FAREWELL COMMENTS FROM REV. ERIK HALL
When I was a philosophy student at The College of New Jersey back in 1995, I was not a Christian. In fact, I was hovering somewhere between "who knows" and "no way" when it came to the question,'does God exist?' I didn't grow up in the church. I never learned about God, Commandments, Grace, Christ, or the Cross. I did, however, grow up in a loving and caring family, and I learned to love others, value integrity, and seek justice. Like so many folks (Christian or otherwise) I desired to know truth, live honestly, and make a difference in the world. That's why I was studying and pursuing academic philosophy, ethics in particular. But, God had a different plan. Many of you who have heard my testimony know that God's hand appeared strongly in my life that year: a Christian philosopher and TCNJ professor, Dr. Roy Clouser, invited me into an encounter with God. He basically said, "If you are a seeker of truth and a lover of wisdom (the Greek meaning of philosopher) then you owe it to yourself to call upon this God of truth and covenant... this God of revelation and love". He promised that if I did God would reveal God's self to me in some way. I did... and God did... and I will never be the same.
Fifteen years have passed since that semester and through all sorts of struggles and triumphs God has kept calling me through those words of Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it will be given you, serarch and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you". And, as I have asked, sought, and knocked God has continued to find me and has not let me go. For me, all of this started with an invitation. The invitation to suspend preconceived notions and judgements, the invitation to meet squarely something (and someone) far greater than my 'self', the invitation to find truth, grow in love, and make a difference in the world. Truly, one of the most important things we can do as faithful Christians is to 'invite' others into an encounter with God... and then let God be God as we try to best reflect God's Image. Isn't this the Gospel? The God who raised Jesus from the dead and promised the renewal of our hearts, lives and world... is raising up all kinds of folks who were 'once dead' in their self-directed ways, but now alive and agents of new life. And we get to participate in this redemptive process by the power of God's Spirit!
Words cannot express both how excited I am to be called and appointed as the church planting pastor of Barnegat UMC (a project known as Barnegat Anew), and how sad I am to have to leave full-time ministry here at St. Andrew. One thing that I am sure to take with me is the powerful memory of your invitation to me... to join the community of faith at St. Andrew: to learn, grow, love, serve, and eventually lead. My life and ministry will always carry your mark, and I will always do my best to replicate that 'invitation; (which you extended to me) to all those who come to Barnegat Anew seeking the Gospel.
In my very first encounters with the team at Barnegat Anew is became clear that the vision and mission are indeed powerful and invitational: To build an authentic faith community, grounded in relevant Christian spirituality, and being the 'good news' in action serving the needs of our neighbors locally and globally. My hope is that we will continue to meet in mission and ministry together as we (St. Andrew and Barnegat... and indeed all of Christ's churches) journey together, inviting everyone everywhere to know God, to serve others, to be healed, to find truth, to grow in love, and to make a difference. By God's grace let us all continue to answer God's call to participate in fulfilling our God-given vision of 1)sharing together in the love of God; 2) creating together solutions for daily lives; 3)acting together in faith serving the needs of others.
Farewell, but not goodbye! Erik
