Significant day for Jacob's Well Community...

Yesterday Founding Pastor Tim Keel announced that he is ending his role as Sr. Pastor of Jacob's Well.  The day was a challenging but beautiful day in so many ways.  Tim Keel is one of my closest friends and partners in ministry and life.  This is shocking for the Jacob's Well Community but not surprising.  Tim's gifts are very Apostolic.  I've received several calls today from people outside of the Jacob's Well Community who acknowledge that Tim's departure is not only a huge loss for Jacob's Well but a huge loss for Kansas City.  It is also a big loss nationally because Tim is accepting a position as a Lecturer at Laidlaw College in New Zealand.  He will also begin the process of earning a PhD. 

So many of us are extremely excited for the Keel family as they embark on this adventurous journey together but we are also deeply saddened by their departure from our community.  We shared the news with the Elders on Thursday (early morning) followed by the staff.  I had the privilege of speaking after Tim's announcement and message on "Holy Spirit as provocateur" (we are in a series on the Holy Spirit).  I spoke about the blessing Tim and Mimi have been to our community and the story we find ourselves in.  Click here to listen to the service.

Please Pray for Tim, Mimi and family AND please pray for the Jacob's Well Community during this transition.

Comments

[Stacy Tucker]

Mike-Thanks so much for addressing this in your blog. The elders and staff @ JW are being bathed in prayer by many as you process this.
Stacy Tucker

[Mike King]

Thanks Stacy

[Leslie]

We were at a family wedding this weekend and I just got the chance to listen to Tim's message from Sunday. I want to thank you for your words at the end of his message. Thank you for your words to Mimi, the acknowledgement of her contribution to the JW community and for the words about protecting the Keel kids. You have no idea how much it meant to me as someone who also sits in that role to hear those words and I hope you don't mind if I heard them for myself and our kids as we find ourselves in such a similar position as the Keel family.

As I listened to the message from Sunday I couldn't help but acknowledge how the Spirit has brought our story and our lives into the JW community at this time. While we realize our time there is for a season, it is a very significant season.

[Mike]

Hey Leslie,

I'm glad they put the 5:30 service on the web site because I blubbered through the other two services. Thanks for sharing this. I'm so glad the Jacob's Well Community has been a place of safety and peace for you and your family.

Peace,

Mike

[Mark Calhoun]

Hi Mike,

… just wanted to drop you a short note. I had a chance to listen to Sunday’s worship mp3… I enjoyed hearing you speak and I really appreciated your words and your posture… the whole 50 minutes was amazing to my ears. Please know that I am praying for you, the other elders, the Keel’s, and the entire JW community as you trek through this time of transition and transformation…

My family and I were engaged in our previous church for 17 years… two years ago we walked through a lead pastor transition and last year we walked through our own transition as we departed on a new adventure ourselves… what I know from those two experiences is that God’s Glory was apparent and abundant on all sides of the transition… I believe that it will be no different for you all… God’s Grace and God’s Glory will shine though in unimaginable and unpredictable ways.

Be Grace and Peace,

Mark

[Bryan Rezen]

Mike,

I thought you did a good job with the announcement this past Sunday...not easy.

Bryan