A Letter from Pastor Josh Stringer

Our Dear College Church Family,

With great joy and sadness and with the support and encouragement of Pastors Moody and Seward, I want to communicate to you that I have accepted the senior pastor role at Living Stones Church in Cumming, Georgia. Ever since my years pastoring the South Campus, I have wrestled with God’s leading in my life towards a role like this one and have remained attentive to God’s prompting. Shana and I have sought the Lord regarding this opportunity, and, through many confirming steps and wise counsel, we believe this is where God is leading us.

We will be forever grateful for our time at College Church. This is the place my family calls home. You are our church family away from our natural family. All of our kids have been dedicated here, and our oldest two were baptized here last summer. In August we would have been here for a decade! Over that time, you have celebrated with us, cried with us, served us, and been generous towards us. You have been the body of Christ to our family. In short, you have loved us with the love of Jesus.

I am humbled to have had the joy of serving on staff here in a variety of different roles. But whatever the role has been, my greatest joy has been the people with whom I’ve had the opportunity to serve. I say it during every membership class when introducing the staff, elders, and lay leaders. These are more than gifted colleagues. These are brothers and sisters, friends of the deepest kind, and partners in gospel ministry.

By you, I have been encouraged, exhorted, shepherded, and sharpened in ways that will bear fruit all the days of my life.

As we have prayed, we see God opening a door for us to walk through by faith. We believe there is a

unique opportunity to take the skills and gifts that have been refined at College Church to serve Jesus’ church in a new role. Living Stones Church is a smaller, Baptist church just north of Atlanta. As senior pastor, I will be responsible for shepherding God’s people through preaching, discipleship, and vision.

It is bittersweet to say goodbye to all of you who have welcomed us into your lives. My last Sunday at College Church will be April 18. Between now and then, we look forward to connecting with many of you and to help transition my areas of ministry responsibility to others.

I would greatly appreciate your prayers for my family and me as we walk this path by faith. We are trusting in God’s good plan for our family, and for College Church.

With deep affection and gratitude to the Lord on your behalf,

Josh, Shana, Truett, Elliott, Annette, Barrett, and Rhett Stringer