Pastor says farewell to Emo

It’s been nine remarkable years since Pastor Andrew Hall arrived in Emo and began preaching at Calvary Baptist Church there.
“There were only about 45 people out that first Sunday,” he recalled.
This past Sunday, however, about 120 attended the morning service to listen to Pastor Hall’s final sermon and to say good-bye to him, his wife, Melanie, and their three children, Noel, Ava, and Calvin.
Later in the afternoon, the church congregation, along with many others from the community, packed the basement to enjoy a potluck meal, to thank the Halls for being part of the community, and to wish the family well as they head off to Louisville, Kentucky.
Pastor Hall plans on taking seminary courses in order to finish his Master’s degree. They probably will stay for only two years and then they plan on returning to Canada.
Melanie Hall also plans on taking some courses while they are in Kentucky.
Pastor Hall chose this particular school because of its well-known spousal support.
“I was looking for a school that supports the pastor’s spouse,” he noted. “Melanie is often called on to lead in different aspects of our ministry. These courses will help her in this role.”
It is with mixed feelings that the family is saying good-bye to their church and the community of Emo.
“I’m excited about heading back to school but we’re really sorry to be leaving Emo,” said Pastor Hall. “This was our first church and it’s been a remarkable experience.”
“Emo has been a wonderful, welcoming place,” his wife added. “The people quickly made us a part of this community.
“It has truly been a blessing to raise our children in such a warm, family-oriented atmosphere,” she enthused.
Pastor Hall said he’ll especially miss the people, the canoeing, and the cross- country skiing this area has to offer.
“Rural ministry has been a good fit for Mel and me,” he noted, adding more pastors need to realize that small communities have much to offer.
“It is so much easier to make a significant impact in a small community,” he explained. “The relationships you have with the people around you are deeper and more meaningful.”
But even as he makes plans for leaving, Pastor Hall still is thinking about his congregation and the community of Emo. He has seen changes in the district during his nine-year stay.
“Sometimes, we think that our district is isolated from the rest of the world, but the world is changing and so are we,” he observed. “The rural church needs to address the issues and challenges that affect its members.
“Not that we have to rethink the message we are delivering,” he stressed. “But we do need to reconsider how we get the message out to the people around us.”
The message Pastor Hall has delivered for the past nine years obviously has been well-received by members of his church.
The number of people at the services this past Sunday, and the overwhelming support at the potluck meal, are a testament to how much he and his family will be missed by the congregation—and the entire community.