God Knew

As many of you know, I will be leaving student ministry after 11 years and will be starting a church planting residency at The Well Church in Abilene, TX beginning in August. Church planting is something that has been on my heart since college. I didn’t know exactly what that might look like, but I knew one day, God would call.

My ministry has not panned out exactly the way I thought it would. I dreamed of being on staff at a mega church, becoming a teaching pastor before the age of 30, and all my wildest dreams coming true. God had different plans, like he so often does.

What God has done, especially in the last 3 years, has prepared me for what is coming next. When I was starting my ministry, I thought I, myself, would be enough to get students in the seats; that my speaking ability coupled with a few creative games would captivate students to the point that they would just keep coming back. I’ve always thought of myself as a humble guy, (mainly because I’m quiet and don’t like the spotlight) but the truth is that I’ve been burdened by believing my ability and gifts were all I needed and being silently and unknowingly arrogant about them.

When God called me back to my hometown nearly 4 years ago, it allowed me to reflect on where I thought I would be, compared to where I was. I was humbled and limping back to a town that has meant so much to me and to a church that I have cared for and prayed over for 13 years. This is not where I thought I would be, but God knew this is where I needed to be.

Before moving back to Clyde, I figured I had all the tools I needed to plant a church. God knew I needed to be humbled, to get the selfishness and arrogance out of me before I became a pastor and started to lead a church. To be honest I never thought I would be back where I grew up and graduated from, but God knew.

Serving in Clyde has been one of the most rewarding places I have served. Having the opportunity to serve the community I grew up in, to serve the junior high and high schools I went to, and to serve along people that have impacted me from a young age, has been more special than I could have ever dreamed. Learning that numbers, ability, technology, and production are not the measure of success, but rather serving in ministry and relying on God above myself.

Now, as I embark on planting a church, I’ve learned I cannot do this alone and I certainly don’t know everything. God has provided me with the opportunity to walk through a two-year church planting residency, under the leadership of people who’ve gone before me, as part of a network of other churches. These churches will provide a support system for me that I would be unsuccessful without.

But, I find myself starting all of this while in the midst of something our country has never seen. When Jessika and I felt it was time to begin the process of looking at a church plant and when we accepted a church planting residency, we had no idea what the climate of our world would be, but God knew. When we were thinking about how we were going to raise support for my salary for the next two years, we had no idea that many people would be losing their jobs, having their finances launched up into the air for months, but God knew.

We know that God has been preparing us to plant a church, we know that God is calling us to begin a residency in August, and we know that God is going to provide as we begin to raise support.

We don’t know what the next couple of months look like, but we know: God knows. In a time when fear reigns and anxiety is abundant, we know God is still God and He is our peace during this time.

God is our refuge and strength,

    a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1

We know He is not surprised by the current state of our country and world, and we know He has our family in His hands. As Jessika and I walk during this uncertain time, we are confident God will provide, because He has, is, and always will. Amidst so much unknown, we can be certain that God knows.

How can you help?

Jessika and I will be raising financial support for our time during my residency. We are looking for people to partner with us through monthly donations, that will help fund us as we work toward planting a church. If you would like to join our team and partner with us financially, you can do so by clicking the “Give Here” button below.