Dear Colleagues In Ministry,

I just wanted to say thank you to all who have greeted me so graciously into the Johnson City District. It has been a serendipitous experience to recognize streets and buildings I hadn't seen since I graduated from Science Hill High School in 1980. It has also been glorious to see the mountains surrounding the area and realize I hadn't really appreciated them when I lived here 30 years ago. A lot has changed since then.  

I trust I have changed as well.

In some ways I feel like the prodigal son who has returned home. There is a part of me that hopes people who knew me "back in the day" will exercise selective amnesia. I trust that my previous sins have been forgotten, or at least forgiven.

Reconnecting with old friends has been invigorating. I have also drawn energy from meeting new people who are excited about Christ and their churches. I think that is what I am appreciating about my new role more than anything else.

Experiencing the people of the district has helped me realize I can't do my job apart from you. I don't have a church. I don't have a building that belongs to "my" church. I can't really raise funds the way I've done for years. Indeed I can't do anything without you...and God.

Please be patient with me as I grow into this new role. Please pray for me just as I will pray for you. Know that I will work as hard as I can to support you in your ministry. I know that you have a challenging call. Ministry can be tough. But, I believe you have a holy calling. Let me know if there is any way I can serve you.

God bless you.

Walter Weikel