If you haven't heard by now, Ashley and I are moving at the end of the month! Ashley and I have felt called to join the team of a church in Chesterfield Michigan (northeast Detroit). We decided last year around this time we wanted to take a year off of ministry to spend with each other. We had gotten married in May 2010 and realized the life of ministry is very fast paced with many long nights at the church and we wanted our first year of marriage to be a strong foundation for the rest of our lives. I resigned from my youth pastor position at Cross Community Church and have been working at Sears and Family Christian stores in Fort Wayne part time while Ashley was a nurse at Parkview Hospital. This year has not been wasted at all. Ashley and I grow closer to each other every day and the one year break has given us a chance to just "be married." We have been able to go on some trips, we have been able to focus on each other, and focus on our love for Christ as a couple. I would strongly suggest this for any newly wed couple involved in ministry. Now that this year is ending, we are going to start a new position, together, on the same page and I am very excited about where God is leading us!
I accepted the position of Pastor of Worship & Discipleship at Evident Church in Chesterfield MI. This church is 3 years old as of September and is part of the Missionary Church denomination. My position is twofold: First I will be focusing on leading the sunday morning worship, and overseeing and directing the portability team, tech, and guest services. I'm excited about having the chance to not only use the musical gifts God has given me but also the opportunity for me to teach a church congregation weekly about what true worship really is. So many times we think that worship is just the "music" portion of the church service and it's so much deeper than that! Worship is a daily activity, and God only accepts authentic worship from us! Our whole purpose in life is to worship God! We were created just for that: to bring God pleasure. What a calling! Right now I am reading a book titled "The Purpose of Man: Designed to Worship" by A.W. Tozer and it is so uplifting because it is reminding me of why I am here on earth! It's not to gather "stuff" or to become educated, or even for my own pleasure. God created us in his image, with an intellect that has the capacity like none other to understand his love and grace. Because we have this type of intellect, we can give Him pleasure by offering pure worship to Him! What an amazing calling for our life! The second part of my position will be directing certain aspects of the discipleship ministries of the church, plugging laypersons into positions they can help serve this local body, and assisting the Lead Pastor, Josh Hossler, as needed in other areas as a partner in ministry. Ashley and I are so excited about joining this team of Christ followers. We will be moving on December 31st, after we spend some time in St. Louis with Ashley's family for the Holidays. Please pray for us as we switch gears from living in Fort Wayne to moving to a different community and joining a new church family. God has blessed us so much in the past few months!
