You found it! Thanks for taking the time to find us. We hope we can keep you all connected and informed during this time of change and transition. If you're not up to speed, the letters below will give you a good perspective. Check in periodically if you'd like (http://ellsworthg.blogspot.com/), to see how we're doing and please feel free to email us at ellsworthg@gmail.com
Love and thanks,
The Ellsworth's
Letter from Pastor Gene Wood to the membership of Grace Church of Glendora:
April 2, 2008
Dear Grace Family,
Enclosed you will find a letter from our Pastor of Worship, Geoff Ellsworth. It is self-explanatory. He will be accepting a new position of ministry in Pennsylvania.
This is not a surprise to me, though it will be for most of you. Geoff and I have prayed, laughed, cried, and yes, agonized together over this move for months. I agree it’s best for him, even if not for us.
As he has worked through the details of the transition, I have quietly been giving attention to who may “follow” him. Notice I didn’t say “replace” him. Geoff is one of a kind. His talent, character, attitude and friendship will never be replaced. I don’t even want to try. But, we will continue to move forward.
Geoff will continue to lead us through Sunday, May 18, which is our GRACE WORSHIPS Sunday. Please do not miss this.
Also, Geoff would like for Grace to consider his ordination before he leaves. As we are the body of believers who know his character, calling by God and consistency of service better than any other, it makes sense this should be the case.
On May 8th, we will host an ordination council. Assuming the council recommends him for ordination (confident they will), we will plan our SERVICE OF ORDINATION on Sunday night, May 25th @ 6:00P.M.
Following that time, we will host an all-church farewell reception for the Ellsworth family. I would like to fly his mother and father back here to join us for this special evening.
There will be plenty of time for personal words. I’ll have more than my share to say – but for now, let’s enjoy the two months we have with this couple we have grown to love so very much.
Looking Forward,
Pastor Gene Wood
Dear Grace Family,
Enclosed you will find a letter from our Pastor of Worship, Geoff Ellsworth. It is self-explanatory. He will be accepting a new position of ministry in Pennsylvania.
This is not a surprise to me, though it will be for most of you. Geoff and I have prayed, laughed, cried, and yes, agonized together over this move for months. I agree it’s best for him, even if not for us.
As he has worked through the details of the transition, I have quietly been giving attention to who may “follow” him. Notice I didn’t say “replace” him. Geoff is one of a kind. His talent, character, attitude and friendship will never be replaced. I don’t even want to try. But, we will continue to move forward.
Geoff will continue to lead us through Sunday, May 18, which is our GRACE WORSHIPS Sunday. Please do not miss this.
Also, Geoff would like for Grace to consider his ordination before he leaves. As we are the body of believers who know his character, calling by God and consistency of service better than any other, it makes sense this should be the case.
On May 8th, we will host an ordination council. Assuming the council recommends him for ordination (confident they will), we will plan our SERVICE OF ORDINATION on Sunday night, May 25th @ 6:00P.M.
Following that time, we will host an all-church farewell reception for the Ellsworth family. I would like to fly his mother and father back here to join us for this special evening.
There will be plenty of time for personal words. I’ll have more than my share to say – but for now, let’s enjoy the two months we have with this couple we have grown to love so very much.
Looking Forward,
Pastor Gene Wood
Geoff's letter of resignation to Pastor Gene:
March 19, 2008
Dear Pastor Gene,
The words of Psalm 37:4 (along with Matthew 6:33 and Proverbs 3:5-6) have rung in my head, almost daily, for many years.
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4
Along with the commonly understood truth that when you delight yourself in God, then His desires will be your desires, I’ve also come to understand something from this verse from a slightly different angle.
Whatever you delight in (be it God, the world, a person or possession), will be the source of your desires. If you delight yourself in the world, then the world will be the source of “what you want.” But if God is your delight, then He (in all of His purity and wisdom) will be the source of your cravings and longings.
For a couple of years now, I have had a very clear desire to train leaders in the area of church-based, corporate worship leading. In many respects, it made no sense to Susan and me to leave my position here because of the unmatched balance of leadership and fruitfulness that Grace exhibits. However, as you know, an inexplicable (at least initially) restlessness became evident, and through a variety of avenues, it became clear to us that God was working to redirect our lives to fulfill this/His desire.
I spent the first 14 years of my life in Northeastern Pennsylvania. They were great years where I came to know the Lord as my Savior, was baptized AND experienced four distinct seasons (you remember them, right? – fall, winter, spring…..J). At 14, my family moved to San Diego where the Lord then started working on the discipleship/surrender part of my life. Through high school, college, youth and music ministry in one church and now over 10 years of corporate worship ministry here at Grace, God has been teaching me, stretching me, convicting me and growing me and my family in ever-deepening ways.
This past summer, after 23 years of my father being department chair of the Music Department at Christian Heritage College, my parents moved back to NE PA. My dad is now teaching at the seminary (Baptist Bible Seminary) of the college (Baptist Bible College) where he taught for 19 years prior to moving to San Diego. In other words, they moved back to our roots. My dad has started a masters level program for worship leaders at the seminary and is interested in having me contribute to this program.
Providentially, the seminary also has a church-planting ministry called “Project Jerusalem” and has 7 young churches already up and running, with an eighth on the way. The director of this ministry is wanting me to work with these young churches and participate in training their leaders.
