God Has Been Faithful

This will be the last entry in the Vaga-Bonds blog.  We want to thank those who have taken the time to read the blogs over the past four years and, also, those who have responded with encouraging thoughts and prayers.  We have had quite the adventure in Costa Rica.  God has moved in mighty ways.

In this final blog we would like to share how God has orchestrated the past few months to advance the ministry at English Christian Fellowship and, also, bring us back to the United States.  We are beyond grateful!

At our last Sunday service together in Costa Rica, ECF honored Pam and I with a moving send-off that included the church’s leaders washing our feet.  It was one of the most sacred and loving moments in our entire ministry. 

The following week, I was able to spend time with Gilbert Thurston, ECF’s new Lead Pastor. Gilbert was vetted with remarkable speed and thoroughness by ECF’s search team.  The timing of the events related to his calling was breathtaking. It was clear to all of us that God was guiding  throughout the transition at ECF. 

May 27th, after nearly four years living and serving in Costa Rica, I departed the country with decidedly mixed emotions. I was super excited to be permanently relocating near family, but sad to leave behind treasured friends and ministry colleagues. 

We had three granddaughters graduate from high school the first week of June.  We were able to attend each graduation ceremony and stayed in our daughters’ homes, which is always a treat.  Two of our grandsons, Josiah and Liam, also graduated from Junior High School.  We were in Vermont, Southern California, and Santa Rosa all within seven days!  We are very proud of Audrey, Reagan, Cheyann, Liam and Josiah. 

The following week, we spent time in San Francisco with two of the high school graduates to celebrate their milestone.  Among other festivities, Cheyann and Reagan wore their prom dresses to an elegant dinner in the city, we went to a Broadway show and we enjoyed touring the city. 

I had the honor of preaching four Sundays in June at Living Roots Church while our son-in-law, Art Cena, was on sabbatical.  It is a sweet church family and we enjoyed getting to know them better. 

On June 16, we moved into our new-to-us house in Oakmont, a beautiful 55+ community with two golf courses and a lap pool located in the wine country surrounding Santa Rosa.  We are overwhelmed with God’s grace that enabled us to purchase a home again in the USA.  Since moving in, we have enjoyed purchasing the things we’ve needed after an international move.  We have felt like newlyweds starting from the ground up. But God’s provision has been stunning.

June 20th, Pam traveled to SoCal to pick up Millie.  Millie had been with Pam’s sister and brother-in-law since April 15th.  Our “family” is back together again!  Millie loves the deer and wild turkeys that roam our new neighborhood.  It is feeling like home now, even though we still need Google-maps to get around town.  The best part has been to be near Art and Christina and the grandkids. It is life-giving and so much fun!

On June 29, Ray Johnston (Bayside Church’s Founding Pastor) and Brian Hopkins (an Executive Pastor with Bayside) hosted two events for key leaders from Bayside Santa Rosa to welcome Pam and me, as well as to introduce the two other Campus Lead Pastors that I will serve alongside (Mason Williams and Gil Stieglitz). 

We are enormously thankful to be given this new opportunity to contribute to the advancement of the cause of Christ.  We are looking forward to the best season of our life and ministry!  I officially began my new ministry with Bayside Santa Rosa on July 5th. 

So, the Vagabonds have landed and plan to stay put for a good long time.  The timing and details surrounding leaving our ministry in Costa Rica, purchasing a home in Oakmont and beginning our new ministry in Santa Rosa have been nothing short of miraculous. 

Thank you to those who have prayed for us and helped with the ministry in Costa Rica.  We thank the Lord for his mercy and grace these past four years. Our desire is to keep serving King Jesus as long as we are able. 

We hope that you, also, keep marching forward experiencing God’s lovingkindness.  He is so, so good! God loves us more than we can ever imagine.

 Signing off with love,

 Steve and Pam