So some of you have come here for the Big Announcement from my status on Facebook. Well I'm not trying to be mean but you will need to read through this blogpost to find out what it is...;-) As most of you know, I resigned from my Student Minster position at Westview back in January. There were some issues there and I was really feeling pulled by God to go back to school and finish my degree. I want to say to anyone reading this who might still be at Westview that contrary to what may have been said or presented to you, things are not always what they seem. I also want to say that I loved and still do love all the students I was privileged to have ministered to while at WBC. That being said, I knew in January that my ability to minister to students within the framework and leadership of Westview had ceased to be possible and it was time for me to move forward with God's plan. I enrolled as a full-time student at the BCF extension taking 19 hours in the spring with the goal of graduating in December of 2011. God has taken care of myself, Cara and the kids, financially through various means and by surrounding us with friends and family for support. I finished the semester with all A's (Praise be to God because I could not have done that on my own or without the prayer support of many others) and we headed into the summer. I have seen God work in some amazing ways the past 5 - 6 years since I left Convergys and entered into the ministry and thankfully God has continued to provide in amazing ways for us even up to today. As we entered the summer, I registered for 9 more hours of school to stay on track to graduate in December. At the same time, we began to realize that the means with which God had supplied for us to pay our mortgage without me working was about to run dry by the 1st of July. So I began to look for a part time job first accepting a position at Universal Studios with the Blue Man Group Show. After waiting a couple of weeks to go through orientation and finally to begin actual training, on the day I was to start I found out about a job at UthStuph which is a t-shirt and more company here in Orlando that caters to Youth Pastors and others (check them out at www.uthstuph.com). This had been a desire of sorts to work for them that would allow me to stay connected to youth ministry but also work around my school schedule until I finished. So I accepted that position and began working there last week. God allowed me to work and get paid a few days at Universal and a now a week at UthStuph to continue to provide for us but He had a greater plan in mind. Over Memorial Day weekend as we were beginning to realize our financial situation was beginning to be impacted, I received an email from a pastor who was looking to fill a position at his church for Students and Education. We exchanged emails and phone calls throughout the month of June and Cara, the kids, and I even visited one Sunday to get a feel for the church and the opportunities there. We both left with a positive impression and began praying about what God might be doing there that wold involve us. The pastor then left on vacation and the 4th of July came up so we had talked and decided that I would come and meet with parents on Wed. night the 6th for a time of Q and A. That happened to be the day after I started working at UthStuph! So again, we all travelled to this church and I met and spoke with some parents and members of the search team for about an hour and a half. After meeting with them I was asked to submit salary requirements and that the feeling was that they were going to extend to me the call to fill the position. I submitted the requirements and we spent this past weekend in that area looking for possible homes to rent. On Sunday night after we had returned to our home, I received a call from the pastor that they had agreed to meet the salary requirements that I had supplied and that I was offered the position. Needless to say, the next two nights have been sleepless as we have prayed diligently about following God's plan and everything it would entail to pick up and move since we own our house here in Lake Mary and our kids have only gone to the school they currently go to, etc. Also, I was becoming quickly comfortable at UthStuph and loving my new job there as well as the people I was working with, they truly are one big family. However, as I told my students at Westview the night I resigned, when you feel God pulling you someplace even if it's not what you want at the time, you have to be obedient and willing to say 'Yes, God. I will follow you.' With that being said, today I resigned my position at UthStuph in order to officially accept the position of Minister to Students and Education at Fellowship Baptist Church in Ocala, Florida. I know this announcement will not have the immediate media impact that LeBron James' did last summer, but I hope that it will have an eternal impact on students and adults in the Ocala area as well as in my life and the lives of my family as we seek to follow God in His plans for this church as they reach out to the families of Ocala with His love and free gift of eternal life. Now begins a major transition as we start preparing our house here to rent out and as we look for a place in Ocala to move in to that we can call a home. We will be looking to transition Eli and Lizzy to a new school and a new church family, one that we have found is exceedingly friendly and warm and that we can't wait to be a part of. There will be packing to be done and cleaning to do all while finishing the summer semester at school and preparing for a fall of activities in my new role. Cara will be looking for a new job (pray for her as she is having an interview as I type this) and we know that God will provide as He always has. I ask you to pray for us and our family as we begin this new transition and phase in our lives. All we want to do is be obedient to God and to love Him with all our hearts while we love others as He as loved us. Thanks in advance for your prayers and know that we love you all.
till next time....more Him
till next time....more Him
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