Dear HRBC Family, 

Over the next few weeks, we have several special worship services! This Sunday, July 14th, we are blessed to have Rev. Mark Snipes as our guest preacher. Mark serves as the Coordinator of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Virginia (CBFVA). Then, on July 21st, we are grateful to have Rev. Dr. Lakeisha Cook preaching. Dr. Cook is Deputy Director of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. Both Mark and Keisha are Baptist ministers who are doing some wonderful kingdom work in their respective calls. Then, on July 28th, we will look forward to celebrating the ministry of Rev. Phillip Brown. Read more for additional details about the weeks to come . . . 

Phillip has served HRBC for 33- and one-half years as Pastor for Worship and Music. He has held other roles such as youth pastor and, currently, college ministries. On June 30th, Phillip announced that he is retiring from HRBC and has accepted a new position with EverBless Foundation (formerly the Virginia Baptist Foundation). We are grateful to God for Phillip and his faithful ministry for these three-plus decades. I am thankful to have served alongside Phillip for nearly a decade here at HRBC. Please take time to express your appreciation to Phillip and Lisa in the weeks to come. Join me in saying, “Well done good and faithful servant!” 

This transition comes during a time when our family had previously  scheduled some vacation in South Carolina, hence the two guest preachers who will be our guests on July 14th and 21st. I look forward to being here for the celebration of Phillip’s ministry on the 28th  

Originally, I was supposed to be on sabbatical for 12 weeks starting July 1st. Due to the church’s financial shortfalls and the resulting staff reductions, I did not sense a peace from God to continue with the sabbatical plans. Additionally, the funding for sabbatical, as well as many other church programs, was cut. Subsequently, the Sabbatical Advisory Team (SAT) and our Human Resources Group (HR), supported my recommendation to postpone sabbatical to another year. We will revisit it in the future when the timing is right.  

Meanwhile, the SAT and HR leadership offered to grant me some comp-time since the sabbatical had to be postponed. The plan was to grant me three additional weeks’ away to be refreshed and be with my family. Melanie and I are so grateful for this offer. This schedule is as follows: We will be away in S.C. Sundays July 14th  and 21st; back here on the 28th for Phillip’s celebration; and off August 4th, with Rev. Dr. Jim Townsend as our preacher. I will be back in the pulpit on Aug. 11th.  

During this stretch, Jim Townsend will be the key point of contact for pastoral care. Kyara Kelley-Jones will also be available to assist you. Additionally, I have enlisted several ministers to provide help as needed: Rev. Dr. Steve Allsbrook, Rev. Dr. David Cornelius, Mrs. Elwanda Cornelius, and Rev. Dr. Rand Forder. Finally, our deacons, led by Sadra Lynch, will be ready and willing to serve you. They have created a new “Deacon of the Week” process to help in any way. Each week, you will find two deacons and their contact information in the worship bulletin and in the Milepost. Please do not hesitate to call on any of the above should a care need or emergency arise. 

Thank you for being such a graceful and loving church family. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement during this season of change and transition here at HRBC. We are not alone in this! God is with us and within us every step of the way . . . 

• Jesus said, “The Spirit of truth . . . lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17) 

• He also said, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20b) 

In Christ’s care,