Rector’s Update: Staff Changes
“When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” (Psalm 94:19)
Dear Restoration,
It is with a heavy heart that I write to tell you that our Director of Worship Arts, Chris Stephens, has chosen to resign, effective May 29. He and his family will be moving back to New York in June. I want to avoid cliché when I can, but my heart really is heavy. I am sad. I have loved working alongside Chris. He has become a friend. I will miss him. I have loved the way our congregation has grown closer to Jesus as we sing our praises and our sorrows to Him. We have so many new volunteer musicians who are serving and flourishing because of his leadership. It has been a joy to watch.
I asked Chris to write to you so that you could hear in his words both his appreciation for his time at Restoration and the challenges his family has faced over the last year. You can read his letter below. I invite you to pray for Chris, Megan, and the kids as they finish their school year and their time in Northern VA and prepare for this move. Let’s pray for the Lord to graciously sustain them with His abundant love.
Today, our staff team is stepping away for 24 hours for our first staff retreat since 2019(!) We have been looking forward to it for a couple of months. Please pray for us: We need a moment to breathe before the intensity of Holy Week. We need a moment to connect our hearts to each other. We need a moment to rejoice in our new staff members and to give thanks for Chris. We are taking a moment and we would be grateful for your prayers. We will return tomorrow around 3:00.
We all have questions about what’s next for the position of Director of Worship Arts at Restoration. Kat and I, in partnership with Dennis Wong, our Personnel Team Lead, will offer some steps forward next week. For now, please pray for God to lead us to this person! We look forward to hearing your referrals and joining you in your prayers.
In all of this, we trust in God’s steadfast love for the Stephens family and for Restoration. He knows what He is doing and we find faith as we follow Him in faith.
“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21b
-David
From Chris:
Our family moved to Virginia a year ago. This season of change brought on the expected: adjusting to a new culture, new schools, new rhythms, and missing what we left in NY. While we thought we moved here for a job, God had another plan of doing a deep, much needed work in our family and our hearts. Lots of uprooting, pruning, and refining. This has not been the easiest year but God has been faithful to walk with us during this unique season of growth. Restoration has been a safe place for us to work through what God has been stirring and sifting in us.
During this time, we have felt the need to take some time away from church ministry and will transition back to NY to be close to family and friends. While our time here was much shorter than expected, God has given us clarity and peace about this next chapter for our family.
Restoration is a great church with great people doing great things. It’s been such a blessing to work alongside our awesome staff as well as serve alongside such a talented worship arts team. We are so grateful for the connections we have made and how you’ve welcomed us. We’ve learned so much being here and are deeply grateful for this experience.
We will miss you all and would appreciate prayers as we prepare to make our transition back to New York at the beginning of June.
Good Things DO Grow Here.
Grace & Peace,
Chris, Megan, Caleb, Myla and Luka Stephens
