As many of you are aware of by now, Marcille and I announced our retirement at the Annual Meeting, October 20th. Our last official day of serving with you will be March 31, 2026. I cannot begin to express the profound joy and gratitude in my heart and life for the incredible opportunity of serving as your Associational Missionary for the past 21 years. I am beyond thankful that for the past 19 years I have been able to do so with Marcille by my side as your Ministry Assistant, Clerk, and Treasurer. As we shared in our announcement, it is God’s will for our lives at this time. This has been one of the most difficult decisions I, and we together, have ever had to make. It is a decision that was confirmed in our hearts very early in this year and God graciously allowed us to wait until the Annual Meeting to make it public. I will address this decision and our love for the Cherokee Baptist Association more in the days ahead. For now, I ask you to pray diligently and fervently for the Associational Missionary Search Committee, the Personnel Committee, and your Moderator. I believe God has the right people already out there to come and serve with you in the future
Our 192nd Annual Meeting at Friendship BC was one of the best we’ve ever had. Many of you have expressed to me the very same thought. It was a wonderful night as we came together to share in “God’s Goodness” across the Cherokee Baptist Association. The evening was filled with a sweet spirit of fellowship, very encouraging reports, honoring our Bible Drillers, hearing from our Hispanic Pastor and from one of our own who is now a NAMB Church Planter in Michigan. Bro. Mike Jackson, one of our State Missionaries, preached an outstanding message from Psalm 106:1, speaking to our theme for the evening, “Celebrating God’s Goodness.” We are thankful to everyone who helped make this year’s Annual Meeting the blessing and success it was.
On November 27th, most of us will gather with our families and enjoy a time and feast of Thanksgiving. In spite of all the conflict and chaos around us, may we be mindful of “God’s Goodness” and how He expresses it to us every day. “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thess. 5:18.
May you have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
Bro. Wendell
Romans 15:13