“I’ll be leaving InterVarsity”, I heard him say. A leader had asked for me and a colleague to walk with him so he could share the news personally. The invitation felt sudden and odd at first, but it made sense as he explained his departure and transition to a new job. “My time here is ending, and I’ll be a pastor of a church. I wanted you two to know that I appreciated working with you.”
Some of us are experiencing transitions of leaders too. For you, it might be a graduating senior who was always there for you and your friends. For others, maybe it’s a campus minister or a church pastor who always encouraged your faith. Whoever it may be, saying goodbyes can be hard and leave a mix of feelings –– some of us will feel confused about what happens next while others may feel fearful of the shoes we’re stepping into. We may feel lost or even betrayed. Thankfully, we aren’t the first to experience such transitions.