Pastor Aaron Brown

I’ll give you the headline, but you have to promise to read all the way until the end of the update. Promise? Okay, good. Because the end isn’t really the end, and it’s actually really full of grace and hope. So, I’m going to hold you to it: stop now, or read the full update!

Headline: On March 16, 2025, my supervisor (Pastor Kevin Pike) announced that he, with the support of the Board of Elders, has asked me to step down from leading Third Coast Community Church.

You can also view the announcement here at minute 1:15.

Here’s the written update from Pastor Kevin.

Hooked? I know I was :). It’s a gripping headline, for sure! However if that’s all you read, you might be left in a place of frustration, disillusionment, or even anger towards church leadership. That is not my goal!  My goal in writing this is to both inform our supporters of the change and also to help others who care about us, or Third Coast, start to understand and accept this new reality as we have.

There are a variety of reasons for why we are being removed, but the most helpful and relevant truth is that they believe Third Coast needs a new leader for a new season of growth and impact. Other reasons include Kevin and I having personal differences of vision and ministry philosophy for the growth and impact of Third Coast as a local church, and also the reality that he feels my teaching quality is not up to the standards required by the Fearless churches. Because of all this, we will be done at the end of March and have been given a standard severance that will allow us to transition over the summer. I know this is a lot for some of you, and it was for me too. I will continue to process this in this post, and hopefully help you as well.

I’ll be honest, we didn’t see this coming, and it was a huge bummer for us. In fact, when I was told about this decision I respectfully asked Kevin to reconsider and, to his credit, he took another week to pray over this decision at my request. However, after that time of reflection and conversation he and his leadership team still felt convinced that this decision is best for the church. After working through our own grief journey (denial, anger, bargaining, depression) we have come to the place of acceptance and respect for this decision. While we would have handled it differently, I can honestly say that everyone is trying their best to honor one another and the Lord and that it is being done with transparency, respect and generosity. There is no scandal or “real story” behind the stated reasons. It honestly boils down to being a management decision that Pastor Kevin and the Elders have the right and responsibility to make for the good of the church. I am grateful that they are owning the decision, telling the whole truth, and working hard to make this a respectful and gracious process. It has made all the difference to our family. I’m also hopeful! I’m hopeful that they are right and that the right Pastor for Third Coast can take the church to new levels of spiritual growth, missional impact, and discipleship multiplication.

Because of the truth and grace being shown through this process, we can still imagine supporting the mission of Third Coast in our community and even the possibility of future partnership with the Fearless Family of Churches in some way. For our part, the bridges are all still intact and we are hopeful that we can continue to work together to preserve unity in God’s church and advance the Kingdom that Jesus taught so much about.

To my local church family: If you are frustrated by this decision, let me assure you that disunity and bitterness doesn’t help me and Emily and it doesn’t hurt those making these decisions. Disunity hurts those looking to the local church hoping to find Jesus. So, feel your feelings, ask questions, and make your thoughts known but avoid gossip, slander, and sinning in your anger. Some of us will feel called to move away from the Third Coast and Fearless communities, and that’s okay. Gospel unity might not always mean close proximity. However, if you step away please do it kindly and quietly so that those seeking a place to belong and believe will not be distracted by drama or unhealthy conflicts. It is our sincere hope that Third Coast will continue to thrive. I would encourage everyone at TC to hang in there through Easter. As you process, avoid the temptation to lean away from Christian Community and mission. Instead, lean into community, volunteering, and worship. As you do, the Lord will heal your heart and clarify His next steps for you. In all things, heed these words from Paul that I echo to you now…

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” 

– Apostle Paul, Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV

It has been a true honor to serve Third Coast and the Fearless Family of Churches over the past twelve years. Our hearts were drawn to this community by the high value we placed on missions and Gospel reconciliation work in our world. Serving as a Mission Pastor, Church Planter, and Lead Pastor in this movement has blessed and changed our family in ways we cannot describe and probably don’t even fully understand yet. The faith family we’ve found through Third Coast has helped us more than we could ever hope to help them. We are forever grateful.

While we have been released from our employment, we have not yet felt called away from our mission of adding value and gospel reconciliation to the greater Lakeshore community. If nothing else, this process has affirmed our calling to missional living and possibly, after time, a new season of pastoral leadership. So, I guess if we are taking control of our own story here, the real headline is this…

Brown Family continues to trust the Lord and look for His guidance in a new season of life and Ministry.

If you’d like to stay in touch, and pray for us as we eventually take next steps in ministry, please follow us on social media and sign up for our emails list. We will keep you posted as the Lord leads and things develop.

Please pray with us as we discern the Lord’s will for either continuing on the mission he has called us to in other ways, or relocating for some new ministry that he will call us to. We are still deeply committed to Jesus and we want to live lives that bring gospel reconciliation into our spheres of influence by the leadership and power of Holy Spirit.

If you’d like to contact us directly moving forward please use this email for the time being: aaronthebrown@gmail.com.

Many Blessings,

Aaron

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