Goodbye from the Spainhours
Dear Hope Church Family,
Each morning brings a quiet invitation to begin again: fresh mercy, renewed hope, and the promise that God has written our stories together. “His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” – Lamentations 3:22-23. When friends move on or enter new seasons, these moments are not final goodbyes but good news for new beginnings; we grieve what we’ll miss and celebrate what God is doing next, trusting the same God who paints the sunset also ordains the sunrise.
Our journey within God’s earthly kingdom and here at Hope Church has truly been a season of blessing and grace. Sue and I have been privileged to serve in and lead many ministries and activities that have deeply shaped our walk with Christ. Leading Monday evening prayer has been an extraordinary gift, witnessing firsthand God’s mercy, faithfulness, and transforming grace. And for both Sue and I to serve, whether through prayer ministry, Hope Springs, the Deacons, life groups, VBS, or countless other opportunities, each has reflected God’s sovereign hand and enriching purpose for our time at Hope Church. Through it all, these open doors and seasons of spiritual growth have continually called us to deeper patience, trust, and steadfast faith in the Lord.
These words come from someone whose name I don’t know, yet they have quietly become a guiding philosophy for my life: “If God’s plan for you is to wait, then do what waiters do… serve.” In seasons that feel slow, uncertain, or even painful, there is still sacred purpose. We may wish to avoid suffering, loss, and the weight of a broken world, yet this is the very world Christ stepped into, redeeming it through His own poured-out life. And somehow, in His grace, we are invited into that same mystery to share in His suffering and to be poured out for others in love.
As Sue and I step away from this beloved church family, we do so with hearts full of gratitude and tender sorrow, recognizing that our parting is held within God’s faithful providence and covenantal love. Each of you has been a means of grace to us; your encouragement, your faith, and your presence have shaped and sanctified us in ways that will endure beyond this season. We will miss you all deeply, and that ache itself testifies to the depth of our bond. Yet, even in this farewell, we rest in the truth that the Lord continues to write and redeem our story. We part with blessings, trusting that God’s Spirit will lead us into new fields of service and will renew each of you with fresh vision and strength.
God’s Riches Blessings to You and Yours,
John & Sue Spainhour