New Day Transition

Change can be hard and it often involves loss that must be grieved. But there can also be healthy change that creates space for the Lord to create something new. After all, death and resurrection are at the heart of our faith. We may not know precisely what God has in store for New Day, but we want to be united in waiting on the Lord and walking through this season in a way that reveals Christ and expands our faith.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Jeff and Karin’s last day?

The final Sunday for the Peabodys will be January 26, 2025.

Why are they leaving?

Since the Apostle Paul, it has been a normal and healthy part of church life for leaders to serve churches only for a limited season. It has been said that “Every pastor is an interim pastor.” It is an important reminder that our faith is in Jesus, and not any one person, to sustain the church.

To put things in perspective, the average term that a pastor serves at a church in America is four years. Jeff and Karin have been with New Day for 22 years—far longer than they ever anticipated. And there is a cumulative weight to that length of service. There is no secret back story here. No scandal is forcing the Peabodys to leave. The board has not asked them to step down. They are both simply paying attention to their hearts and bodies telling them it is time.

For the past five years, Jeff and Karin both have sensed the day was approaching for them to hand over leadership to someone else. Jeff was candid about this when New Day started meeting at Dumas Bay. Over the past three years, it became clear that no moment is ever perfect for that kind of change. After much prayer and deliberation, they agreed together that January was the time.

What will happen to New Day?

The fact that Jeff will continue in his role for the next few months allows time for church leadership to guide the congregation through a very intentional process of determining what the future of the church might look like.

New Day has also enlisted the help of Converge Northwest, which will be collecting input from the congregation via survey questions, listening groups, etc., and then evaluating the data with church leadership to recommend a course of action.

Converge is the association of churches with which New Day is affiliated. They have has extensive experience walking alongside churches in similar circumstances and they have resources to help guide the process. You can learn more about their ministry here.

What is the timeline for all this to take place?

Church leadership has been laying the groundwork for this and is already taking steps. A transition team has begun working with Converge to solicit congregational input. Our goal is to have data to analyze in the coming months.

What can I do to help right now?

There are a number of vital and practical ways for each of us to play a part in determining the future of New Day.

1. Pray. Take your fears and concerns to the Lord and ask him for his guidance. Pray for discernment and unity as we seek his direction.

2. Show up on Sundays. Transitions are often times when people disengage. Instead, will you lean in with us during this period? Will you pause long enough before making any decision about the future to join us in waiting to see what God might do in this season?

3. Provide thoughtful feedback. There will be opportunities in the next few months for offering your thoughts and feedback via survey, meetings, etc.  The more people who provide honest answers, the better we will be able to arrive at a meaningful outcome.

4. Serve where you can. This is the time to offer your time and talents to the Lord. Has there been a ministry on your heart that you’d be willing to join?

5. Bring a friend to Alpha. This is not a recruitment pitch. There is just something healthy about keeping an outward focus on the mission of the gospel as New Day is in transition.

6. Continue your faithful financial giving. The more solid our financial base, the more options New Day will have moving forward.

7. Stay connected. One of the best ways to continue being the church is to intentionally cultivate deeper relationships. Everyone processes change differently, but many, if not all of us, need support. Call someone, drop them a note, go to coffee, have them over. A little connection goes a long way.

More questions or concerns? Send in your request (anonymously if desired) via the form below.