On 25 November, Bill James stood down as Pastor of Emmanuel Church, Leamington Spa after 26 years of faithful ministry, to take a new role as Principal of London Seminary on 1 January 2018.
The Emmanuel Church family were joined at the thanksgiving service by friends, former members, and past pastors-in-training who had much to thank God for as they reflected on the ministry, example and legacy of both Bill and Sharon.
History of blessing
Bryan Jarvis plotted the church’s history, before Paul Gibson (now pastor of Wheelock Heath Baptist Church) spoke of the blessings of training under Bill at Emmanuel. Leo Lucas (Emmanuel’s women’s worker) shared some of the ways God has used Sharon’s gifts and passion for biblical women’s ministry – both at Emmanuel and more widely within the FIEC and beyond – before Ray Trainer (now pastor at Hoylake Evangelical Church) prayed for them both.
Bill gave three exhortations to the church: to keep growing in love for one another; to keep growing in love for those who are not yet believers, both locally and internationally; and to keep growing in love for Christ. Sharon spoke of the need not to be anxious, but to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.
Paul Watts – pastor at Lower Ford Street Church – closed the formal service by preaching from Philippians 1.1-12, on the supreme importance of loving Jesus Christ and proclaiming his supremacy in all things.
