06/04/2018
For those of you that do not receive our emails but are partnered with us in reaching the people of Scott and McCreary County, we are sad to announce that our Director, Bro. Marcus Burchfield, turned in his letter of notice/resignation today and will no longer be a part of our organization as of June 15th, 2018. What follows is the letter that Bro. Marcus shared with us. - AMC Staff
My Dearest Friends and Most Esteemed Elders,
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, so the writer of Hebrews tells us. Why? Because those hands belong to a Sculptor who shapes our lives with a commitment to complete the good work He began -- work that includes both giving and taking away.
When God called my family into ministry, we were blessed to be called into our own backyard, the backyard of the homes we grew up in. We were called in a place that allowed for us to be clsoe to family and friends. We were called in a place that allowed us a certain amount of comfort and safety, but we carried on knowing that at any moment, that living God in who's hands we had placed our futures, could divert our course and we would have no choice but to follow where He leads.
It brings me much sadness to inform you that my time with this upstanding organization is drawing to a close. After much prayer and consideration, my wife and I have decided to heed once more to the call of our God. I am giving to you today my notice, as I prepare to follow the path before me to a palce much further from home. In two weeks, I will effectively end my tenure as Director of Missions for this assocaition and move on into the world of pastoral ministry.
Continuously throughout my time serving with you, I have questioned my qualifications for this position. I have measured myself against the upstanding stature of men who have filled this role before me. I have always fallen short. However, God does not call the qualified. He qualifies those that He calls, and I am certain that He called me here. I have experienced the worry that plagued even the Apostle Paul in his day and age: "...that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches."(II Corinthians 11:28) I can confidently say that I have prayed earnestly for each of our churches that are part of this great partnership. I have tried my hardest to see cooperation and fellowship between our congregations. However, I just do not believe that it is God's will for me to carry on with you in this journey.
I would be remiss if I did not take the attention you have given this moment to leave you a word of encouragement. Constantly, throughtout my time with this ministry, I have reflected on the words of a particular scripture: "When thou passest through the watters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isaiah 43:2) I understand at times the wars of the flesh rage against the will of the spirit. I understand the adversities and adversaries that rear their ugly heads against the hope of our people, the children of God. But take courage from this promise, that no matter how desperate our situation may seem, we will not be overcome. You will not be overtaken. It is my fervent prayer that you will continue to persevere, that you will continue to fight against the Devil. Take heart and know that my family and I, whether one mile away or one thousand, will continue to pray for you and love you all.
We covet your prayers, also, as in the next two weeks, my family and I will begin preparation to move 7 hours south to Sylvania, Georgia, where I will be assuming the role of Pastor at Greenhill Baptist Church. My hope is that this change in direction ordained by God for my family and I will not serve as a hinderance to the fellowship of this collection of churches. I will be working with the office secretary, as well as our Association's moderator, to assure that the transition goes as smoothly as possible. For the next weeks, I will continue to work with and coordinate our mission teams and their labor in our communities. If you should have any questions or concerns for me during this time, please feel free to call me on my cell phone anytime.
I will dearly miss the friends that we have made and each of these congregations we have worshipped with. We will forever be grateful for the love and confidence given to us.
All His Blessings,
Marcus Z. Burchfield
