“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven….” -Ecclesiastes 3:1
Dear friends and supporters:
For thirteen years, it has been my deepest privilege to serve as the Executive Director of Back Bay Mission. It has been an enriching and endlessly challenging season of my ministry, and it has been a time of enormous growth and astonishing resilience for Back Bay Mission. I firmly believe that God has a season and time for every purpose and every person under heaven, and so it is with great faith in God’s future that I tell you that my time at Back Bay Mission is drawing to a close. I have accepted a call to serve as Conference Minister of the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ beginning October 1 (contingent upon their favorable vote on June 22).
I have loved Back Bay Mission’s ministry since I first came here long ago as a college intern. Over the years – as I experienced this place as a volunteer, a Board member, and then as staff – my respect for this ministry has only deepened. I am constantly amazed at the extraordinary witness for justice and caring the Mission consistently offers to the Gulf Coast community and to the wider United Church of Christ. I am awed by our employees, who embody our commitment to compassion and extravagant love every day on the front lines of service. I am energized by those who volunteer their time so joyfully to multiply our work. And I am profoundly grateful for the many individuals and congregations who have invested their trust and their treasure in the Mission. Back Bay Mission is tremendously blessed, and I have been blessed to serve here.
As I step forward to accept this new call awaiting me, I go with a full heart and with great thanksgiving for all that has been and all that is yet to be. May God bless and keep each of you, and may God continue to bless and keep our beloved Back Bay Mission.
Grace and Peace,
Rev. Shari Prestemon
