Craig & Chris Mayes

bit·ter·sweet  (adj.)  both pleasant and painful: a bittersweet time.

--------------------------------- >  That's what tonight was.

Craig and Chris are leaving on Sunday for New York.  They have been incredibly swamped this past, well really this past entire year and especially this past few months getting everything ready to go.  Denny and I felt blessed to be able to spend one of their last evenings in Michigan with them!

Today was Craig's birthday as well : )  His daughter Megan was working at The Cutting Board (a great restaurant in Warren that Kensington uses a lot for catering) -- we headed there for dinner so Craig could be with his whole family (minus Josh who already lives in NYC) for his birthday.  We had a wonderful dinner, delicious food, great service (thanks Megan!), good company .. and our own personal preacher too!  I got to ask questions about all those stories Craig had told during services to my heart content : )

After dinner, we said goodbye to Megan and then Craig, Chris and Caleb then came back to our house for dessert and coffee.  Just before we pulled into the driveway, we saw Bryan and Shannon Willmert, our co-workers at Kensington, who live across the street from us, so we invited them over to join us!  Sara had gotten home from work by then too so the family room was full : )  We shared more food, laughter and heard the Mayes' wild stories of New York City.

Much too soon, it was time to say goodbye.  Denny and I both wanted to give Craig something to show him our appreciation for what he's meant to us these last three years we've been at Kensington.  Denny collects coins so he decided on a 2008 Silver Eagle Dollar, minted the year Communitas began.

And me?  What else would I do except something with pictures?  I made and framed a collage of photos that I had and that co-workers from Kensington had given me of Craig at various Kensington campuses, in India, from our Trans4mation video and other places.  Craig said it would go in his office in New York : )

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Craig has been instrumental in my walk with Christ, in more ways than he even knows.  His words have touched my heart more times than I can count.  He is a true man of God who knows and listens to and follows Jesus ... but at the same time, he's a real person.  Authentic.

This is a clip from Craig's last message at Kensington, our New Community service on June 18, 2008.  I volunteer in the bullpen on New Community nights, which means I sit front and center directly in front of the speaker.  As I was this night.  Crying.  As was most of the audience :)

Craig and Chris ... I love you guys.  I'll be praying for you.  And your family.  And your team.  New York City has a big blessing on its way and they don't even know it yet!!

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At the time of this post, our Kensington website is being rebuilt.  In the meantime, you can hear Craig's entire Strength! message as a free podcast here:  Strength! Podcast  (itunes needed)

** Follow Craig and Chris in New York City here:  Communitas NYC **