them, as well as baptized many of you. Lori and I truly hope that we have helped your "faith, hope, and love" grow both deeper and wider for one another (1 Corinthians 13:13), have journeyed with you as you learned to abide in Christ and prove to be his disciples, (John 15:5-8) and challenged you to align your hearts with God’s heart for His name and glory among all nations (Psalm 96:3, Luke 24:45-48).
We will never cease to give thanks to God for you (Philippians 1:3). You will always be our brothers and sisters in Christ!
We trust God’s timing in this transition and believe that you are in good care with incredible pastors and faithful Elders.
As for our future? We do not know yet, but we do believe God has a "future and a hope" (Jer 29:11) for us in His ministry. We do hope to stay in NWA if God provides. We deeply covet your prayers in this transition. We will be praying for you, the church we love!
Grace Point Family, LIVE SENT!
Mike
It is with deep sadness for Lori and I, that after 23 years of ministry at Grace Point Church, effective May 19th, I will no longer be the Lead Pastor.
This decision has not come without much prayer, conversations, and reflection by the Elders and myself. As you will hear the Elders affirm, I can absolutely assure you that this transition is not in response to any ethical or moral failure. There are simply moments in ministry, as evidenced in Scripture, that disagreements among leaders happen and the determined outcome is that we must part ways (Acts 15:39). Disagreement is not the same thing as division. I love the Elders, and they are not only my brothers, but my friends. Under their continued leadership, Grace Point Church will move forward as a church that makes disciples locally and around the world. My heart’s desire is that “I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith in the gospel”(Philippians 1:27).
On behalf of Lori and myself, I want you to hear me say emphatically – Church family, we love you! Each and every one of you! We are sincerely grateful to God for the opportunities to share our lives with you. “We loved you so much that we shared with you not only the gospel, but our own lives, too” (2 Thessalonians 2:8). We have laughed together and cried together (Romans 12:15). We have studied God’s Word together, worshiped together, prayed together, served together both in the church and in our community, and we have gone to the nations together. As in any family of 23 years, we have struggled together and grown together. We have taught your children and baptized them, as well as baptized many of you. Lori and I truly hope that we have helped your "faith, hope, and love" grow both deeper and wider for one another (1 Corinthians 13:13), have journeyed with you as you learned to abide in Christ and prove to be his disciples, (John 15:5-8) and challenged you to align your hearts with God’s heart for His name and glory among all nations (Psalm 96:3, Luke 24:45-48).
We will never cease to give thanks to God for you (Philippians 1:3). You will always be our brothers and sisters in Christ!
We trust God’s timing in this transition and believe that you are in good care with incredible pastors and faithful Elders.
As for our future? We do not know yet, but we do believe God has a "future and a hope" (Jer 29:11) for us in His ministry. We do hope to stay in NWA if God provides. We deeply covet your prayers in this transition. We will be praying for you, the church we love!
Grace Point Family, LIVE SENT!
Mike