Our Circling Plane No Longer Has to Wait

Have you ever been on a plane that had to circle a while before landing? Did you wonder whether or not it would ever land?

Or have you ever been redirected while on a flight? Rerouted to another airport because the original destination wasn’t feasible?

We’ve been in a time of transition for a while now. It all began with a changing season for us, and at times we wrestled with the challenge of the wait. Wondering when we would get to land.

This hasn’t been the first time we’ve experienced transition or gone through the search process for a new pastoral position. Each has been its own unique experience while also having some consistent aspects.

We knew that God would take us to a new place in His timing. We knew He would show us exactly what He had next for us. Of course, we also had constructed in our heads what it might (or should) look like. After all, there is a way that seems right to a man…

Throughout the process of searching, we were often asked how it was going. My response often was that it was like my college dating experiences. There were a lot of first dates, but no second dates. I was having a lot of initial conversations, but the door wasn’t opening to move forward.

After looking online at many opportunities and sending multiple resume packets, a church in Virginia made contact with me. It was a great opportunity, and we were really hopeful God would allow us to serve there. Unfortunately, we received word in August that it wasn’t to be. We were really confused and spent some time really wondering what was going on. We talked about whether or not it was time to pursue other types of employment since we weren’t sure how much longer our plane could circle before running out of fuel, but did not feel settled about abandoning the search.

As September got under way, I received a call one day. God was re-routing us. It was from a church re-plant type situation in Alabama. They had received my name from a mutual friend. We had a brief conversation, and I directed the pastor to my website for my resume and materials. I didn’t think much about it.

However, I soon learned this wasn’t going to be a “first date” conversation. We quickly had contact with one of the elders through Facebook, and then arrangements were being made for a Skype interview. We still didn’t know a lot about the church or situation, but Beck and I were beginning to have that feeling. You know the one. Where you can’t really explain it logically, but you know God is about to do something.

Our previous candidating experiences involved a few weeks (or more) of conversation with the pastor before moving to a phone interview with a search committee. And then some more waiting before being invited to come to candidate. In this case, we were having an interview with the elders about a week after initial contact.

The interview went well, and we were immediately offered the chance to come and candidate. We were a little taken back at how quickly this was all unfolding, but again, everyone seemed to sense God leading in this. We agreed to come, and arrangements were made. Again, it was put together quicker than we had experienced in the past. Part of this was due to the fact that we had no reason to wait, and the other reason was that one of the elders was going to be traveling overseas for an extended period once October began. We didn’t want to miss having him be there when we came or waiting until he got back.

In the meantime, we continue to discuss and wrestle through what seemed to be happening. We didn’t understand it all, but could not escape the presence of God in the midst of this. And I don’t know why we were surprised. We had kept asking Him to open the door for the opportunity He had for us.

The time came for us to go to Alabama for the weekend. The Lord provided affordable travel arrangements, He provided care for our children (thanks, Mom!), and He went with us. We were immediately welcomed by the people. Both Beck and I were flooded with memories of different aspects of our children as we were there.

We met a lot of people and heard a lot of stories during the weekend. And, I’m kind of ashamed to say, I kept looking for reasons not to go. It just didn’t make sense logically and practically that this was happening. It was different than the airport we had built in our heads. We also didn’t want to make a decision out of desperation.

Even Sunday morning before going over to the church, we were wrestling with what we knew God was saying to us. Yet, as we led the congregation in worship and then heard the sharing of Scripture by the pastor, we knew. And they knew, too. It was to be that we would be joining the Genesis Church in Lillian, AL. As we were there, our hearts opened to our new friends and the opportunity before us. We felt welcomed and drawn into the family after just a few days. We knew that this was exactly what God had for us and where He wanted us to be.

And so, we have accepted the opportunity to join the church as Associate Pastor. God, in His wisdom, has given us exactly what is best for us. The congregation is small right now, but there is a great potential and opportunity. Our initial weeks will be learning more about the area, gaining our footing, building relationships, and working out details. There is a hunger to reach people with the good news of Jesus and to help them begin a new life in Christ. There is a desire to draw in people of all ages and to do what is necessary to make that happen.

I’ll be a part of a great team, able to both contribute and to learn. I’ll be involved with worship and media, ministry with families, and helping the church step into the next season of her life. And probably other things as we get to know one another more. There are going to be some great relationships that will shape and mold our family, and we hope to be here for many, many years, as the Lord allows.

Thank you for praying for us. Thank you for supporting and encouraging us in this process. Thank you for continuing to read and be a part of this blog. I hope that in this next season of ministry, I continue to learn much about what it means to be a worshiper and leader of others and to be able to share that with you.

Please continue to pray with and for us as we move through the transition from Ohio to Alabama and begin our new life in Lillian. We are looking forward to seeing where God is working in this place and jumping in with both feet.

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,

      and he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the pit of despair,

      out of the mud and the mire.

   He set my feet on solid ground

      and steadied me as I walked along.

He has given me a new song to sing,

      a hymn of praise to our God.

   Many will see what he has done and be amazed.

      They will put their trust in the Lord. (Psalm 40:1-3)

Are you waiting for something in your life? The Lord knows. Trust in Him.