Hello, Reveal Family!
I pray this finds you well.
Over the past couple weeks, I’ve been reflecting on where we’ve been as a Church and what the Lord has done through this congregation. I remember telling Shelia just before we launched Reveal, “I can’t imagine what baptizing that first person will be like.” Well, to even my surprise, since then we’ve baptized 315 people and we’re still going strong. Amazing!
Somehow a rag-tag group of believers managed to launch Revive, our nonprofit arm, that continues to serve our community with home repairs for the elderly, Thanksgiving Food Boxes, and free backpacks and school supplies for children. We’ve partnered with St. Mary’s to host our Saturday Food Drop where we serve over 300 family members each month. In our local schools, we provide snack packs, clothing, and pay for dental work and eyeglasses for at risk students. And this just begins to scratch the surface. I am proud to say our reputation as a community minded Church is well established. What the Lord has done through us is beyond anything I could have imagined. He certainly can do immeasurably more than we ask or think!
Through prayer and contemplation, early this year I began to sense a change was needed for my personal well-being and for the leadership structure at Reveal. Before your mind goes there, there is no crisis. Shelia and I are healthy in every aspect of life. However, while the past 15 years have been incredibly rewarding, they have also been exceedingly challenging. As I contemplate what the last quarter of vocational ministry looks like, I’ve come to believe that my ministry experience and leadership abilities will be better served in a support role rather than as the lead pastor at Reveal.
In April of this year, I reached out to Brian Anderson, senior pastor at Vineyard Church North Phoenix. Brian has been my pastor since I was 18. Vineyard Church is where I spent 15 years on staff as an associate pastor and is the sending church of Reveal. Over several weeks of conversations, prayer, outside counsel, and more prayer, Brian offered me the executive pastor position at VC, which I have since accepted.
The more difficult decision was what will happen to Reveal, the church Shelia and I started and deeply love? This sparked more conversation, prayer, counsel, and meetings with the Reveal staff and the Reveal board. In the end, we believe the best option for Reveal is to reunite with our sending Church and become a campus of Vineyard Church. While not an easy decision, it is one that Shelia and I are confident with. And, in the end, believe it is how the Lord is leading Reveal. I sincerely believe this will allow Reveal to become a healthier church and expand our ministry effectiveness in our community.
I know questions are swirling. I promise they will be answered in time. For now, what I’d like you to know is this:
There is more to be said but this has been long enough. We’ll be having a Reveal “Town Hall” meeting on Sunday, October 23rd at 6:00pm where I’ll tell more of the story and answer your questions. I hope you can attend as I believe when you hear the vision you’ll agree that it is a good transition for both churches. In the meantime, we have a FAQ page on our website that will answer many questions.
One final thought, please do not give the enemy an opportunity in this. I ask you protect Shelia and I through this transition by not allowing rumors to circulate. There is no crisis, neither at Reveal nor with Shelia and I!
Thank you for your faithfulness and for making us a better church. Our best is still to come.
Love,
Marty and Shelia
PS - Interested in knowing more about Vineyard Church North Phoenix? Check out their website.
I pray this finds you well.
Over the past couple weeks, I’ve been reflecting on where we’ve been as a Church and what the Lord has done through this congregation. I remember telling Shelia just before we launched Reveal, “I can’t imagine what baptizing that first person will be like.” Well, to even my surprise, since then we’ve baptized 315 people and we’re still going strong. Amazing!
Somehow a rag-tag group of believers managed to launch Revive, our nonprofit arm, that continues to serve our community with home repairs for the elderly, Thanksgiving Food Boxes, and free backpacks and school supplies for children. We’ve partnered with St. Mary’s to host our Saturday Food Drop where we serve over 300 family members each month. In our local schools, we provide snack packs, clothing, and pay for dental work and eyeglasses for at risk students. And this just begins to scratch the surface. I am proud to say our reputation as a community minded Church is well established. What the Lord has done through us is beyond anything I could have imagined. He certainly can do immeasurably more than we ask or think!
Through prayer and contemplation, early this year I began to sense a change was needed for my personal well-being and for the leadership structure at Reveal. Before your mind goes there, there is no crisis. Shelia and I are healthy in every aspect of life. However, while the past 15 years have been incredibly rewarding, they have also been exceedingly challenging. As I contemplate what the last quarter of vocational ministry looks like, I’ve come to believe that my ministry experience and leadership abilities will be better served in a support role rather than as the lead pastor at Reveal.
In April of this year, I reached out to Brian Anderson, senior pastor at Vineyard Church North Phoenix. Brian has been my pastor since I was 18. Vineyard Church is where I spent 15 years on staff as an associate pastor and is the sending church of Reveal. Over several weeks of conversations, prayer, outside counsel, and more prayer, Brian offered me the executive pastor position at VC, which I have since accepted.
The more difficult decision was what will happen to Reveal, the church Shelia and I started and deeply love? This sparked more conversation, prayer, counsel, and meetings with the Reveal staff and the Reveal board. In the end, we believe the best option for Reveal is to reunite with our sending Church and become a campus of Vineyard Church. While not an easy decision, it is one that Shelia and I are confident with. And, in the end, believe it is how the Lord is leading Reveal. I sincerely believe this will allow Reveal to become a healthier church and expand our ministry effectiveness in our community.
I know questions are swirling. I promise they will be answered in time. For now, what I’d like you to know is this:
- Reveal will be moving toward reuniting with VC under the senior leadership of Pastor Brian Anderson.
- I will become the executive pastor at VC and assist with oversight at both campuses. So, although you’re losing me as the guy who speaks 40 plus times a year, I’ll still be around.
- To begin with, I will assume the role as campus pastor until a permanent one is raised up. Once that happens, I will slowly transition into the executive pastor role.
- There will be no changes to our current staff. Reveal pastors and staff are committed to our church community and will remain in their current ministry positions.
- The majority of Sunday speaking will be LIVE!
- “If it’s working at Reveal, we don’t want to change it?” This has been the common phrase during the numerous meetings we’ve had with the VC staff. Much of what you love about Reveal will remain the same. Yes, there will be changes, but they are changes I’ve felt have been needed for a couple years now but we have not had the staff to make them happen.
- There are numerous mutual benefits in reuniting churches. Many of them you’ll be seeing in the months to come. For one, we will move toward being properly staffed for a church our size. Currently, there are only two full-time staff members at Reveal. Yeah, we’re stretched thin!
- You’ll have a chance to meet Pastor Brian on Sunday, November 13 when I interview him at Reveal. You won’t want to miss it.
There is more to be said but this has been long enough. We’ll be having a Reveal “Town Hall” meeting on Sunday, October 23rd at 6:00pm where I’ll tell more of the story and answer your questions. I hope you can attend as I believe when you hear the vision you’ll agree that it is a good transition for both churches. In the meantime, we have a FAQ page on our website that will answer many questions.
One final thought, please do not give the enemy an opportunity in this. I ask you protect Shelia and I through this transition by not allowing rumors to circulate. There is no crisis, neither at Reveal nor with Shelia and I!
Thank you for your faithfulness and for making us a better church. Our best is still to come.
Love,
Marty and Shelia
PS - Interested in knowing more about Vineyard Church North Phoenix? Check out their website.
