It’s more accurate to say that Wayne will re-retire, maybe even re-re-retire - well sort of…. let me explain.
Wayne and his wife Sue moved to Birmingham and joined Mountaintop after a successful career in industry that literally took him all around the world. Retirement brought them back home to Alabama and at Mountaintop Wayne found a place to use his experiences and incredible gifts. He joined our staff in 2005 and since then he has been faithfully and expertly overseeing the finances, facilities and human resources of Mountaintop Church. In 2009 Wayne was preparing to re-retire when our former Senior Pastor, Bill Elder, suffered a stroke. Wayne put his retirement plans on hold and took on even more responsibilities during the two year search that eventually brought me to Mountaintop in November 2011.
Since my arrival I have remarked on numerous occasions that Wayne’s steady leadership was key to our ability to sustain ministry during that interim period. It is certainly the case of God strategically calling the right man to a specific task for “such a time as this.”
Wayne’s leadership has been equally invaluable during my transition to Mountaintop as your Senior Pastor. I quickly learned to rely upon his knowledge and wisdom and to trust him completely. Wayne’s love for Jesus Christ and his love for Jesus’ church is a model that inspires me as we have served alongside one another.
On a personal note, Wayne and Sue have quickly become treasures to Kim and me. Their love, encouragement and hospitality so generously shared are blessings to us and gifts that many of us enjoy.
I know that you will join me in expressing our appreciation for the many ways that Wayne Hudson has been, and continues to be, a blessing to Mountaintop.
In September Wayne will re-re-retire, sort of…. he will remain part-time on staff to oversee the management of our Chambers Building, take on special projects and to assist in the transition of our new Executive Pastor, James Benton.
You will have a chance to welcome James, as well as his wife Susie and sons Beckett and Asher, when they arrive later this month. James joins us from Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, California. During the years that I served as Menlo’s Executive Pastor, James was a member of our staff and I recognized his tremendous gifts for ministry. For more than a decade James has served in the Operations and Administration ministries at Menlo Park, gaining experiences and skills that he will bring to Mountaintop.
Just as God strategically placed Wayne here to lead us through the past eight years, I am convinced that God is calling James to Mountaintop to be a part of the team that will lead us into the future.
In the coming weeks we will have opportunities to welcome the Bentons, to show our appreciation to the Hudsons and to express our love for both families. Watch for eBlasts and announcements about those opportunities. For today, take a moment to give thanks to God for the amazing ways He provides the staff to lead us as together we learn and share a better way to live.
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