Transition continues

Okay, let's just say I've been swamped over the past few weeks. I do want to update things a bit and let you know how are transition is going.

This past week we launched the campaign I am working on (Go10) at our National Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. I honestly believe things went very well and we were able to generate a lot of excitement. You can read more about “Go10” on the following;

Website; go10walk.com
Facebook; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Go-Ten-Walk/108743061372?ref=nf
Twitter; http://twitter.com/Go10Walk

I want to thank all of our friends and family who continue to pray for us as we make this transition. It has not been easy and yet we trust God will carry us through each faze of this wonderful journey.

Please continue to pray about the following;
*The girls as they adjust to life in Nashville and prepare to attend new schools. This is especially tough for Karlee who will be entering her Junior year in High School. We are currently praying about what school she should attend.
*Our home in Lebanon, Missouri to sell. It is listed with an agent and has been shown several times but no offers…yet. Praying this comes quickly so that we can purchase a home in Nashville.
*Our small business in Lebanon to sell. We started a small business in Lebanon called “Airblast Inflatables Inc. Over the past six years God has blessed that little business. At this point, it would be best if we could leave it in the area and focus on our new ministry – so it’s for sale.
*Julie a teaching position. Over the years Julie has been blessed with some incredible teaching opportunities. We are praying for God to provide a place for her to shine brightly for Him.
*A place to live in Nashville. That’s right – we still do not have a place to live. We are currently staying with Julie’s brother’s family when we are in town. Pray with us that our home will sell quickly so that we can purchase something here.

Transitions

Today is my anniversary! Julie and I have been married for 19 years this afternoon. And, I have to say that the longer I'm married to this amazing woman the more I am blown away by the pure joy this relationship brings into my life. I can't wait to see what the next 19 years has in store for us.

It's been a while since I have written anything on my blog. No good reason. Just haven't taken the time and haven't had the motivation.

We are currently in a major transition. I have left my position as pastor to take on a new role as a Program Director with FWB International Missions. The program I am heading up is called "Go 10 - Walk for the World." It's a campaign designed to unify young people on Christ's call for us to impact the world for Him and to challenge them to raise awareness/support by completing a 2,500 mile memorial walk across much of the US. More on the details later.

What does this mean for our family and how can you pray for us? Well, we are currently in the process of relocating to Nashville, Tennessee. Several people have asked how they could help or pray for us so here are some of our prayer needs;

*Julie a teaching job
*For our house to sell
*For our small business (Airblast Inflatables, Inc.) to sell
*That we would find a good deal on a home
*For our daughters during this transition - especially Karlee who will be a Junior in High School.
*For our church and friends we have left behind
*For the "Go 10" campaign

Thank you for praying!

I can honestly say that I am blown away that God is allowing me to be a part of this program. I believe it is going to be huge - much bigger than any of us can imagine and I am so excited to be in on it.

Thank You

Thank you.

I want to thank everyone for all the kind words and well wishes over the past week. This transition, like most are bitter/sweet.

Bitter because….

•It’s hard to leave those of you who have allowed us open access to your lives.
•It’s hard to leave those of you who have become friends and family to us.
•It’s hard to leave those of you who have allowed us to impact your life for Christ.
•It’s hard to leave those of you who have helped us grow closer to Jesus.
•It’s hard to leave those who have stuck with me and believed in me even when others did not – even when others left – even when others gave up.
•It’s hard to leave our home and neighborhood and all the memories we made there over the past six + years.
•It’s hard to leave a place in which you experienced God do such huge things in people and community. The fact that God allowed us to baptize 26 people last year and pull off a big event with over 20,000 people attending is simply miraculous. I love being a part of God sized things.
•It’s hard to watch your wife pack up a classroom and leave a school and friends that she loved so much.
•It’s hard to leave a staff that is like family to us. Mitchell, Steve and their families have a true passion for following Christ. I am honored to have served with them on the battle lines and would want few others next to me in the fight of faith. I wished so bad that I could take them with me for this next part of our journey.
•It’s hard to explain to three daughters that God is leading us away from their friends, schools, and memories.
•It’s hard to trust God with these “faith steps.” The older I get the harder they become.
•It’s hard to leave a place in which I failed to lead the “power brokers” to catch God’s vision of reaching this community for Him. Someone asked me yesterday what lessons I’ve learned over the past six+ years. My response, “plenty.” More on those lessons later.

One thing I learned early on in youth ministry is that no matter how hard you try it’s ultimately up to each individual person to follow Christ. We are just called to sow seeds. As I look around Lebanon I see a huge mission field that needs to be reached for Christ. I’m thankful for those who remain here to do His work and my prayers are with them.

My prayer is that I have lived in such a way that those who knew me saw Christ in the way I lived and in some way I may have compelled them to also live completely for Jesus.

Resignation

Today I officially stepped down as pastor of First Church of Lebanon. I have accepted a position with the Free Will Baptist International Missions Department and will be relocating my family to Nashville, Tennessee within the next couple of weeks. My transition is quick, simply because of the nature of my new position and the launch of a new campaign at the end of this July (not much time to get things rolling).

As one might imagine, this has been an extremely difficult decision. One thing I’m learning through all of this is that the older you get the harder “faith steps” become. Because the older you get the more stuff you have in your life that is impacted by your decisions – children, home, contacts, friends, family, you name it.

We have been privileged to invest six years of our lives leading and challenging the people of First Church to grow in their personal relationship with Christ and to make His name famous throughout the world.

As we work through this transition faze we greatly appreciate your prayers. Relocation means we have a house to pack up and sell. At the same time, we are trying to find a place to live in Nashville. Not easy while saying goodbye to friends and moving to a new city to tackle a Goliath of a ministry task.