Dear Church of the Open Door family,

You are all well aware that we are living in an area and at a time where many people are experiencing considerable financial difficulties. The recession that is impacting NE Ohio continues to impact Church of the Open Door as well. As we have been communicating over the past 2 months, we have been experiencing a significant and mounting financial shortfall. As we near the end of the first quarter, we are on pace to be $245,000 short by the end of the year unless there is a dramatic turnaround (and that is not counting the impact of the March 9 Snow Day). Prudent stewardship requires that we make budget adjustments reflective of our current status. Each department in our church has been cut as we seek to be wise stewards of the finances entrusted to us.

Recognizing the financial pressures that we are under, Ann Melick, who serves as our Director of Ministries, has volunteered her resignation. Ann had already been in a process of seeking God's next steps for her career and felt that now is the time to step more fully into that future.

"My years at Open Door have been some of the most rewarding of my life.  We've raised our family here, and it has been my privilege to serve on staff here for the past eight years.  I've been seeking direction from God for over a year now about my future, and I am confident that He is now calling me to move ahead to a new ministry.  I am praying about several directions this could go, including the opportunity to finish a master's degree that I have been working on.  I appreciate your support and prayers for God's direction and provision for my family."

Ann will continue to serve in her role until the end of March and we will have an all Church Reception to honor her on Sunday, April 6 at 6:00 PM in the RNC. Since Ann's position will not be replaced we have reorganized the staff in an orderly way to absorb her responsibilities.

Obviously, this is difficult news to bear given the recent departure of other staff.  Even though it is for different reasons, we have seen a lot of staff turnover recently. Change and loss is difficult, but normal. There will be a host of different emotions and responses ranging from disappointment, to concern, to alarm, to major anxiety. Alarm and anxiety is not necessary; God is leading his church.  Amidst difficulty, God is sovereignly accomplishing his purposes. We encourage you to continue to Pray First, love well, resist the temptation to listen to or spread gossip and work together to move positively into the future. Jesus said that in God's pruning process, he will sometimes prune branches that are bearing fruit, so that the vine can bear even more fruit. We believe that is what he is doing right now.

The Governing Board and Senior Staff support and bless Ann and her decision. She has served well in many different capacities throughout the church. We pray God's blessings on her as she listens and follows the leading of the Spirit for her life.