The above pictures were taken this last Sunday night, the top one at about 8:00, the bottom one at about 11:00.
For those who don’t know, I’ve spent the last three years of my life as the College Pastor at New Song Community Church. About six month into my tenure (on February 17, 2007, to be exact), we canned the Thursday night college Bible study that had been in place when I arrived and started Seven24, a Sunday night worship service for 18-30 year olds. This last Sunday night was my last Sunday with the group, as the term of my employment has come up and the church lacks the funds to keep me on (and with my wife starting graduate school at USC staying would have been challenging anyway).
The room pictured above is the room where we held our service. We’d start around 7:30, finish around 9:00, and by about 10:00 the room would be cleaned up and most everyone would have gone to In n’ Out. Sometimes, after a service, and after most everyone had left I’d go back into the now quiet and deserted room and just sit on the stage. There was something about sitting in that room–the room that an hour earlier had been buzzing with activity and full of the sound of 90+ people worshiping God that was now eerily quiet, that I found very peaceful. This wasn’t something I did often, nor would I sit there very long when I did, but last Sunday night it seemed especially appropriate. This time there were still a few people left in the room, and it was surreal sitting there knowing that I would likely never sit there again.
I’m not entirely sure what to make of the fact that my time at Seven24 is over. On Sunday I finished my sermon, walked to the side of the room to sing the final song, and as everyone was rising to their feet and congregating in the front and center part of the room and my wife came over and gave me a hug, I completely broke down. The reality that this was my last Seven24 hit me suddenly and the floodgates opened. I could try to sum up what I was feeling in that moment, but I don’t think my words could do it justice. Suffice to say it is hard to come to grips with leaving people that I love and leaving a ministry that I had worked so hard to build in the face of many obstacles. After the song I closed the service in prayer, praying Colossians 1:9-12 as a prayer of blessing over the group, and then everyone present crowded around Christie and I and prayed for us. It was a powerful time, and we felt the love of our community in a profound way.
After that we spent the next two hours hanging out with people, giving lots of hugs, shedding a few tears, and hearing many kind and gracious words from our friends who shared with us ways that God had used us to impact their lives. It was a night I will not soon forget. Finally, at a little bit past 11, once just about everyone else had left, we turned off the lights, walked out to the parking lot and drove away. Christie asked how I was feeling, and I fought back tears as I tried to articulate an answer. And just like that, a chapter in our lives was closed, and we drove “home” to Pasadena, knowing that a new chapter was beginning.
While I am sad for many reasons, there are several conditions surrounding our departure from Seven24 that make me very happy. I am leaving with the ministry in a good, healthy place, and I am leaving with nothing but positive relationships with those that I worked with. It’s nice to move on knowing that Seven24 is going to continue. I said on Sunday night that I believe Seven24’s best days are still to come, and I believe that with all of my heart. Additionally, I am leaving with many fond memories and a heart filled with gratitude towards God for all that he accomplished in my time at New Song.
For now, Christie and I are getting settled in Pasadena. I’m taking 12-units at Fuller, and she is in the fourth week of the Occupational Therapy master’s program at USC. I am going to be out of paid staff church work for a little while, but we are both excited about being a part of church “from the other side” for a brief season. We’ll more than likely land at Bel Air Pres, the church we went to in college, but we’ll devote the next three or four weeks to trying to few different churches before we dive in somewhere. We are both looking forward to plugging in and hopefully enriching the ministry of whatever church we land at.
I suppose that is all for now. The reality that this next chapter has started is slowly begining to set in. I know I speak for Christie and myself when I say that we are very thankful for the love, support, and prayers of our New Song family, and we are grateful to God for the opportunity to be a part of Seven24 for as long as we were.
3 Comments
July 8, 2009 at 8:45 am
When I saw the second picture, I said to Edwin, “That is the saddest picture in the world.” So, I know, not really. But man, it sure does portray the emotion of what you must be feeling right now. And, it makes me relive the emotion of a couple of months ago. Sigh. Ok…on to new things, right!?
July 8, 2009 at 9:09 am
I’m wondering when I’m going to stop crying when I see that second picture and think about you guys leaving. And I thought I’d be better prepared from taking your name out of both the programs! I didn’t want to say anything serious Sunday night because I knew I’d lose it, but Brian, God has used you in my life so much. Your messages have helped instill in me a thirst for the Word of God. It was you who inspired me to go to seminary, a decision which already has changed my life. Because of Seven24, my life is radically different than I ever would have dreamed it would be.
And you haven’t just been awesome as a pastor either. Every time I was among the last to leave on Sunday nights, hanging out by the cars with you, Mike Martinez, and Brett, I would think to myself, “These are probably my 3 favorite guys in the whole world.” You are one of the funniest, most clever, genuine people I’ve ever met. I know that sounds like a hyperbole or sucking up, but I mean it. I loved just standing there listening to you guys talk. You were so much more than just our pastor; you were a part of the community, and I think that is what I am going to miss the most.
Like I said Sunday night, this is certainly not goodbye for good. I hope to visit Fuller soon (I know, I’m way over-eager) and when I do I’ll visit you guys. Or maybe a bunch of us will just go to Pasadena for no reason other than to see you and Christie. It would be totally worth it.
We love you, Brian, and will never be able to thank you enough for being our college pastor!
July 8, 2009 at 9:38 am
[...] Brian Kiley had his last night with us this past Sunday. [You can read his blog post about it here.] That night I was working the tech booth (as I have been for a while now) running powerpoint. On [...]