10/02/2026
How do you put four years of ministry, memories, growth, changed lives and answered prayers into a few words? The truth is, you can’t. There simply are not enough words to accurately describe how God has used Pastor Bryson during his time at Pleasant Dale.
From the very beginning, Bryson’s ministry was never confined to the walls of our church. He showed up. He sat at lunch tables with our students at their schools. He stood on sidelines and in the stands at their games. He celebrated graduations and accomplishments. He walked beside them through difficult seasons and some of the most important years of their lives. He didn’t just tell our youth that he cared about them, he lived it.
Week after week, Bryson faithfully taught the Word of God, never shying away from Biblical truth. He gave our students messages they could understand and apply to their lives while always pointing them back to the Gospel, the truth of God’s Word and the salvation found only in Jesus Christ.
And God has used that faithfulness in incredible ways.
Over these four years, we have watched our youth ministry grow! Not simply in numbers, but spiritually. We have watched young people from our church and throughout our community come to know Christ because of the witness, testimony and ministry God entrusted to Bryson. We have watched him lead a revival among the youth of our community, stand beside young people as they surrendered their lives to Jesus, prayed WITH them, prayed FOR them and have the privilege of baptizing many of them as they publicly proclaimed their faith.
Those are things that will matter for eternity.
Bryson has also poured into others and raised up leaders who will continue the work. And while we have watched our young people grow under his leadership, we have had the privilege of watching Bryson grow, too. From the young man who first walked through the doors of Pleasant Dale four years ago into the incredible pastor, leader, husband, father, and man of God he is today.
Pleasant Dale has been blessed to share so many chapters of life with him. We celebrated with him an engagement, then a marriage as Kara became such an important part of our church family. We watched them begin a life together in a new town, start their careers, make new friends, buy their first home, and then enter one of life’s sweetest chapters as they welcomed their son, Wells.
Somewhere along the way, Bryson, Kara, and Wells became much more than a pastor and his family. They became part of our Pleasant Dale family.
That is what makes saying goodbye so difficult.
Bryson, Kara, and Wells, you will be missed more than words can express. There will be an empty place here because you have occupied such a special place in the lives and hearts of so many.
But as difficult as it is to see this chapter close, we know that the same God who brought you to Pleasant Dale is the God who is leading you into what comes next. We have no doubt that your continued obedience to His calling will impact many more lives, lead others to Christ, and continue growing His Kingdom.
The full impact of these four years may never be known this side of Heaven. There are seeds planted that are still growing. There are young people who will one day become parents, teachers, missionaries, pastors, and leaders who will carry with them truths they first heard during Wednesday nights, Sunday mornings, retreats, mission trips, conversations, and ordinary moments when their youth pastor simply showed up.
So this isn’t just goodbye.
It’s thank you.
Thank you for showing up.
Thank you for loving our youth.
Thank you for loving our community.
Thank you for investing in the next generation.
Thank you for preaching truth.
Thank you for pointing young people to Jesus.
Thank you for serving faithfully.
And most of all, thank you for being obedient when God called.
We love you, Bryson, Kara, and Wells. Pleasant Dale will always be part of your story, and you will always be part of ours.
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.” | Philippians 1:3
May God bless you, guide you and use you mightily in this next chapter. We cannot wait to see all that He has in store. ❤️
