For those of you that didn’t attend our Sunday Service on Jan. 24, you may not have heard that I’m resigning from my role as Pastor of Business and Local Mission effective Feb. 29. First and foremost, I want you all to know how much Rebekah and I (and Reuben and Aimon) love Hope and are encouraged and excited about where we’re going as a church. We aren’t leaving this community! I’m just stepping down from my role as pastor, following the voice of God to pursue a new work venture. We will continue to be a part of this loving, hopeful, Holy Spirit-driven community.
This has been a long journey for Rebekah and me, and it’s a process that has included Dean and the elders from the start. Some of you (hopefully many!) remember a 4-sermon series I taught in the fall of 2014 on the mission of the church: “the whole church, taking the whole gospel, to the whole world.” Hope, you had the full devotion of my heart, soul, and mind in that series, desperately searching for the wisdom of God! For me, it was a turning point. As I searched God’s heart for our neighbors around us, he was simultaneously planting a seed in my heart: a yearning to “heavenize” specifically in the context of the local Denver business community. But I didn’t yet know what that meant.
Since then, I’ve become absolutely convinced that there is no institution like the church – when it’s equipped and scattered – to bring about lasting, thrilling, transforming change for people who struggle to find the right work, or even work at all. In light of that, I’ll now be focusing on activating the potential within each person to be image-bearers of God in the sphere of their work. I’m forming a new company that will primarily engage with people who are transitioning from crisis to stability, e.g., people who were formerly addicted, imprisoned, or impoverished. I’m fully convinced that it’s the right thing for me to step into – with both feet! – as God continues to pursue and form me.
Church, I pray that God will use this decision – and this new company – as a lasting, tangible testimony of the dignity, worth, and kingdom potential of all of our work, paid or unpaid, no matter where we are or what we do. Any work that is not sin is sacred. It is a great gift from God to spend our energy in service to others. It can bring a sense of dignity and fulfillment to us, bring great benefit to our communities, and bring glory back to God himself. I pray this is an encouragement to all of us.
The relationship between Dean and me remains strong as ever. He continues to be the primary spiritual mentor in my life, the “Paul to my Timothy.” I’ve never had a boss as gracious as he has been with me, particularly during my time of soul-searching. I’m grateful to be able to call him a dear friend.
Going forward, I’ll continue to preach from time-to-time, Rebekah and I will continue to lead a small group, and I will continue to see you all regularly.
Finally, I want to express my sincere thanks to all of you during this mighty time of transition for our family. Thank you for praying for us, for providing meals, and for your sincere interest and desire to engage with us in the midst of a dramatic (and at times, very uncomfortable and even desperate) season we could have never foreseen. To God be the glory! Please continue to pray for us, and for the church leaders during this transition phase. In our weakness, Jesus is made strong, and He strengthens His Church.
May you enter into God’s peace today,
Dan Kaskubar