The following is a letter I drafted to the crew who pray for us and help support us financially.  It is related to a huge change that is happening in the Fairbanks’ lives. I thought it might be a good note to drop in here as well to keep the readers of this blog in the loop, just in case your not on my email mailer. I will be filling out more what we are doing as things get clearer.  Pray for us, will you?  Peace.

“The
place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness 

and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

Frederick
Buechner 

I am writing to inform you
about a weighty decision that I have made concerning my role with Christian
Associates.  After much prayer and
ample counsel, I have made the decision to step down as president of CA.  It was a very difficult decision
because of the opportunities that the role presented and the need that is still
very real, but after over three years in the role it became apparent that my
heart was being re-drawn back into local ministry.

Before I share a bit of
what I am thinking about for the next step in our lives, allow me to accent a
couple of things.

1)   
This decision
had little, to anything to do with CA and everything to do with God’s
beckoning.  I love CA and it’s
mission.  Whenever stuff like this
happens, people eventually conjecture about the back-story.  Well, not to diminish the drama, but
there is none except God stirring something in me.

2)   
I am
profoundly grateful for each of you and the support you have given Robi and I
over these years serving with Christian Associates.  It has meant so much to us.

Ok, why then, you
ask?  Thanks for asking.  Over the time I served as president of
the organization, I had a growing realization that my personal call was first
to the local community, the church. 
God has wired me to lead in the church, in a local context.  I do not see that as a contradiction to
what has been fleshed out in me in the more trans-local.  It simply has to do with the directional
flow that my giftings work best in (something I didn’t understand until I
stepped into a more itinerate role). 
I have discerned that my gifting and personality work best with the
directional flow of the inside-out, rather than the outside-in.  I am not sure if that makes sense, but
my leadership has always flourished through significant relational investment,
investment that cannot happen in a trip or a conference, but over significant
time of loving, sharing and investing. 
The local church is where, as Buechner writes, “…our deep gladness and
the world’s deep hunger meet.” So, what I know is, while not where yet, I will
be headed back to local church leadership, with the more trans-local (or
apostolic orientation) drafting in behind.

Some important details:

1. When will you
   wrap up your role as president: The end date for my role was effective November
   30.
2. What is next:
   While I do not know for sure what is next, beyond what I just explained above, Christian
   Associates graciously gives each of their missionaries/staff a 3-month window
   for transition and for discernment.
3. What should we
   be praying about for you: Please pray that we would assiduously be in a
   listening posture about what is next. 
   I like to think of it in terms of listening to the church, our own
   hearts and to the gracious voice of God.  Pray that we are still enough and awake enough to listen
   well.  I would love to hear from
   you also, if God speaks to you about us – ok?

All right, that was a
load.  I am almost certain that I
did not cover everything.  If you
have other questions, please, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  I’d love to talk.  You know I do.  🙂

Lastly, and once again,
thank you so much for the love you have communicated to us over the 3 years we
have been with Christian Associates. 
It is not an overstatement to say that we could not have done the good
things that have been accomplished without your prayers and support.

Peace, dear friends,

r