As I write this final weekly message before stepping into a new role next year, my heart is overflowing with gratitude. Over these nearly eight years of ministry together, it has truly been one of the greatest privileges of my life to walk alongside you, to worship, to pray, to laugh, to cry, and to grow together in Christ. Doing life with you has shaped me in ways I will carry forever, and for that, I thank God.
Our family will miss you more than words can express. Park Ridge has been our home, our community, and our place of belonging. You welcomed us, supported us, encouraged us, and allowed us to serve with joy. For that, we are deeply grateful. The memories we’ve made and the relationships we’ve built will always remain close to our hearts.
As much as transitions can be bittersweet, the church’s mission continues to move forward. Park Ridge exists to foster genuine community, a place where every person can feel safe, loved, valued, and known. Never lose the ability to laugh together, to enjoy each other’s company, to offer grace in abundance, to practice gratitude in all seasons, and to keep building a community marked by kindness, compassion, and hope.
And above all else, remember this: Park Ridge is ultimately Christ’s church. Jesus has always been the Head, the Shepherd, and the One who leads us into the future. Human leaders come and go, but Christ remains, guiding His people with steady hands and a faithful heart. When a church keeps its eyes on Jesus, it cannot lose its way. When it listens to the Holy Spirit, it cannot drift too far. And when it stays grounded in Scripture, it will always find firm footing.
I also want to affirm the incredible leadership team you have here. This church is blessed with dedicated, prayerful, and Spirit-led leaders who genuinely love God and love this community. I have seen firsthand their commitment, their integrity, and their heart for ministry. God is already using them and will continue to use them to lead Park Ridge confidently into the future. You are in good hands, because ultimately, you are in God’s hands.
My prayer is that Park Ridge will continue to be a Christ-centred, Holy Spirit-filled church, a place where people encounter Jesus, where they find hope and healing, and where they feel at home from the moment they walk through the doors. If you hold onto that vision and continue to build on that foundation, the future will be bright and beautiful.
As for us, as our family prepares to head north, please know that our thoughts and prayers will remain with you. This church will always be home for us, a community we will look back on with warmth, affection, and deep gratitude. We thank God for the years we’ve shared and for His faithfulness in every season we’ve walked through together.
As 2026 approaches and God leads us down different paths, may His grace guide us all. And until our paths cross again, may He bless you, keep you, strengthen you, and hold you close to His heart.
With heartfelt gratitude and hope, Pr. David Peñate
