Monday, November 04, 2013

Transition


Yesterday I shared my resignation letter with Gallery Church. Here it is. 

Gallery Church Family,

Five years ago, gripped with a vision to plant churches all throughout New York City, Susan, Jack and I moved to New York to join the church planting team of Gallery Church, as a teaching pastor.  By God's grace, this city quickly became our home and this church quickly became our family.

In December of 2012, Susan and I got unexpectedly pregnant with our fourth child, Parker. The months following this news were a roller coaster for us. We weren't immediately sure what our next step would be. Eventually, we determined to stay and to seek every sustainable advantage that would enable us to thrive in the city with four kids. We are grateful for the generous churches and many people that partnered with us to secure these sustainable advantages. Yet, now after living in the city for a year with four kids and after much, prayer, reflection and counsel, we believe that God is leading us out of New York City and into a new season of ministry.  

And so, it is with sincere sadness and sober gladness that I announce my resignation as Pastor of Gallery Church. 

We are sad to leave you, the people that have become precious to us. It has been one of my life's greatest privileges to serve as your pastor and to grow with you over these years. Our elders, staff and deacons have been a great joy to serve with. They have been very gracious and patient with me as a young pastor.
 
We also have a sober gladness. We are glad because our hearts are unified and this is God's direction for us. We are glad because this signifies a new day for us and for Gallery Church. Our God is the glorious maker of all things new and we will watch expectantly to see what wondrous things He does in this next new season at Gallery Church!

Our exact timeline is still falling into place, but our family will be in New York City at least until the week of Thanksgiving. We will be moving to our hometown in Tennessee for a brief season of rest and renewal as we prepare for whatever season of ministry God has for us next.  

We thank you for how you have loved our kids. So many of you are their heroes. You will not be forgotten. Large families can and will continue to flourish in New York City. It isn't easy, but it can most definitely be done. Everyone's story is unique and we each must faithfully sojourn the path that God leads us on.  

We believe now more than ever that New York City is one of the most strategic places on the planet for gospel ministry. In the years to come, we hope to encourage more and more churches around the country to partner with ministries here in New York.

During this season of transition, I encourage you to follow the leadership here at Gallery Church. God has given this church gracious, wise, and godly leaders - you can trust them. Susan and I are confident that Gallery’s brightest days are ahead.

We are thankful for you. We ask you to pray for us and we commit to praying for you. 

With all our love,


Freddy T. & Susan Wyatt 

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Jack's TKD Orange Belt

On September 28th Jack took his Orange Belt test. 

 Working with Master Yoo on "Form Number 1"
 He had to break 2 boards this time, kicking with each foot.
Orange Belt!

Future MLB Pittsburg Pirate

In honor of how well the Pirates did this baseball season, here is Parker wearing the Pirate uniform my dad bought years ago, I think way before Jack was born, so his grandsons could one day wear it. (Jack and Elliott)





Monday, September 30, 2013

Jack The Ring Bearer

In April Jack had the privilege of being the ring bearer in Susan Briggs and Brandon Hester's wedding.  It was fun to travel to TN with Jack and Parker and spend a few days with family.  The wedding was beautiful and of course the ring bearer was the most handsome.
 Rehearsal
 Jack and Brandon

 At the rehearsal dinner we sat in the back so he could play "Temple Run" and not be a distraction to everyone.
 So cute
 Jack and Josie.  She sat down beside him and he said, "Hi.  Do you know how to play Temple Run?  I'll show you."

He did a great job, this was also the first wedding he ever attended.  

Lillie's Jr Yellow Belt

Lillie received her Yellow Jr Belt.
So proud of you Lillie!

Summer Travels

We had the opportunity to spend several weeks out of the city this summer.  Here is a run down on our travels.

Week 1-Camp with Freddy T
Freddy T. spoke at a youth camp in Florida and we joined him.  We pulled the kids of of school for the last week of June (their last week of school) and went to camp with him.  The camp was set up great for a family with all ages to attend.  We stayed in a house on the camp property.  The kids had a great time playing basketball, ping pong, and having room to run around.  The camp property was a lot of fun. They had a zoo, go carts, a water park, and archery.  They also had horseback riding and a zip line for the older kids.

Parker was wiped out of a day of flying and driving.

Jack had fun playing basketball in the driveway

Parker rode in a grocery cart for the first time.

Kids at the zoo



This is the van they gave our family to use for the week... so funny.

Kids riding around with one of the staff members, Mikey.  They loved doing this and he drove crazy.

 Lillie and I challenging the boys to a race
 Elliott and Freddy T.
 Jack and Cody (one of the students at camp)
Freddy T. was the speaker for the middle and high school kids, but the churches children's ministers was there as well and I took our kids to that service each night.  Lillie was singing along with her favorite song "Our God is Greater."
 Archery


 More pictures from the zoo


Week 2- Panama City Beach, FL
After camp we headed to Panama City Beach, FL with my side of the family.  We’ve been looking forward to this trip for many months.  The kids were so excited to be at the beach and swim as much as they wanted every single day.  Unfortunately it didn’t turn out quite like that.  It rained most of the time we were down there and 11 of the 15 people on the trip came down with a stomach bug that was spread around throughout the week.  It was disappointing.  It was good to be with family, but wasn’t what anyone had planned or had hoped for.  I don’t even have many pictures to document it.



Week 3- Cannon Beach, OR
Our kids rode home with our family to TN for week 3 and Freddy T. and I flew to Portland, OR and drove east to Cannon Beach and spent a week.  It was such a great week.  We felt bad leaving our family after a crazy week at the beach, but this week was just what we needed to rest and relax from life.  A friend of ours has a beach house in Cannon Beach and offered it to us.  A few days into the trip our friends Jonathan and Rachel joined us from TN.  We had a great time exploring, eating, and laughing.  A fun fact about the area is that it’s where the movie Goonies was shot.  It’s one of Freddy T.’s favorite movies!

Before we headed out to Cannon Beach we spent a day in Portland with Paul and Meredith Ramey.  Freddy T. has known the Ramey’s for many years, but they are the family that came to NYC the same time as we did and served as the Worship Pastor at Gallery.  We miss them being here and it’s always good to spend some time together, so refreshing!

 Flower stand in Portland
 We were a long way from home!
 One morning while Freddy T. had coffee with Paul I went to a walk up waffle place we drove by and got myself breakfast.  SO good!
 Paul and Meredith took us to the Rose Garden in Portland.  So many roses and so beautiful.
 Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach
 The beach there was so wide, biggest beach I've ever been on.

 Every night we built a fire on the beach and watched the sun set.  This particular night there were no clouds in the sky and we watched it completely set.  It was amazing.  

 Flying kites
 When the tide was low we could go to Haystack Rock and find all kids of starfish and other sea "things." 

One last sunset

Week 4- Tennessee
After our time in OR we flew back to spend several more days in TN.  Freddy T. spent a lot of time studying these days and we hung out with family.  We went swimming a few times to try to make up for lost time at the beach.
 Elliott
 Lillie
 Jack
One big thing that happened while we were in TN was this... we got a van! We've been praying for a while that God would provide our family with a van and a church in OH wanted to partner with us by helping us get this. We love having a vehicle now and are so grateful to God for his provision.