The News Is Out!

Most of you loyal OlsonWeb readers already know about our big news. However, since that news has now gone public, I wanted to blog about it!

Here's some of the email announcement we sent out recently:

Amy and I are excited to announce that after much prayerful deliberation, we are following the Lord's leading to... drum roll please... Southern California! I let my boss know late this afternoon that I will be leaving Mission Springs in mid-January in order to begin taking seminary classes at Talbot School of Theology (part of Biola University) in La Mirada, CA. The coming weeks will be spent finishing up my time at Mission Springs while looking for a ministry opportunity or other job in Southern Cal, figuring out where to live, preparing to move, etc.

Thanks so much to all of you for your prayers and support over these past months as we have sought God's direction for us. We'd appreciate your continued prayers for our transition planning. Also, if you have any leads for either housing or a ministry position, please let me know!

Here are some excerpts from an email I sent to former Frontier Ranch summer staffers today:

I am writing to let you all know about some exciting developments in my life. After much prayerful deliberation, Amy and I became convinced of God's call for me to begin seminary training. So, in order to prepare for whatever ministry He calls me to in the future, my family and I will soon be moving to Southern California where I will be enrolling at Talbot School of Theology (part of Biola University) in La Mirada, CA. My last day here at Mission Springs will be sometime in mid-January and school starts on January 29th.

We are stepping out in faith to follow His call, not yet knowing where I will work or where we will live. That's the adventure of being obedient! My hope and prayer is that God will lead me to a ministry position that will allow me to provide for my family but have enough flexibility to attend classes as a full-time student. My family and I are excited to see what God has in store!

Of course, it is not without sadness that we leave Mission Springs. As you all know, Mission Springs holds a very special place in my heart… I received my call to ministry and met Amy while on summer staff here and have had innumerable amazing "God moments" while serving with all of you at Frontier Ranch. I have truly enjoyed every aspect of my job here and God really stretched and grew me while I was here. We will miss this place and, more importantly, the people here.

However, all that said, I am very excited to see what the Lord has in store for the future here at Mission Springs. Next summer, Mission Springs will celebrate 40 years of youth camp ministry at Frontier Ranch and I am so glad that you all have been, and will continue to be, part of God's work there. Thanks for your partnership in the Gospel!

I would appreciate your prayers for the transition time that lies ahead for both my family and for Mission Springs. PLEASE feel free to call or email me with any questions you might have. I’ll be in contact with all of you at least a couple more times via these lovely mass emails before I leave and I look forward to seeing many of you at the reunion!