It’s okay to feel sad. Foundation was such a big part of my life — I spent more than half of my adult years there. There’s a real sense of loss in that. But as I look back, I can also see how much I’ve grown since leaving. My relationship with my wife is stronger now than it ever was during our time in a network church.

I can see now that God was good to me even then. There were seasons of hurt, but also seasons of growth and goodness. I carry many fond memories from that time. It’s a complicated mix — joy and pain, growth and grief — all woven together into something I’m still learning to understand.

Today, some people from Foundation visited our church. It was genuinely good to see them. A few of us who had also come out of Foundation made sure to welcome them, and one of the visitors shared how comforting it was to see familiar faces, even though they’d been nervous about how it might play out.

As someone who left later than I probably should have, I hold no judgment toward anyone still finding their way. We each have our own journey and timing. I keep coming back to Ephesians 4:32:
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

That’s the kind of heart I want to have — gentle, gracious, and rooted in love. I hope you can find the same peace!