Dear LNC Family,

This past Monday I submitted my resignation to the church board. My resignation will take effect on March 1, 2021. I have accepted a position at Lakeholm Church of the Nazarene as the Pastor to Youth and Families.

Please know that Aubree and I did not come to this decision lightly. We have called Laurel Nazarene our home for almost 7 years. Our 2 boys were born here, and we have loved raising them amongst such amazing people. Throughout our time here we have been so blessed to be a part of such a loving and supportive church family. We have been through a lot together, and it has been an honor to call you our church family.

This is not a decision that we arrived at quickly or easily. It has been a long process of prayer, conversations, and seeking wise counsel. Through this process God has shown both Aubree and I that the story God is writing with the Laurel Nazarene Church no longer includes us, and He is calling us to join in the story He is writing at Lakeholm.

In our departure I am confident that the student ministry of Elevate will continue to flourish. Elevate is bigger than me, and I have the utmost confidence that our adult sponsors can and will carry on the ministry beautifully in our absence. The next few weeks I will be meeting with our team to intentionally plan out the next few months of ministry together.

I am also confident that our YAMS (Young Adult Ministry) will continue to be the amazing community it has been for over 6 years. In all honesty, they have not needed us for a while now, but Aubree and I continued to lead it simply because we loved being a part of it.

Laurel Nazarene will always be close to our hearts, and I consider it a great honor to have been able to be a part of the ministry here at LNC these past 6 1/2 years. While we are excited for what God has in store for us in this next chapter of our lives, we are also saddened to be leaving all of you who have meant so much to us.

Please be in prayer for Aubree, myself, and our 2 boys as we embark on this next chapter in our lives as you all will be in ours.

Sincerely,

Rev. Derek Parson
Associate Pastor of Youth and Media
Laurel Nazarene Church