(This week's blog will be a bit different from the norm. With the amount of growing new families added to our church each month, we as a staff, decided to take a break from our routine format to share a little bit about ourselves and our families. It is our hope and desire that we might become a group of leaders that you know and trust. As usual, I'm batting leadoff, but be looking forward to Sankie =Tuesday, Jeff = Wednesday, Terry = Thursday, and of course Phil = Friday.)
It’s so
cool to look back and see how the Lord has orchestrated our past to bring us to
this unique place in life. Presently, such thoughts overwhelm my soul with
gratitude. It wasn’t all that long ago I was transitioning from bi-vocational
ministry into a full time position as a youth and children’s ministry coordinator
here at the church. I'm now privileged
to be leading as an ordained Family Pastor of Middle School. My wife, Brittany,
and I have the blessed honor and responsibility of raising our three children,
Brooks (11), Chandler (8), and Matilyn (6) during a very special time. With our
oldest being a fifth grader that is also one of our Wired middle schoolers,
gone are the days of simply talking in theory about the importance of family
ministry. The significance of discipleship at home and our call to be intentionally
involved parents has become all the more evident as a result of my pastoral
role. How gracious of the Lord to allow me to be a part of this family ministry
team just as our own children near the vital pre-adolescent stage of
development! Honestly folks, if up to us, my wife and I would have never known
the fullness and value of faith talks, faith walks, and faith mission. And
while we are far from some sort of finished project and indeed never will be, by
placing us on staff here, the Lord has enlightened us to the great worth of
investing in our children and doing so alongside other parents and families
that are longing to point each other to Christ.
Like
many young families, weekly we battle to find our rhythm in the hectic, busy pace
of life. Between soccer practices and baseball tourneys, my wife’s work as a
clinical therapist and my seminary course load, balance and focus are always desperately
needed for our overall health as a family. During the last year or so, we have
also discovered how precious it is to belong to a genuine community of
believers – friends that know us and like us anyway – people who have agreed to
share in the ups and downs with us as we each seek to bring God glory. Again, what
unmerited favor that the Lord would lead us to such a place!
When
we’re not hangin’ in the Warehouse, writing a Monday blog, or shuffling to and
from ballgames, we really enjoy being home. For us, not much is better than
sleeping in on a Saturday and eating a big homemade breakfast together. Our
family enjoys camping and loves to be out in God’s creation. We are avid St.
Louis Cardinal fans and in terms of bedlam, a house fearfully and wonderfully
made crimson and orange. We love our life but acknowledge that it is often weighty
and things rarely come easy. Since we all face days full of complexities and challenges,
we hope to be an available resource of hope, encouragement, and direction. We are
excited to be a part of the Lord’s work in South Tulsa and all that He’s doing at
New Beginnings. We look forward to partnering with you in the seasons ahead as
we chase after Christ together.
May we make much of Him,
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