Retirement Tribute to Pastor Jim and Sarah
Today our Fellowship pauses with grateful hearts to honor two faithful servants of God. Pastor Jim and Sarah, you have answered the call to ministry together with humility, courage, and unwavering love for God’s people. Together, you have modeled what it means to serve with grace, unity, and faithfulness. You have lifelong friends from the twelve years here.
Pastor Jim, you preached the Word with truth and compassion, led with wisdom, and faithfully shepherded this church through seasons of joy, growth, challenge, and change. You helped us get through COVID with technology and kept us on the forefront to help keep those away from us still a part of our Fellowship.
Sarah, your support, prayers, encouragement, and quiet strength have been an essential part of this ministry. Your kindness, steadfastness, and heart for people have touched lives in ways seen and unseen. We also loved how you gave us the gift of laughter, keeping Jim “normal” and “down to earth” with all your stories about him.
You both have celebrated with us in our highest moments and walked beside us in our hardest ones. Together, you reminded us—by both word and example—what it means to love God deeply and love people well. Because of your faithfulness, lives have been changed, people strengthened, and faith renewed.
Your legacy is not only found in sermons preached or ministries led, but in the countless hearts you’ve touched, people you’ve comforted and counseled, prayers you’ve prayed, and the seeds of faith you’ve planted—seeds that will continue to grow for generations to come.
As you step into this new season, we celebrate with you even though we mourn your loss here. We thank God for your obedience, your sacrifice, your leadership, and your love. May the Lord bless you richly, renew your strength, and surround you with peace, joy, rest and good fishing in the days ahead! “Well done, good and faithful servants.”—Matthew 25:21
With much love and deep appreciation, Happy Trails to you! Your Fellowship Family
Embracing our New Senior Pastor John Rysdyk and wife Renee
Pastor John has been serving as our Associate Pastor for the past three years here at HTCF. They moved here in 2022 from Soldotna, AK where Pastor John was the Senior Pastor there for over 27 years. Prior to that he was Senior Pastor in Ft. Collins, CO for 15 years. HIs wonderful wife Renee has a degree in music education and we are blessed to have her lead our worship team each week. We look forward to their leadership!
Pastor John has been serving as our Associate Pastor for the past three years here at HTCF. They moved here in 2022 from Soldotna, AK where Pastor John was the Senior Pastor there for over 27 years. Prior to that he was Senior Pastor in Ft. Collins, CO for 15 years. HIs wonderful wife Renee has a degree in music education and we are blessed to have her lead our worship team each week. We look forward to their leadership!