Walking Together Through Transition
By Ellis White, Senior Pastor
The life of a church is shaped not only by sermons and programs, but by people who faithfully serve, often behind the scenes, in the lives of others. From time to time, those people step into new seasons, and it’s important that we walk through those transitions together with clarity, care, and trust.
I want to share with you that Paul Hargreaves has resigned from his role as Chapel Hill’s Senior Director of Family Ministries, and the church has accepted his resignation. We are grateful for the ways Paul has served and for the relationships he built with children, families, and volunteers during his time here. We’ll honor Paul during the worship service this Sunday, January 25, so I hope you’ll be there.
Here’s a message from Paul about this change:
I have been delighted to lead our Family Ministries department for the past six years. During that time, we’ve seen the ministry grow in meaningful ways—students have come to know Jesus, faith foundations have been strengthened, and families have been encouraged and supported.
This is an exciting season at Chapel Hill. We’ve experienced growth in attendance, new faith commitments, and a clear vision for the future. As I’ve spent time praying and reflecting on what’s ahead, I’ve come to recognize that my sense of the direction and expectations for Chapel Hill’s Children’s Ministries is different from where the church is heading. With that in mind, I have made the decision to resign from my role.
I’m deeply grateful for the way this church loves and invests in children, students, parents, grandparents, and families. Chapel Hill has an incredible team in place, and I’m confident Children’s Ministries will continue to be cared for and led well in the days ahead.
Thank you for your understanding, your partnership, and your support over these years. I have truly cherished my time at Chapel Hill.
What I want you to hear most clearly is this: we do plan to hire another leader for Kids’ Ministry, and in the meantime our Kids’ and Family Ministries remain strong, stable, and supported. We are committed to providing our children with quality Christian education and childcare, and to equipping parents with resources that help them lead their kids to follow Jesus. Our classrooms are open, our teams are showing up, and our children are being loved, taught, and prayed for every single week. During this interim season, Pam Gatto and Karen Rodenbucher are continuing to lead and care for the elementary Kids’ Ministry with pastoral oversight and support, and Kim Hagey continues to provide childcare for birth-PreK.
I also want to invite you, as part of our church family, to consider stepping into the life of our Kids’ Ministry Serve Team. Our elementary kids need to see the wider church loving them, and many of us need the joy, honesty, and faith of children in our lives. We especially need help on Sundays at 10:00 am in the Neel Chapel as we walk through this season together.If you are already serving on the Kids’ Ministry Serve Team, please contact Karen Rodenbucher here to see how your schedule might be adjusted or expanded during this time.
If you have not served in Kids’ Ministry before but would like to begin, you can let us know by filling out the Serve Team interest form here:
If you are a Serve Team member or volunteer, thank you for your faithfulness and steady presence. You are making a real difference in the lives of our kids, and your service matters deeply.
Transitions can bring questions and emotions, and we welcome those conversations. If you need to talk or have concerns, Associate Pastor of Ministry Pastor Julie Hawkins is here for you; just reach out to her here.
Chapel Hill is not built on one person. We are a church grounded in Jesus, carried by faithful people, and sustained by God’s grace. We will continue moving forward together, caring for one another, and pointing the next generation toward the love and truth of Christ.
Ellis