Don't let the photo fool you. My family is crazy. As I write this, I feel like 2 Corinthians 5:13 applies to us, because today at New Covenant Bible Church, we announced my resignation as young adult pastor to go be trained how to start a new church.
New Covenant is an amazing church, with a wonderful future, with some amazing people, with fantastic opportunities ahead (especially with young adults), with a gifted staff, and so much more. This church family has paid me a generous salary (which is such a blessing in this economy), have cared deeply for my family, have been some of my biggest fans and friends, and have been wonderful partners in the gospel. So what would ever possess me and my family to leave all of this to go into the unknown future of starting a new church, having to raise our own funds, uproot my family, and have my sanity questioned?
The answer: Jesus.
Our Crazy Story
This decision, while insane, has been a 2-year journey for me (and LeAnn). Two years ago (actually, the date was September 25, 2008), I felt a very clear call from God to go to Kansas City to participate in a "Leadership Residency" at Restore Community Church, which would prepare me to one day start a new church. I wrestled with this idea intensely, not wanting to leave my wonderful church family. Eventually, though, I felt that I needed to trust God with this crazy thought, so we began to look into the possibility. During the process of investigation, we received advice to wait, but we sensed the "call" hadn't been lifted either.
This decision, while insane, has been a 2-year journey for me (and LeAnn). Two years ago (actually, the date was September 25, 2008), I felt a very clear call from God to go to Kansas City to participate in a "Leadership Residency" at Restore Community Church, which would prepare me to one day start a new church. I wrestled with this idea intensely, not wanting to leave my wonderful church family. Eventually, though, I felt that I needed to trust God with this crazy thought, so we began to look into the possibility. During the process of investigation, we received advice to wait, but we sensed the "call" hadn't been lifted either.
So LeAnn and I found ourselves in "active waiting" mode, actively seeking to learn more about church planting and why God was calling us to this nutso idea as we continued to pour ourselves into the young adults of New Covenant. We have read books, we have listened to podcasts, we have prayed together, we have sought advice, we have undergone assessment, and more. And now the time has come for us to leave "waiting" mode and follow through on this crazy idea.
Timeline
While my resignation was announced this weekend, the elders are generously allowing me to stay on staff at New Covenant until the end of the year. For the next 6 weeks I will be continuing and finishing my duties as young adult pastor. And then for the remainder of the year, they are allowing me to give my full attention to fundraising and preparation for what's next. When the Lord allows us to raise our full salary and ministry funds, we will then go to Kansas City for at least one year to be a part of Restore Community Church for the purpose of learning more about how to start a new church that will in turn start more new churches.
While my resignation was announced this weekend, the elders are generously allowing me to stay on staff at New Covenant until the end of the year. For the next 6 weeks I will be continuing and finishing my duties as young adult pastor. And then for the remainder of the year, they are allowing me to give my full attention to fundraising and preparation for what's next. When the Lord allows us to raise our full salary and ministry funds, we will then go to Kansas City for at least one year to be a part of Restore Community Church for the purpose of learning more about how to start a new church that will in turn start more new churches.
Over the next few blog posts, I'll be sharing more about our timeline, the vision I believe God has given me for this new church, our transition, thoughts on church planting, and more. I will hopefully answer some of the questions I imagine you might have.
Reassurance
Before I end this post, let me reassure you of this: Today, LeAnn and I stood on stage together with our Sr. Pastor (Bob Westfall) as the elders prayed for me because there is nothing to hide - I am not mad, I am not being fired, there is no sin that needs to be confessed, and there's no secret "scandal". I am merely being obedient to my Master, saying "Here am I! Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8). Unfortunately that obedience means crazily sacrificing ministry among the people of an amazingly great church.LeAnn and I are kind of in grieving mode at knowing we are saying a goodbye to a great church. We are excited about the future of New Covenant, and selfishly wish we could stay and be part of it. But while we love New Covenant a ton, we love Jesus more, and because we are convinced He wants us to make this crazy next step, we will.
Yep, if we are out of our minds, it is definitely for God.
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