After months of struggle with a decision about his future, John Hall released a public email to his friends and supporters on Sunday evening at about 10:30PM EDST. Since I also serve as the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery holding John’s credentials I have been in discussions with him about this pending change for several weeks.

It is clear to me that he has changed several important issues of theology that bring him to a different position than that held by the PCA and he felt it was clear to him that he should not just do independent mission work, but rather unite with the Christian faith group with which he finds himself most closely aligned

I am sure all of his friends and associates will want to pray for John and Kathy as they make this move to a different portion of God’s church here on earth as we all continue to bring the gospel to those who are lost.

Following is a portion of the text of the email that John and Kathy sent this evening. (The Aquila Report has a policy not to include fund raising requests and information in newsletters we republish.)
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Dear friends,

We have some news about our future to communicate. With our home ministry assignment completed, we were scheduled to return to London for another four years. However, God is taking us in a new direction. We will be returning to London at the end of May for one month to say our ‘good-byes’ and to ship our stored household items back to the USA.

It has been an emotional several weeks as we prayed, talked, and made the decision not to return to London for the long term. God made it clear to us that our work there is now finished. The team we worked with was trained and released to continue establishing the new church, Lysan. They are doing well and growing in their ministry to Camden. The leaders we mentored in the London Church Planting Network of the International Presbyterian Church are also continuing to do well as they lead the network in new directions. Others we worked with, like the Glorious Undead Church, are likewise growing in Christ and ministering to their communities. All those we loved, cared for, and worked with will be greatly missed.

So, you may be wondering, what is next for the Halls? We are excited to announce that we will be working with the Anglican Mission in the Americas (www.theamia.org) to plant new churches. We will begin by helping a young couple plant a new church in Greenville, South Carolina and recruit young couples to begin other new congregations.

Our desire for the work we were doing in London – nurturing young people in ministry and working with them in reaching those who are not yet followers of Jesus – has only grown and will now be continued on this side of the Atlantic. We never would have imagined God took us to London to prepare us for the USA. In a very real sense we feel carried along by Jesus into the future.

Now to answer a few other questions.

How will this transition occur? As of July 31, our tenure as missionaries of World Harvest Mission will be completed and we will begin church planting with the Anglican Mission in the Americas. This move not only necessitates leaving World Harvest Mission, but also the Presbyterian Church in America. We are sad to say good-bye to both, but anticipate a continued relationship in the future as we work together in the kingdom of God.

…

We believe there is great potential for reaching many “de-churched” and other non-Christians, by starting new churches rooted in a historic Anglican tradition, committed to Reformation theology, and with room for creativity and freedom in the Spirit. And as we experienced in London, young leaders starting new churches need an older couple to mentor, encourage, and pray for them. In the same way God led us in 2006, we still feel led to fill that gap of mothering and fathering the next generation of church planters and leaders while doing ministry with them.

We cannot express enough our appreciation for your love, support, and prayers through five years as World Harvest missionaries. You have shown us the love of Jesus and we would be humbled and blessed to have you continue on this journey with us.

We are also grateful for World Harvest Mission and the privilege of serving with them. Please read their letter below for important information about our departure.

Thank you again for your love and generosity. May you know the richest of blessings from our heavenly Father.

In the bonds of Christ’s love,

John and Kathy

Here is a letter from World Harvest Mission about our departure:
Hall Departure Letter from World Harvest Mission