Dearest Friends of Christ Church,

Goodbyes are never easy.  Honestly, neither are new beginnings.  But there is an excitement about change in general.  An uneasiness that only comes through the hope of something new.  Organizational psychologist Edgar Schein theorized three steps to change (on the organizational level, but applicable to the personal level as well); disconfirmation, anxiety, and psychological safety.

When you all blessed me by hiring me as your Admin Assistant, I knew and shared that this would likely be a stepping stone to something else.  I had no idea what that next step was, and I had no idea how much I would learn and grow through a 10-hour-per-week position.  Before coming on board, I was certainly disconfirmed that having so much free time was healthy for me.  At the time, I was still recovering from a pandemic-related layoff.  Once beginning, there was some anxiety in the form of learning and grounding the full scope of my role here.  The legacy left by Nora Jerzak and then Nick Laughridge was a great start.  Picking up tasks and responsibilities from both of their roles, I have learned so much more about church operations and digital design and marketing.  You all blessed me again by financing several seminars and learning modules that increased those skills.  I have felt Schein’s psychological safety in this position for a while.  But we might as well call that becoming part of the family because you all have made me feel so welcome and loved.

For a few months, I have felt the tug of disconfirmation again.  Disconfirmation (or perhaps reconfirmation from encouraging comments from folks like Marty Hartsell and Martha Williams) that I have the potential for a more expanded role.  As much as I love working with Burt and serving this congregation, I must take a leap to that expanded role.

Beginning next Monday March 11, I will be starting as the Communications Coordinator at Avondale Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC.  This is a great position to expand my knowledge and practice of digital marketing within a church setting.  I will continue my other part-time position at First Presbyterian Gastonia as their Contemporary Worship Leader as well.  I will still be around town, so I hope to see you all in the grocery store, in traffic, or perhaps at a South Of Dallas show!  OH and my brother and I look forward to providing you with some great tunes at Ladies Night on April 20th!  Get your tickets from Larry Joe or another member of Men In Christ!!!

Brothers and sisters in Christ (at Christ), I cannot begin to tell you how much I feel, see, and hear the love of Jesus Christ in this congregation.  You worship fervently!  You serve your neighbors in many ways!  You welcomed this overqualified dude who desperately needed a confidence boost and a couple more bucks in his pocket and I am forever grateful to you.  I know you will, but I pray and encourage you to continue doing these things.  Worship God alone, love and serve the community, and continue to welcome everyone into the Christ Church family with all your heart, your soul, your mind, and your strength.

My last day is this Wednesday March 6.  If you have a few minutes to stop by that morning or early afternoon, I would love to thank you personally for the blessing this congregation has been to me and to my family. If our paths don’t cross before my departure, I wish you peace in life, health, and spirit and may God continue to bless you and His Holy Spirit fill you so that this congregation grows exponentially for His glory!

Grace and peace,

Matt Smith