In addition to all of this, I have applied to attend the seminary myself, in order to earn a Masters of Ministry degree. This has been something that I have wanted to do but I never felt comfortable with the timing of it all in relation to my young family. Now it seems that Connor and BayLynn just might enjoy dad having a little homework of his own J.
So, it is with a single knowledge and focus, but with very mixed feelings, that I announce my resignation from Grace Church effective May 18, 2008. This decision was reached with much pain and prayer because of the rich and fruitful place that Grace Church is, the depth of certainty with which God initially called us here, our “non-transient nature J,” and because of the deep and genuine feeling of family we have at Grace. It was also difficult to fathom a better way for God to provide for us, or a better fit for our gift mix and family needs. But again, it was clear that God was redirecting our lives and we knew we couldn’t fight that. The recent studies in Joshua have been particularly timely for us as we endeavor to “Follow the Boss before we cross” and “to not doubt God’s timing, change in provision methods, or leadership.” I am deeply grateful and indebted to you for 1) extending to me the opportunity to serve here at Grace Church, 2) the priceless discipleship and training I have received from being under your leadership (something I hope to pass on in this new stage of my life), and 3) the kindness and generosity that you and the Elder Board have shown me and my family. We will always be staunch lovers and supporters of you and Grace Church.
We look forward to this new “chapter of faith” in our lives as we continue, along with you, in “glorifying God by developing committed followers of Jesus Christ who attract others to Him.” As we like to say here at Grace, “Time is short and hell is hot” so we will continue to be about this “Main Thing” until the day He calls us Home.
We love you and Grace Church, and will ALWAYS consider all of you our family.
For God’s glory and fame,
Geoff Ellsworth
Dear Pastor Gene,
The words of Psalm 37:4 (along with Matthew 6:33 and Proverbs 3:5-6) have rung in my head, almost daily, for many years.
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4
Along with the commonly understood truth that when you delight yourself in God, then His desires will be your desires, I’ve also come to understand something from this verse from a slightly different angle.
Whatever you delight in (be it God, the world, a person or possession), will be the source of your desires. If you delight yourself in the world, then the world will be the source of “what you want.” But if God is your delight, then He (in all of His purity and wisdom) will be the source of your cravings and longings.
For a couple of years now, I have had a very clear desire to train leaders in the area of church-based, corporate worship leading. In many respects, it made no sense to Susan and me to leave my position here because of the unmatched balance of leadership and fruitfulness that Grace exhibits. However, as you know, an inexplicable (at least initially) restlessness became evident, and through a variety of avenues, it became clear to us that God was working to redirect our lives to fulfill this/His desire.
I spent the first 14 years of my life in Northeastern Pennsylvania. They were great years where I came to know the Lord as my Savior, was baptized AND experienced four distinct seasons (you remember them, right? – fall, winter, spring…..J). At 14, my family moved to San Diego where the Lord then started working on the discipleship/surrender part of my life. Through high school, college, youth and music ministry in one church and now over 10 years of corporate worship ministry here at Grace, God has been teaching me, stretching me, convicting me and growing me and my family in ever-deepening ways.
This past summer, after 23 years of my father being department chair of the Music Department at Christian Heritage College, my parents moved back to NE PA. My dad is now teaching at the seminary (Baptist Bible Seminary) of the college (Baptist Bible College) where he taught for 19 years prior to moving to San Diego. In other words, they moved back to our roots. My dad has started a masters level program for worship leaders at the seminary and is interested in having me contribute to this program.
Providentially, the seminary also has a church-planting ministry called “Project Jerusalem” and has 7 young churches already up and running, with an eighth on the way. The director of this ministry is wanting me to work with these young churches and participate in training their leaders.
In addition to all of this, I have applied to attend the seminary myself, in order to earn a Masters of Ministry degree. This has been something that I have wanted to do but I never felt comfortable with the timing of it all in relation to my young family. Now it seems that Connor and BayLynn just might enjoy dad having a little homework of his own J.
So, it is with a single knowledge and focus, but with very mixed feelings, that I announce my resignation from Grace Church effective May 18, 2008. This decision was reached with much pain and prayer because of the rich and fruitful place that Grace Church is, the depth of certainty with which God initially called us here, our “non-transient nature J,” and because of the deep and genuine feeling of family we have at Grace. It was also difficult to fathom a better way for God to provide for us, or a better fit for our gift mix and family needs. But again, it was clear that God was redirecting our lives and we knew we couldn’t fight that. The recent studies in Joshua have been particularly timely for us as we endeavor to “Follow the Boss before we cross” and “to not doubt God’s timing, change in provision methods, or leadership.” I am deeply grateful and indebted to you for 1) extending to me the opportunity to serve here at Grace Church, 2) the priceless discipleship and training I have received from being under your leadership (something I hope to pass on in this new stage of my life), and 3) the kindness and generosity that you and the Elder Board have shown me and my family. We will always be staunch lovers and supporters of you and Grace Church.
We look forward to this new “chapter of faith” in our lives as we continue, along with you, in “glorifying God by developing committed followers of Jesus Christ who attract others to Him.” As we like to say here at Grace, “Time is short and hell is hot” so we will continue to be about this “Main Thing” until the day He calls us Home.
We love you and Grace Church, and will ALWAYS consider all of you our family.
For God’s glory and fame,
Geoff Ellsworth
