A New Chapter

Without further ado, the time has come that I am finally able to make the announcement. I have accepted a staff position at our church, New Life Community Church here in Kansas. To those that know me locally, that won’t come as much of a shock. I have been volunteering my time during the week in the church office for quite some time now, and that position has taken on more and more responsibility over the last year and change. However to those that have been a part of my life for years, this milestone can be viewed as astonishing. The life change that has occurred to reach this point is monumental.

This step is the official beginning of working towards full time ministry professionally. I felt that calling on my life at a very young age and instead of embracing it, I chose to run as fast as I could in the opposite direction for a couple of decades.

Finding New Life, and moving to Gardner were the best decisions Tanja and I have ever made. The church family we have found here is nothing short of absolutely incredible. We have experienced a depth of relationships like never before. We have fallen in love with Gardner in a way we definitely did not expect. Loving God and loving people has truly become our life motto. Through volunteering our time, to leading Life Groups, to discipleship of those around us, we have grown so quickly and that is a testament to the leadership that already exists here at New Life as well as God moving within us in a very big way.

Making the ultimate decision to accept the position once offered was honestly easier than I thought it would be. It means some life change for us, and some even larger decisions on the horizon for us as this position grows and develops in the future, but it was one we didn’t hesitate to accept. Serving a church that has given us so much was rewarding spiritually in a way I never expected. Now I look forward to serving the church in an even greater way on staff.

My wife and I have chosen to commit this season of our lives to loving on the people of Gardner and doing everything in our power to help advance the kingdom here locally. We are excited for this season of our lives. We look forward to not only what God will do through us, but equally, what God will do in us. This is an exciting time for our church as we embark on a journey that at year's end will find us in a new building. This has been a season of growth for our church spiritually and physically and I look forward to being a part of that in an even larger way going forward.

So we ask for your prayers during this season of our lives. As we dig further into ministry, we have so much to learn. We pray for God’s guidance as we move forward in partnership with New Life. We pray for Gardner and that we can help make God known in our community. We pray for the leadership of New Life, that they continue to put loving God and loving people above all else. And we pray for our church family; in seasons of growth and depth come attacks from the enemy. We pray for the strength to overcome the enemy in the coming year and to continue to commit our lives to making God known.

So thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey so far. We wouldn’t be able to take this step without the help, encouragement, friendship, leadership, and growth that so many of you have helped to provide in our lives. We love you, and we are stoked for this new chapter in our lives!

Pastor Jake, our Creative Arts Pastor, read this passage from Psalm 63 Friday during our Final Friday prayer and worship. And all week it has been my battle cry. So instead of a verse or two, I'd just like to, in turn, share it with you.

Psalm 63:1-8 1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. 3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! 4 I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. 5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.

6 I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. 7 Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.