Hard to Believe

Last night we rang in the New Year with new friends in Tampa. We enjoyed food, games, sparklers and snappers and sipped on sparkling grape juice at midnight. While we were laughing and enjoying company I couldn't help but think over the events of this past year. What a year!

Last January, Chris was still working at the Hilton Hotel in Birmingham, Alabama. His shift consisted of any and every time frame. We didn't see him but maybe two nights out of each week. I couldn't see how in the world we were going to find our place in ministry and who would want a couple that had a resume like ours. God began teaching me. During our "time off" we began to search our hearts, desires and the meaning of ministry. What did the Church need to be and what part am I to play from day to day? I quickly began to learn that the Lord was not as much concerned with where we were serving but what I was doing with where we were serving!

February 2007, a group of people contacted Chris and me about possibly coming to Tampa, Florida to pastor a new church plant. A church plant? Had we not already tried that in Birmingham? The Lord has such a sense of humor! ha! But we chatted several times on the phone with them and began discussing a possible trip down to Tampa. After our first trip down, we loved it! We began to see ourselves in this ministry and seeing it as a real opportunity for Chris to be lead pastor and learn. Things began to progress and we accepted the position in late February. Chris flew down to Tampa once a month during the months of March and April and in May began to look at moving down to pastor a small group of people in Brandon, Florida (east of Tampa). Only one problem.....our house still had not sold! Yikes. We felt that it would sell, but that Chris needed to be with the people and begin his ministry there in Brandon. Emma and I stayed back in Birmingham, completing my school year at the Early Learning Center at The Church at Brook Hills. June came and went.....July came and went.....and in August Chris determined it was time for our family to reunite in Tampa. We moved August 17th and I was never so glad to be back with Chris (Emma too).

We began our ministry as a family in mid-August and we were filled with joy. God was doing some amazing things at our church! He was bringing lost people and we were making connections with those around the area and in our apartment community. Unfortunetly, just like many church plants, the unstability affected our family in a major way. We were devestated and at a complete loss at to know what to do next and how to process in ministry. The wonderful thing was God knew! He always does.

We received a phone call from a local church wanting to interview Chris, knowing of all that happened at our little church and the affects that I had on our family. Chris met with the staff and things were going very well. We prayed. I have to say that we were a little bit gun shy. But the Lord began to open doors and we are going to be accepting the position after this coming Sunday. We are excited about our future in ministry here in Tampa for 2008. We are claiming the scripture, Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans that I have for you, plans to prosper you and to give you a hope and future."

I will blog again after this Sunday telling all about the position that we are taking and our plans as of January 2008. Only the Lord can tell what this year will bring!