Yielding to God’s Call

Yielding to God’s Call: A Personal and Pastoral Update

By Rev. Heather Webb, associate pastor

Dear Second-Ponce Family,

I am reaching out to share a personal update that is a true mixture of both sadness and joy. Sunday, January 16, I was called to serve as the next pastor of Union Christian Church in Watkinsville, Georgia. I wanted you to hear the news directly from me because I love you and this decision is not something that has been easy for me at all.

Last winter, God led me into a season of deep discernment and prayer. Much to my surprise, God used this season to call me to serve as a senior pastor. At first, I was terrified because it was not something that I had ever considered before and I was comfortable serving in the safety of this loving church family as an associate pastor. You have loved me and my family well. In fact, it has been a joy and a privilege to serve here among you because you have nurtured me and affirmed my expanding pastoral identity in a truly beautiful way. Yet, after considerable prayer, study and conversations with both trusted ministry mentors and my own family, I knew that I must yield to God’s call and step out in faith from the safety of this beloved boat and walk with Jesus on the waters into a new season of ministry.

I want you to know that my decision to follow God’s call into a new season of ministry is only about obedience to God. Following God’s call to another place of service is not about any personal discontentment or dissatisfaction. Dock and the pastoral staff team have been wonderfully supportive as I have explored God’s call to serve as a pastor. They have ministered to me sacrificially during this season and I am so grateful to each of them. I am leaving the comfort of Second-Ponce for no other reason than that my life belongs to the God who calls and to the God who sends. I know without a shadow of a doubt that God is calling me to serve as the next pastor of Union Christian Church so I must follow in faith trusting Jesus to lead me well.

Some of you have visited Union Christian Church before when Rev. Jane Hull was serving there as pastor. It’s a smaller congregation that much like you is a loving church family. I am excited to begin serving as their pastor on March 1. My last Sunday serving at Second-Ponce will be February 13. I will take my unused vacation days for the last two weeks of February as we make our transition to Oconee County.

While I know this news is likely sad for many of you, I also know that you celebrate this day with me as well. Second-Ponce will always be part of my story in ministry and our story as a family. You embraced us from the moment we arrived here. Jyoti was baptized here and you have loved and discipled her well. Second-Ponce will always hold a special place in our hearts because of who you are as a family of faith. I trust that God has great things in store for this church in the years to come. I’ll be cheering you on as God works in you and through you as you grow in Christ, grow in community and share God’s love in the world.

With love and every blessing,
Heather Webb