St. John's

Dear St. John's Family,

Most of you know that the Donaldsons are from California and that all of our family is on the West Coast.  Others of you know how hard it is for us to be this far from our family all of the time and especially during holidays.  The purpose of this note is to inform you and ask for your prayers regarding some decisions we have made as a family.  We have been away since leaving California in 2004 to move to the seminary in St. Louis.  While I love being one of your pastors at St. John's, I am always balancing my other vocations as husband, father, son, son-in-law, and brother.  It is very hard to tell you, but we feel it is best for our family to relocate back to California this summer.  We are in the process of selling our house to enable my wife and kids to move to California in August so they can begin the school year in CA.  While we want be together as a family, I am also committed to serve the people of St. John’s as long as it is helpful.  Pastor Jeff and I will keep discussing how I can best support St. John’s ministry through this time. 

Please know that this decision is all about family considerations.  The longer we have been away from our family, the harder it has been, making this decision very difficult.  Our time together at St. John's has been an unbelievable blessing for us.  You have allowed me to learn how to be a pastor while serving among you and you are an extension of our family to us.  But, it is the right time for us to return to our roots and family in California. 

This is all about family from top to bottom.  In fact, we are so excited about what St. John's is doing we would never think of leaving if not for the distance away from our extended family.  We fully support the Mission and Ministry at St. John's, the staff and leadership, and Pastors Jeff and Guy. 

When it is time for me to move to CA, I will ask St. John's to provide a peaceful release from the Divine Call extended to me in June, 2008.  My intent is to remain connected to the LC-MS under the direction of the California-Nevada-Hawaii District President.  We love our Lutheran Confession and are excited to live it out in a new context in CA.  As I enter a new season, like many other pastors in the LC-MS who are ordainined serving the church at large without a Call to a local congregation, I will begin looking for a secular job to support the family and the transition to CA.  I also intend to continue my Doctor of Ministry studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.  I pray the Lord will provide direction for serving his church in time.

Again, this is really hard for me as one of your pastors who loves you.  It is hard for our family as we love the people of St. John's and West Bend.  I ask for your prayers for my family and the ministry and people of St. John’s Lutheran Church.  Thank you for your love and support over the past four years.  Our time time together at St. John's is a gracious gift from the Lord.

With Peace in Christ,

Pastor Rob, Carrie, Robby & Dani