Several months ago, Wes Dupin, the lead pastor at Daybreak Church in Grand Rapids, MI, where we live, let me know that after 50 years of vocational ministry, he would be retiring in June of 2021. He then asked me to consider going through the process of potentially becoming the next lead pastor. As time went on, we continued this conversation through the proper channels with denominational leadership and the Daybreak Board of Elders. We unanimously agreed to take this to the Daybreak congregation for a vote.
This weekend the Daybreak congregational vote affirmed this. So this summer, I will be transitioning into the role of Lead Pastor at Daybreak church. Arianna and I are very excited about this and are so grateful for this opportunity.
The question then becomes…what about Never The Same as an organization? It’s a unique season for our ministry, and this is an unusual situation with Daybreak. Yet all along, my calling to this work has remained. In fact, during my own disappointments of 2020, God renewed my assignment to Never The Same to continue to reach young people with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
So as I transition into the role of lead pastor at Daybreak, I will also continue to lead Never The Same. Our fantastic team will lead in even greater ways as the ministry keeps growing. NTS Camp, Claim Your Campus, Soul Exercises, and Enlightened Students are all growing. There are great days ahead for Never The Same.
Let me say personally, “Thank you” for all of your prayers, words of encouragement, and financial gifts to help grow the ministry that we share together to reach students. I could never express my deep appreciation to you.
As many of you know, I had chased a dream for a massive student gathering on July 4th, 2020. As things changed last year, I ended up taking a walk that changed my life forever. Interestingly enough, my first Sunday at Daybreak will be July 4th, 2021. One year later to the day, God is still revealing His faithfulness.
Psalm 46 says:
God, you’re such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You’re a proven help in time of trouble—more than enough and always available whenever I need you. So we will never fear even if every structure of support were to crumble away. For the raging roar of stormy winds and crashing waves cannot erode our faith in you. God is in the midst of his city, secure and never shaken. At daybreak his help will be seen with the appearing of the dawn.
God never fails!
Our special thanks to Wes and Claudia Dupin and their family, the Daybreak congregation and Elders, as well as the Never The Same Board of Directors, Chris Conrad, and our incredible staff team at Never The Same for walking with the Eckart family on this journey. And thank you for your friendship and your support.
Now, let’s keep building the Kingdom together!
Jeff Eckart
Founder and CEO of Never The Same