Janice and I have been warmed (no pun intended) by your many words of welcome as we have now made the Tuscaloosa/Northport area our official home. In addition, you have welcomed us back to Forest Lake with the invitation for me to become part of the FLUM Staff. How grateful we are to have another opportunity to serve Christ and His Church with you. When Janice and I first were appointed to Forest Lake, we were in our mid-forties which really seems young to us now. Kristina was in her first years of college and Rick in his senior year of high school. Kristina eventually graduated from Alabama (Janice says she was “red-shirted”) and Rick graduated his senior year at Central, so you could really say that as a family, we have roots in Tuscaloosa. Now, Kristina is married to Eric and they are the parents of Ana who is five and Isabel who is three. Yes, they are both beautiful and brilliant! Kristina has her masters in counseling and is employed with the Florida State Penitentiary interviewing and testing new inmates…she said she wanted a challenge. Rick enlisted in the Navy while we lived in T-town and has since that time served full time for ten years after which he became part of the Navy Reserve. A year ago this past September, Rick earned the rank of Chief and, this past February, he was called up for a year of service at Ft. Meade Maryland at the National Security Center. He and his wife Tina have a daughter Laila who is eight and a son Danny who is two, also brilliant, beautiful and handsome. They reside in Fresno California, but may be moving to Maryland…stay tuned.

Last November, I announced to my then congregation at Anniston FUMC, that I was entering into a week of fasting and prayer for spiritual direction. At that particular time I did not know I would be announcing my retirement the following January, however, when I did, Janice and I both knew it was the right thing to do. We continued to pray for direction as to what God was calling me to do during this new “season” of our lives. We had contemplated for years and ultimately decided, that when we would retire, we would do so in the Tuscaloosa/Northport area… we just did not think that it would be in 2010. As the prayers of petition and quiet listening and reflection continued, it became clear that although I would be retiring from full time pastoral ministry, I would continue to respond to God’s call to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, prayerfully and carefully considering new opportunities for service.

When my long time friend Chris found out we were moving to Tuscaloosa in June, he began conversing with me about the possibility of being on staff part time at FLUM. We began to dialogue about possibilities and he in turn began conversation with the SPRC and other church leaders. These conversations and considerations have resulted in a focus upon the areas of Administration and Discipleship and at this writing the details are continuing to become more focused. We agreed that there would be times for me to preach, teach and participate in pastoral care as the needs arose. We are incredibly thankful to our Lord for going before us in this new “season.” How grateful Janice and I are for this opportunity to serve Christ and His Church with you!

Hal