By Beth Evers
I’ll never forget the first email I received from Ben Disney regarding my appointment here. He started with a note of welcome and then there was an overview of some of my responsibilities and what I could expect on my first Sunday. But there was one line that completely caught me off guard. In signing the email, Ben wrote, “Welcome home, Evers.” Even as I type this today, I find myself getting a little misty-eyed. Whether he knew it or not, these were exactly the words I needed to hear… welcome home.
Over the past three years, Arborlawn has become both a home and a family to our family. Our little boys were welcomed with open arms. And, as I stood mortified watching them play around with a wheelchair one Sunday morning, one of their church “aunts” smiled, assured me they were fine, and took them for a spin! They knew they were home the first time they were welcomed to Sunday School and every day since. I will never forget the love and care you offered my husband as we grieved the loss of his father. You showed us compassion and love through every card, hug, email, and phone call. And then you prayed us all the way to China and back as we brought our little girl home. In an instant, our little girl had more family than she ever could have dreamed of and you made her feel like the princess she is.
I don’t have the words to express how grateful I am to have been part of this family called Arborlawn. It is my great joy to tell people about this place and the people here. You love and care for one another in impressive and grace-filled ways. You reach out to the world with God’s love and mercy. You challenge yourselves to learn and grow in your faith. You live and breathe the Gospel in powerful ways, and I have learned countless things from you. I know I will be a better pastor and a stronger Christian because of the time I have spent with you.
As I prepare to leave for University United Methodist Church in just a few weeks, I will take a piece of you with me. My prayer is that you will continue to welcome individuals with the same love and care you showed our family. I believe that as you move through this world, you have the unique opportunity to share a gift with people who desperately need it – the love of Jesus Christ. You also have the words they need to hear: “Welcome home.” Thank you for sharing those gifts!
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