Translation - Your leadership must not only be on board, but they have to be in the right place. The New City Elders feel like we have taken a couple of BIG steps toward having the right people in the right seats... Ryan Lyons will be moving from Milledgeville to Warner Robins to take the role of Lead Pastor. Andy Blankenship will be moving from Albany to take the Lead Pastor role in Milledgeville (putting New City Albany plans on hold indefinitely).
Below is the New City Church Milledegeville announcement that follows announcements in Warner Robins and Milledgeville during yesterday's services:
In case you missed the big announcement – Sunday, February 19, 2012
New City Church is a multi-congregational church seeking to see the gospel transform Middle Georgia and beyond. Currently, we have three New City Church congregations – Macon, Milledgeville, and Warner Robins. Our goal is for each of these congregations to have a Lead Pastor and congregational elders who will lead and shepherd their particular congregation. Currently, I am the Lead Pastor at New City Church Milledgeville and Keith Watson is the Lead Pastor at New City Church Downtown. Up until now, we have not had a Lead Pastor for New City Church Warner Robins.
After much prayer and consideration, along with unanimous agreement among all New City Church elders, it has been decided that I will begin serving as the Lead Pastor at New City Church Warner Robins. Andy Blankenship, who has been serving with us for a number of weeks, will soon become the Lead Pastor at New City Church Milledgeville, taking my place.
This transition – Andy becoming the Lead Pastor at New City Church Milledgeville – will happen over the next few months. I will remain the Lead Pastor of New City Church Milledgeville for the immediate future, but Andy will immediately begin serving alongside me in Milledgeville, like a “co-pastor.” He will begin preaching at least 50% of the time and will be utilizing his time in Milledgeville to build relationships with the New City Church Milledgeville congregation. Andy will also be “learning the ropes” during this time in order to ensure as smooth of a transition of leadership as possible. If all goes well, Andy and his family will be living in Milledgeville by May and Andy will be ready to assume full responsibilities as Lead Pastor of New City Church Milledgeville by early June.
On a personal note, this decision has been very difficult for Lori and me. We are grateful for the opportunity we have been given to plant and lead New City Church Milledgeville and we genuinely love each and every one of you who are a part of New City Church. While it is difficult to cease being the Lead Pastor of New City Church Milledgeville, there are at least three reasons why I am comfortable with and confident about this decision.
- I am confident that this is the Lord’s will and will help us advance our mission of seeing greater gospel influence in Middle Georgia and beyond. Lori and I believe the Lord is leading us to make this move, and the other elders of New City Church have affirmed that leading.
- I am leaving you in good hands with Andy Blankenship. Over the last few months I have been privileged to get to know Andy and his family better. Andy loves Jesus, loves the mission of New City, and is committed to laboring to see the gospel continue to transform Milledgeville. He will lead you well and I am thankful that God sent him to us.
- I am still a part of New City Church, meaning that we are still a part of the same larger organization and I am still working side by side with you, just in a different position, to see gospel transformation in Middle Georgia and beyond.
Please be in prayer as we work through this transition. Pray for Andy and his family, for my family and me, and for unity for our congregation. Pray that our mission of seeing the gospel transform everything within our reach will continue to be advanced in Milledgeville, Warner Robins, Macon, and beyond.
For His Glory,
Pastor Ryan
Join us is praying for both families in transition as well as both congregations.
