Goodbye FBC, Hello DRF

Well, I sent in my church membership transfer letter this week, which will officially transfer my membership from First Baptist Church at the Mall to Deep Roots Fellowship. And no, no one made me mad or kicked me out of church. Leaving FBC is a bitter-sweet transition for me. I am excited about where God is leading me, but I am also sad to say good bye to so many friends and family at FBC.

If you can bear it, I will reminisce a little about FBC. FBC has been the one and only church in my life up to this point. I first attended FBC when I was twelve. Shawn Smith was the youth pastor at the time and by the age of fourteen, Shawn helped lead me to the Lord. I was baptized a couple of years later by Keith Hodges, the youth pastor at that time. I met many dear friends in the youth group and learned so much about who God was and what He meant. At the age of seventeen, at youth summer camp at Camp Kulaqua, I felt called by God into full time ministry. After graduating from high school, I served under the singles/college pastor, Darrin Brown, in the college ministry. I believe that is when God gave me several mentors and brothers in Christ who helped me deepen my passion for Christ. I met Laura Gorman in the college ministry, who would later become my sweet and beautiful bride. After we were married, we were taught by the leaders of two helpful, young-married, sunday school classes. In short, FBC has been a solid and vital facet of my life.

In summary: I was saved, baptized, and called to full time ministry at FBC. I also saw my mom re-dedicate her life to Christ at FBC. I was continually, spiritually fed at FBC. My first job came through a family at FBC. I met my wonderful wife at FBC. All of my groomsmen were friends from FBC. I was married at FBC. I attend seminary with five guys from FBC.

I explain all of this to say that I will truly and deeply miss everyone at FBC. But as the old adage goes, “As one door closes, another door opens.” Through much prayer and confirmation from God, I have accepted the position of Associate Pastor at Deep Roots Fellowship. DRF is a southern Baptist church plant in Winter Haven. We are still in the planning stages and plan to launch in January 2010. Laura and I will be looking for our first house in Winter Haven this summer. This is a very exciting time in our lives.

I didn’t want to write this blog post, because I didn’t want to seem narcissistic, but I thought it would be only fair to say goodbye to such an amazing church home. I wish I could see everyone who has impacted me at FBC (the list is almost endless) face-to-face and personally thank them. I wish everyone at FBC the best. I will dearly miss everyone, but I have hope, because I know I will see everyone again. If not in this life, then in Glory.

I “thank God, the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.” (Colossians 1:3-5)

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~ by Brad Copeland on June 3, 2009.