Rumor Busters (alternate title: if you want to know what's going on, ask ...)

The Fort Bend Independent School District's website has a section on its site dedicated to clarifying and correcting rumors. Apparently I need to add this section to the blog as well, in order to clarify some of the news and rumors about my resignation from FBCC.

If you hear anything related to our situation and you're not sure about the veracity (truth), feel free to email me for clarification.

RUMOR
I heard that you're leaving at the end of September.

TRUTH
My ministry end-date at FBCC is October 31. I informed the church of this date at the end of July.

I had originally submitted my resignation on June 22, with an effective date of September 30. In that letter, I asked FBCC to consider allowing me to extend my ministry on a month-to-month basis in order to better handle the transition. The Church Council in July asked me for a definite end-date instead. Thus, the date of October 31.

RUMOR
I'm not sure but some people are wondering if you were fired.

TRUTH
No, I was not fired. In fact, when I informed FBCC of my intent to resign, I was asked repeatedly to reconsider and stay.

RUMOR
I heard that because you're resigning, AWANA will be cancelled this year.

TRUTH
There is no decision concerning any changes in AWANA. At present, we are going ahead with the plans to begin AWANA at FBCC on Sept. 8, the Friday after Labor Day. However, there is a real need for volunteers and leaders in AWANA this year. We still don't have a Commander and have many other vacancies in key leadership positions. We need the parents and adults at FBCC to step up and volunteer in order to implement AWANA at the same level of excellence and quality. We are presently approaching some possible individuals to ask them about the Commander position.

RUMOR
Fourth grader: "My parents wants to know the real reason why you're leaving. They said God is not the real reason."

TRUTH
God IS THE REAL REASON. Betty and I have prayed over this decision for several months before we finally decided what to do. Our original commitment to FBCC was 5 years and in fall of 2005, at the beginning of our fifth year at FBCC, we began to pray for God's direction for our future. We did struggle over the timing, knowing that FBCC was already undergoing transition in the English ministry.

RUMOR
Is FBCC not pursuing family ministry? Is that one of the reasons you're leaving?

TRUTH
Family ministry at FBCC is not a reason for my leaving.

FBCC is pursuing family ministry. This is one of the goals for 2006, and is also a major part of the 10-year vision. There are many parents in the church who are responding to the challenge of pursuing family ministry. But this will require a lot of work and is not as easy as it sounds. FBCC is a North American ethnic Chinese church with different generations worshipping under the same roof.

RUMOR
Congratulations! I heard that you already have several job offers from other churches. [08/13/06]

TRUTH
I started sending out my resume to different churches on July 18. The list of churches included several in the Houston area and some out-of-state. Two churches emailed me to ask for a chance to get to know me more. I met with a contact from a local church and talked on the phone with a contact from out-of-state.

There are no offers, and I'm still waiting to see if the churches will contact me further. Also, the hiring process of church pastoral staff is usually a protracted (longer) one compared to hiring for other jobs. In most cases, the process will take the following steps:

(a) The church will communicate by phone or email for more information from the APPLICANT. (b) The church's search committee (or people in charge of hiring) will go over the list of applicants and decide who to consider as a PROSPECT. (c) The church will invite the PROSPECT and family to visit informally and allow key leaders from the church to get to know the PROSPECT in person. (d) The church's search committee (or people in charge of hiring) decides whether to upgrade the PROSPECT to a CANDIDATE. (e) The CANDIDATE is then invited to come in for a formal interview and additional meetings with other key leaders of the church. (f) The church's search committee (or people in charge of hiring) meets and decides whether or not to tender an offer. (g) The church contacts the CANDIDATE with the offer, and the CANDIDATE decides whether or not to accept the offer.

RUMOR
I heard that you're planning to move away from Houston.

TRUTH
Whether or not my family moves is uncertain. I have sent my resume to local churches as well as out-of-town churches. It's too early to tell if we'll end up moving or not.