Chip's Announcement

2 Corinthians 13:11 ¶ Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Chip gave his first-ever resignation on Sunday at HHBC in Indiana. I know it was a difficult matter for him as he has served there since February 4, 2004. He dug in, made that town his home, and loves God's people there. I imagine it is never easy for a youth pastor to have to tell his teens that the Lord is moving him to a different location for ministry, but that is what Chip did. And then he stood before his church in the morning service and gave his official resignation. I'm confident that the Lord gave him just the right words to say that would be an encouragement to the teens to keep on keeping on.

You know, this is hard for Richard and me, too. We made some dear friends during our visits to Indiana to see Chip during his years there. We grew close to the good people in that church, and we realize that perhaps we will never see most of them again in this life. The folks were so loving and supportive of Chip and, of course, that endeared them to our hearts. We pray that the BEST days lie ahead for HHBC as they continue in their ministry of reaching their area for Christ. We trust God that He has the right man ready to step into the position of youth pastor at the church in Indiana so that the ministry there doesn't miss a beat.

In His sovereign will and perfect timing, we know God has led Chip to a new ministry and has a new work for Him. We are excited for him and look forward to hearing good reports from Chip at Capshaw in North Alabama.

On a personal note, we look forward to Chip coming "home" for a few days before he begins his new ministry. He hasn't been here since last Christmas and has a LOT of catching up to do with his nephews and niece. :)

May God bless our son as he completes his ministry in Indiana these next two weeks, packs up his worldly goods to move to Alabama, comes here for a week, and then reports for duty at Capshaw on November 1. GOD IS GOOD!!!!!!

P.S. In looking back at the HHBC website where Chip has ministered, I saw his bio which I am posting here...

Chip Dean accepted the call to become Associate Pastor for Students of Harrison Hills Baptist Church on February 4, 2004. In June 2006, this became a full-time position and he took on additional responsibilities as the new Associate Pastor for Students and Discipleship. On April 16, 2007 he assumed the role of 'Pastor' of Harrison Hills after our Senior Pastor departed to follow a call to full-time missionary service. He filled the "Pastor" position until Dr. George Martin was called as interim Senior Pastor on August 15, 2007.

He grew up in Tuscaloosa, AL and accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord of his life through repentance and faith on November 3, 1983. He graduated high school from Tuscaloosa Christian School in 1996. After trying his hand at a business major, God called him into full-time ministry for Christ at the age of 20. At the time, he was serving as a help to the youth pastor at Cottondale Baptist Church in Cottondale, AL. From working with the youth group for over a year, Chip sensed a very strong call on his life to be educated and minister to students for the glory of Christ.

In the spring of 1999, Chip began attending Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania with his degree major in youth ministry. Each summer through his college years at BBC, he served at Lake Ann Baptist Camp in Michigan as the Senior High Program Director. He finished his B.S. degree of youth ministry from BBC in 2001. For the next year, he served as the Student Ministries Intern at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Roseville, MI under Youth Pastor, Patrick McGolderick. After finishing his internship, Chip began attending The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary to receive his Masters Degree. In May 2006, he received a Master of Divinity degree with the emphasis in Pastoral Studies from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the Billy Graham School.

Chip is passionate about reaching the teenage generation for Christ! He seeks to disciple teenagers by preaching God’s Word, teaching systematic theology on a student level, holding them personally accountable, and properly mentoring them. Along with student ministry, Chip also enjoys playing basketball, eating Mexican food, and watching any Alabama sports team.