Spinning Plates - The Big Announcement
- Tom Hudson
- Dec 30, 2024
- 6 min read
Greetings I hope you had an amazing Christmas time celebrating the King and Happy early New Year! The Hudson’s would first like to thank you for your ongoing prayer and support for our family. This road to ministry has been filled with ups and downs, but has been an incredible journey for our entire family. When we moved to the Kansas City area in 2020 we had no idea the winding road that was ahead of us, but we couldn’t be more thankful for the journey that we have been on. We have built incredible relationships here in the Kansas City area. We were able to pour into the lives of others, while simultaneously being poured into by so many. We have experienced heartache and tragedy, and so many have wrapped their arms around us during those difficult times. Steadfastly we stood firm and acknowledged that through it all, our Joy was found in the Lord. We trusted His plan for our life, and he continued to bless us endlessly through it all. We have also experienced great triumphs including the miracle births of our two girls, and so many of you have walked along side us through the many victories we have had as well.
It is an exciting time for the Hudson family. Tanja recently gave birth to our youngest daughter Evelyn who has already been a testament of God’s goodness. Evelyn was born early and after a brief stay in the NICU, was able to be home by Christmas. Tanja’s pregnancy was full of complications but God was there each step of the way. I’m happy to report that today, both Evelyn and Tanja are doing great. Evelyn’s two year old sister Oakley is transitioning to the role of big sister and requires a little extra intentionality currently, but we couldn’t be more thankful for the gift that they both have been, each after a difficult loss the year before.
Simultaneous to all of this excitement, I am entering my final semester of bible college. This year has been incredibly rewarding as I have been able to attend in person classes here locally at the Kansas City extension campus. It has been an incredible experience growing closer to the Lord and to others who have been called into ministry. The ministry training and education I have received through this program over the last two years has truly been priceless.
Through these few years in Gardner, I have grown closer and closer to my mentor, my uncle, Dan Hudson. Dan is currently the Lead Pastor at Pathway Church in Johnston, Iowa. I had the honor of preaching there last year and walking alongside them ministering to the homeless, and going to Zimbabwe for two weeks with them last summer, preaching, teaching and serving alongside our partners in Zimbabwe. I have also been in constant communication with Dan throughout my time in school.
Tanja has felt the Lord calling us back to Iowa for quite some time. Iowa is a place where both of us never thought we would end up back to. We were happy to have moved away from the accumulating snow, and cold, but God has a sense of humor. He has continuously shown us a path that he has paved in many different ways over the past few years that seems to be leading us back to Des Moines.
So that leads us to the big news!! After several conversations, and a long period of prayer, Pathway Church has extended an offer for me to join their Pastoral Staff in the Spring and we have accepted. Pathway Church's vision is big and their impact is large. They have found a way to serve the Des Moines metro in so many different ways. Their entire focus is on making the love of Jesus known in every way that they can. I entitled this blog "Spinning Plates" because I think Dan said it best. If you want to hear what he said about Tanja and I's addition to the Pathway Church team, feel free to watch his sermon from Sunday, December 29th and you'll discover the spinning plates reference. He begins discussing our addition at 54:30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJKdQY6V57k&t=3474s
I have absolutely fallen in love with Pathway Church this past year from afar. I have seen their mission play out with my own eyes. I have seen Christ on full display in everything they do. I have also seen a lifetime example of Christ in my uncle Dan, and Tanja and I couldn’t be more excited to step out in faith and begin this journey. There are other roads we could have taken after graduation that would have been far more secure and safe, but we feel we have heard clearly and repetitively over the last few months that this is where He has planned the next chapter of our lives. This has required us to step out in complete faith.
There are a lot of moving parts as we will need to sell the house and find housing in the Des Moines area, but we trust God has his hand in the process. One aspect of this position will be an attempt to raise my own support for the first 24 months. Pathway is a growing church in need of additional pastoral support, but the funds are not currently there to support this position. We have full faith that God has a plan and that the support will be raised through people partnering with us to further the Kingdom.
We are beginning to have conversations with those close to us, and we are asking that you join us in prayer for this process. We ask that you pray that God places it on the hearts of those who can join with us financially during this time. These contributions would be made directly to Pathway Church in Johnston via their giving portal under a fund category to be added soon. This period of time will be from around April or May of 25’ to April or May of 27’. You can begin your two year partnership at any time though as these funds will be set aside. If at any point the support is no longer needed we will reach out to those of you that choose to partner with us and let you know.
This two year period will be a time of on the job pastoral training while contributing my own skill set to their ministry as well. I will work side by side with Dan Hudson to learn, develop, and grow all while helping to implement systems to enhance the amazing ministries they already have in place. This is an opportunity for a pretty neat synergy where I get to receive incredible on the job training while also providing my knowledge and experience to improve their operations and systems.
We would love for you to begin praying for this opportunity, for this attempt to raise our own support, and for the two years our family will be spending in Des Moines. That God uses this time to prepare us for what He has planned for us. We also ask that you prayerfully consider joining with us through financial partnership during this 24 month period. We simply ask that if you feel the Lord calling you to partner with us, that you communicate with us your anticipated commitment, so that we can begin to have a rough idea of what further support we need to raise.
We can’t thank each and every one of you enough for being a part of our lives. So many of you have poured into us throughout the last few years and ultimately have helped us come to this point in our lives and the decision to pursue this ministry opportunity full time. We love you all immensely and we have full faith that God will provide and that He has big plans for the Hudson family to help further His Kingdom, and to build disciples.
Sincerely,
The Hudsons
If you choose to partner with us financially during this 24 month period, either monthly (preferred) or through a one time gift, please get back to me as soon as possible through the following form so that we can assess what further funds need to be raised. Thank you!
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