Life is often defined by chapters. Today is the last page of a chapter of our family’s journey with Christ. Today was my last Sunday morning as one of the pastors of a great fellowship of Christians, Blaise Baptist Church. The investment into our family spans two decades.
Tonight I will preach one last sermon as a staff member to a group of people I love deeply. “Cannot But Speak” will focus upon Acts 4:19-20, as this passage has challenge me to proclaim the Gospel of Christ with boldness. Next week, our family will begin a new chapter in ministry with a church family in the Charlotte area. Friends, please pray for this transition filled with two very strong emotions- sadness and excitement.
Below I have inserted a letter I read to the congregation two weeks ago. Please consider this a tribute to a people who have followed Christ faithfully and continue to pursue the mission God has placed before us.
January 19, 2014
Dear Blaise Members,
Ministry leadership can be effectively illustrated as a relay race. When one is completing the task God has put before him, the runner seeks to fluidly hand off the baton to the next runner. My heart is filled with gratitude this evening as I am announcing the handing of a baton. February 2, 2014 will be my last Sunday on staff at Blaise Baptist Church.
Before I became a member, this fellowship supported an outreach ministry that I coordinated in Monroe, NC. You invited me to speak at the missions conference in 2000. I connected with Ken Furches when he invited me to speak and lead worship at the “Deacon Maker” Youth/Men’s Retreat in March 2002. You nurtured and encouraged Angela during her high school and college years. Therefore, when God moved us to Mocksville in May 2002, there was no question as to what fellowship we would join.
In 2005, I was thrilled when this congregation voted to create a new pastoral staff position. I was humbled when you called me to serve in this role. You have invested deeply into my family, especially those of you that have taught our children. You have endured a multitude of my crazy ideas and barrage of ministry proposals. You have extended grace and continual prayer. Even though God has a new assignment for me in ministry, I will always treasure the opportunity He provided through you, Blaise Baptist Church.
Angela and I ask for your prayers as we begin a new chapter in life and the challenges that transition requires. We will be moving soon to the Charlotte area where I will join the pastoral team of a fellowship that shares the same Biblical convictions and heart for missions as Blaise. I will continue in the same type of role as I have here in discipleship and equipping God’s people for His mission. Yet, we have no plan to become strangers at Blaise Baptist.
A simple “thank you” is insufficient to convey our gratitude to you. Yet, my hope is that the Lord would use my life in a way that brings honor and glory to Him and would represent the people of Blaise well. This is my commitment to you: I will continually pray that God would do great and mighty things in and through you. I will pray for the wonderful, Christ-following pastor God has led here in Bill Phillips. Last week, I passed out five relay batons to leaders who will continue to guide specific areas of ministry. I know that these leaders will faithfully and diligently carry out the task needed for ministry. I will pray that the vision of this congregation will grow exponentially over the months and years to come as you seek the Lord and His plan for the future.
In Christ,
Jeremy Amick
Shepherding Well 
Thank Mr. Jeremy for all that you have invested, not only in Blaise, but also in me. You and Angela have not only taught through words, but you both have lived it. I have learned much about family and marriage through my interactions with your family. You have taught me how to teach and how to listen. Thank you. The Amick family will forever be in my prayers and heart.
We are so excited for you and pray that God will lavish His blessings on you even more than He already has!