Begin With the End in Mind

“So I begin with the end in mind.”- from the song “disconnecktie” form the band Norma Jean

I moved to Chico in June of 2000 and left in December of 2006. In between there was a time of dreading the beginning, great times that I can recall to this day, and bad times that made me wish it was all over. And then there was the end. The last days that I lived in Chico, my going away parties, quitting jobs, sad faces, and a realization that the moment I was in would never come back again. The end had arrived.

I arrived at my old Church in January of 2002 and I left on May 1, 2009. In between there was a period of disconnection from God, A surrender to His will for my life, accepting a youth pastorship position, experiencing times full of God’s blessing and times that I wouldn’t wish on anybody else. And then, there was the end. The Last few weeks announcing my departure, talking to my staff, my parents, my pastor, the church congregation, the presbyter, the youth group, and one last toast to end it all. The end had finally arrived.

This week was my first weekend actually leading our block team into Bennett Hill. I was able to lead the team, double check if they had done their work and thank people for coming out. What’s interesting is that it was so much work that I got lost in the moment and before I realized it, my first day was over. I spent a while stressing over it too and in a blink of an eye, it was over!

I’m looking at my first opportunity in Ministry at the Father’s House and I realize that the end is closer than I think! I can go to sleep tonight and wake up to a few years down the road, Married to the love of my life, possibly with children, having made some close relationships, perhaps having become a Pastor at my current church or being released to plant a new church, with the realization that the season that I am just now beginning, is over and I’m ready to start a new one. With the end having finally arrived and a new beginning on the horizon. So I begin with the end in mind…

The Next Season...

After almost two years, the next season has arrived. I have been involved in ministry ever since I became a Christian. I spent a few months working with the youth group at my moms church when I was first saved, I worked on the sound system and Sunday school at my old church for about a year or two. I became assistant youth pastor a year after arriving at that church and six months after I was the youth pastor. I worked as youth pastor there for five years (one year was unofficial but I did all the work). And Then I moved to my current church.

This is where the rubber met the road. I came in without a leadership position, without knowing anybody, just relying on God and his word. For the longest time I was disheartened at the idea of being at a church without being a leader. Not because I wanted a title, but simply because I have a heart for people and for ministry. While there I was reminded that I needed to be at church for God Himself, not for ministry. I needed to focus of my relationship with God and that is exactly what I did. I waited for the next season, quietly depending on God.

So last night I was prayed over at my church, the pastors laid hands and we prayed together for release into ministry. My sister and I will be heading up a block team for the City impact ministry at my church. I am excited about the people that we will be helping and impacting and I am excited about what God will be bringing my way. And now I return to the smiles, headaches, frustrations, accomplishments, disagreements, victories and all else that comes with ministry and leadership! I go into this relying on God, knowing that He has placed me here and will do His will through us in the lives of many.

I ask you all to keep My sister and I in prayer throughout this season and the many to come!
Blessings!