15 September 2024
Countryside Family,
This morning, Justin Beadles shared with our church body that after more than 30 years in ministry, including 11 years serving Countryside as Senior Pastor and Elder, he is retiring from pastoral ministry. For those who were unable to attend, we encourage you to view his remarks here.
We are grateful for the years Justin spent faithfully serving God and our church. We are all better followers of Christ because he chose to invest in our lives. Both the Elder and staff teams are glad to have had the opportunity to serve on the same team with him and call him a friend. We're looking forward to the day in the near future when we can celebrate all that God has accomplished.
While we are all sad and mourn this change, the mission of Countryside remains unchanged — to introduce people to Jesus and equip them to follow Him fully. Jesus is still on the throne, and we exist to bring glory to Him. For over 40 years, this has been the Lord's church, built upon Jesus Christ, the good and rightful King of the world. We are confident that He will equip our staff and volunteer teams to continue His plan for Countryside in the days ahead as we pursue Him with one another.
We've witnessed God transform lives throughout this church's history. People have learned to treasure God's Word and submit their lives to it, they have built deep relationships and pursued Jesus' mission together, they have used their gifts to serve others, and they have found this to be a place they could run to when the worst thing about them becomes known. We eagerly anticipate what God will continue to do in and through Countryside.
We ask that you continue to pray for the Elders, the staff team, and our church as we navigate this next season.
We are grateful for the years Justin spent faithfully serving God and our church. We are all better followers of Christ because he chose to invest in our lives. Both the Elder and staff teams are glad to have had the opportunity to serve on the same team with him and call him a friend. We're looking forward to the day in the near future when we can celebrate all that God has accomplished.
While we are all sad and mourn this change, the mission of Countryside remains unchanged — to introduce people to Jesus and equip them to follow Him fully. Jesus is still on the throne, and we exist to bring glory to Him. For over 40 years, this has been the Lord's church, built upon Jesus Christ, the good and rightful King of the world. We are confident that He will equip our staff and volunteer teams to continue His plan for Countryside in the days ahead as we pursue Him with one another.
We've witnessed God transform lives throughout this church's history. People have learned to treasure God's Word and submit their lives to it, they have built deep relationships and pursued Jesus' mission together, they have used their gifts to serve others, and they have found this to be a place they could run to when the worst thing about them becomes known. We eagerly anticipate what God will continue to do in and through Countryside.
We ask that you continue to pray for the Elders, the staff team, and our church as we navigate this next season.
FAQ
Who will teach on Sundays?
By God’s grace, Countryside is blessed to have pastoral staff and others who are ready to continue serving our body by faithfully teaching scripture on Sunday mornings.
What's the plan for staff leadership?
Countryside is an Elder-led church, and the Elders work alongside our staff team. This continues to be the case. We have a great team in place, and we have confidence and trust in them.
Who serves on the Elder Team?
Brad Collier, Kelly Cox, Tom Dearinger, Shannon Ferrell, Stephen Houser, and Greg Justice are the current Elders. Visit the Meet the Elders page to view all their photos.
Will there be an external search for a Senior Pastor?
A search process will begin in the future. We’ll remain in communication throughout the changes.
What if I have additional questions about the transition?
We encourage you to bookmark this page and subscribe to our email list to receive updates as they become available. You're also welcome to reach out and ask us anything.