Come. Be Changed. Change the World.
Posted on May 30, 2024 by Luke Carr
Wow! I am amazed by how many congratulations and how much support I have received over the past few years and these past couple, and with good reason.
When I pulled up to Salem for the first time, I never knew that I would meet so many great new people.
From being confirmed, to reading my statement of faith, to us leaving Lenexa to move to the current worship space in Overland Park, and to a pandemic … through some personal losses such as my grandfather, John “Jack” Ussery, and to multiple baptisms, including many of my cousins and family members, but with so many grateful achievements — here I am — a high-school graduate and about to start my way into the real-world at K-State. I cannot thank each and every one of you for your support and help through my long journey in scouting. To say I am grateful is an understatement.
Along with these personal milestones, I have walked with you through so many of your own personal milestones as a person of faith at Salem — baptisms, confirmations, illnesses, deaths of loved ones, and much more. Through all these we still remained family, and we are still knit together in God's love.
The funny thing is, I never knew that Salem would be my home when I first walked in the doors at 2 years old. I hadn't even heard of Salem until I walked into the doors and felt God's presence with me all the time. Considering how much it is home to me now, that's easy to forget.
Just a few weeks ago, I had my graduation ceremony, and it was one of the best moments in my life.
There will be a lot still unknown for my future, but what I do know is that God is with me. God has brought us together to this point, and God will lead us forth from here — different directions, still knit together in God's eternal love.
God has big plans for myself and all of you, which is what brings me to this letter that I am writing you all. I will be resigning from my nursery coordinator position at the end of July, as I will be moving to Manhattan, Kansas. I plan to get involved in God’s work in Manhattan, as well and join one of their Lutheran organizations. I will miss my Salem family, but I know that a new change is always a new beginning that God has planned for me.
For now, I am here. I want to chat with you all, have a coffee with you all, talk about God with you all. I want to tell you about all the many gifts I see in you, and I want to encourage you to step up and use those gifts boldly to continue to build God's kingdom here.
God's Spirit is moving here especially for me, but also for all of you who attend Salem as we transition to finding new ways to connect with each other and God and through being together to worship and share God’s word.
With all this said, I will not be gone forever. I will still pop in once in a while at Salem and attend as many events and church services as I can when I am home.
Also, with these things being said, I am pushing myself to a better standpoint to what I am leaning toward as my career. I will be attending Kansas State University to major in secondary education and minor in leadership studies to lead today’s youth to success.
In the meantime, let's use the time we have left together.
Be blessed, friends. Be blessed.
Lean into God and into one another. In that, you will find peace and rest and new life.
Thank you for supporting me all these years, and I wish you all nothing but the best.
Sincerely in Christ,
Luke Carr
Salem Nursery Coordinator