Dear Cornerstone Family,
The beginning of a new year is often a time for transition. Whether starting new jobs, or moving to new places, or just turning over a new leaf, the shift from one year to the next is a natural time to make changes. As 2020 fades and 2021 begins, I want to inform you of several pending transitions in the church staff and leadership.
First, our Female Youth Intern, Eva Lewis, is stepping down from her position on staff on December 31st. Eva has served our junior high girls faithfully this past year. She has led small groups, met one-on-one for discipleship, organized numerous fellowships, and helped out supportively in countless ways. We are grateful for the spiritual investment Eva has made in the lives of our youth! By stepping down from her intern role, Eva will free up the time she needs to finish her studies at New College Franklin this Spring. Thankfully, Eva is not going anywhere right away. She will continue to worship at Cornerstone and volunteer in our youth ministry until the end of the school year.
Second, after six years of service as a ruling elder, Jim Payne will be taking a yearlong sabbatical starting January 1, 2021. Jim has served us faithfully as a shepherding elder. He started our prayer ministry from scratch (with much help from faithful prayer warriors across this congregation). He’s also served as head of our missions committee, helping evaluate and approve our various mission supports—campus ministries, church plants, and foreign missionaries. As you can see, this sabbatical is past due and much deserved! We will most certainly miss Jim’s wit and wisdom on the session and his loving care as a shepherd of the congregation, but we’re grateful he’s taking this year to rest and recharge for the work of ministry.
Finally, we’re deeply saddened to say goodbye to Terry and Barbara Cheney. From day one of Cornerstone, the Cheneys have been present with an all-hands-on-deck attitude. Barbara has taught women’s Bible studies and mentored women—old and young—throughout our congregation. Terry and Barbara both have a heart for struggling marriages, and have given sacrificially of their time and wisdom to counsel and disciple couples in how the gospel transforms marriages. On the session, Terry was always a dependable servant of the Master. His workman spirit revealed a heart committed to the duty of an elder shepherd, which added much needed ballast to our leadership core. Needless to say, he will be sorely missed. In case you’re wondering, God has called them to a mission field closer to family in sunny Florida. It’s a quick transition—today is their final Sunday with us! We will honor God’s work through them today in worship and send them off with a prayer of blessing.
Speaking of prayer, take a moment today to remember Eva, Jim & Becky, and Terry & Barbara before the Lord. While you’re at it, pray for Cornerstone generally. 2021 is a milestone year for us. Though I can hardly believe it, we are beginning our 10th year of ministry! As we close in on a decade of ministry, there’s so, so much to be thankful for, and yet so much I still long for God to do. Will you join me in praying that this next year will be the most fruitful and faithful year of Cornerstone’s ministry to date? By God’s grace, may it be so.
