The last time I wrote a blog post was back on March 10, 2021. That next week, our lives took a dramatic turn. Things still haven’t completely returned to “normal” yet, but we’re beginning to adjust to our new routine and ministry, so I wanted to take a few minutes to explain what’s been going on.

In mid-March, I received a call from Dr. Chris Morgan, the Dean of the School of Christian Ministries at California Baptist University. He’s a sharp theologian, a godly example, a brilliant leader, and a personal friend. He told me he was currently serving as interim pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland, and that the church was going through some transitions and may have an opening for me. I was skeptical at first, but as I learned more about the need, I knew this was something Natalie and I needed to pray about.

Fast forward a few months, and now I’m serving as Associate Pastor of Ministry Leadership at Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland. Essentially, my role is to oversee the ministerial staff, to supervise day-to-day operations of our discipleship and missions ministries, and to support the interim (and eventually senior) pastor in carrying out the overall mission and vision of the church.

What would cause a senior pastor of 15 years to “step down” and become an associate pastor? (though all forms of pastoral ministry are important). Why would we uproot our family, say goodbye to an amazing church family, leave a quiet neighborhood, and even slightly downsize our property? Why would I give up an Adjunct Teaching position at a Christian university? All to join a church that doesn’t even have a senior pastor? The answer is simple … because we felt called by God. We prayed, searched the scriptures, sought wise counsel, discussed it as a family, consulted both our sending church and receiving church, and considered both the short term needs and long term opportunities this would present. In the end, it was clear that it was the right thing to do.

That first night after I first spoke with Dr. Morgan, I prayed the Lord would give clear direction from his word. I believe when the Bible speaks, God speaks, and that his word gives all that we need for life and godliness. I know we must be exceedingly careful not to “read into” the scriptures or misapply them. But sometimes we need clear direction, and if ever there was a time I needed confirmation from the Lord, this was it. We would be giving up our loving church family, our comfortable home, and our quiet neighborhood. What if we made a mistake and later regretted it? In the providence of God, that night I came to this passage:

Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. (Mark 10:28–30)

This was exactly what I needed to hear. A reminder that my life is not my own, and that the call to discipleship is a call to die to self. In this life, we sometimes make sacrifices, but they pale against Christ’s sacrifice. And he promises to more than compensate when we do it “for his sake and for the gospel’s.” There were many more conversations that needed to take place to confirm God’s will, but this passage opened my heart to at least the possibility God was at work, and that he was leading us to make a change.

Thank you all who have prayed for us and supported us through this transition. Now over a month into this new assignment, Natalie and I can see God’s hand in so many details, and we are thrilled to begin this new chapter of ministry.