I Won’t Leave You as Orphans
A Pastoral Reflection on John 14:15–21
Jesus speaks tenderly to His disciples in John 14. He knows change is coming. He knows their hearts are troubled. He knows they are anxious about what life and ministry will look like when things are no longer the same. And yet, in the middle of uncertainty, Jesus offers these words:
“I will not leave you as orphans.”
— John 14:18
As many of you now know, our bishop and his cabinet have appointed me to serve as the next Senior Pastor of First United Methodist Church of Whitesboro beginning July 1st. While I am excited about what God has in store for my family and the congregation in Whitesboro, I would be lying if I said this news does not come with sadness. Saying goodbye is never easy.
Over these years together at Lake Cities United Methodist Church, we have shared so much more than worship services and committee meetings. We have shared life. We have walked through seasons none of us expected. We learned how to be the church during COVID when sanctuaries were empty, fear was high, and we had to discover new ways to stay connected and faithful. We endured the frustration and exhaustion of renovations after flood damage disrupted our spaces and routines. We faced financial difficulties and uncertainty, yet somehow, by God’s grace, we continued moving forward.
And through it all, we did not merely survive. We thrived.
We worshiped.
We served.
We prayed.
We laughed.
We grieved.
We celebrated baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and new life in Christ together.
Most importantly, we learned again and again that the church is not simply a building or a pastor. The church is the people of God filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit. That is exactly what Jesus was reminding His disciples in John 14. Though His physical presence would soon change, God’s Spirit would remain with them. They would not be abandoned. They would not be forgotten. God would continue leading them into the future.
I believe that same promise is true for us. Transitions are holy and difficult moments. They remind us that ministry has always been bigger than any one person. Pastors come and go, but Christ remains faithful. The Spirit continues to move. The mission continues.
My hope is that as we move through these next couple of months together, we will remember not only the hardships we faced but the faithfulness we witnessed. I hope we will remember the countless volunteers who stepped up when help was needed, the generosity shown in difficult seasons, the prayers prayed over hospital beds and altar rails, the meals shared, the tears shed, and the joy experienced together. Those moments matter. They have shaped us into the people we are today.
I am deeply grateful for the privilege of serving alongside you as your pastor. Thank you for allowing me to walk with you through some of life’s holiest and hardest moments. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, patience, and love. As Jesus reminds us, we are never alone. The Spirit of God continues to guide and sustain us. And because of that, I leave with hope. Hope for your future, hope for the church, and hope for what God still desires to do through each of us.
In God’s grip,
Pastor Chuck Church
