Wow, what a story! In life, this principle "Burn the Boats" can be applied. When God tells us to do something; maybe we need to burn the boats. Let me expand:
I have been struggling with something for a very long time. My place of vocational ministry has been a question. Am I where God wants me? This isn't a recent question, one that has stemmed from a question that has bothered me. Two and half years ago, I hit the age of thirty. That day I spent lots of time with God reflecting over the past decade of ministry. What went right? What went wrong? What could have I done better? What victories should I celebrate? Etc. Then there was a time I spent dedicating the next decade to His will. That is when it happened.
"If I ask you to plant a church and be the lead pastor of that church; will you stand in my way?" Ouch, punch in the gut. You see up to this point if you asked what I would be doing the rest of my life, without skipping a beat, I would say youth ministry. I am a youth pastor lifer! In fact, I have encouraged a lot of youth pastors, not to use their time as a youth worker as a stepping stone to a higher position in the church. "God are you serious?" "Are you saying I will plant a church? or is this an obedience test to get me moving in a new direction?" Questions that are still a mystery to me.
The last two and half years, I have been preparing myself to be a church planter and a lead pastor. I did all the church planting assessments, training, reading books and have been investing personally in multiple church plants and church planters. I have been approved through North America Mission Board to plant a church. A year ago; I had a team, a church sponsor and a location in a YMCA in Kenosha, WI. A month before we were scheduled to go, we lost everything; the team, the church and location. Now what God? Should I take a pastorate? I could be a game changer for a church somewhere! Go back to seminary and get my masters of Divinity? I could get my studies in that would make me a better communicator and help to build a foundation to become a lead pastor.
Today, I know a few things. I believe that one day I will be a lead pastor serving in a local church. Not sure when, for all I know I could be in several different positions that will teach and grow me. I know I am called to work with church planting. Even if I never plant a church; whatever church I serve with in whatever position that may be; I will have hands involved with church planting. Why? It's in my DNA as an individual. At age thirty, I received that question; but as a young seminary student working on a masters at Liberty University, I had God pressing church planting on me. As a young twenty-two year old; I knew that someday I would be part of church planting. At that time, I assumed it would be with a team and I would be the youth guy on that team. Boy, how perspectives change! In reality, this has come true! I have been part of church planting here in Wisconsin. The church I am with now and the teens have been part of church planting in variety of ways. Here are just a few things:
1. The youth were leaders for VBS/block party for a church plant in Marinette, WI
2. The youth did a mission trip partnership to help Priority 1 church plant in Brown Deer, WI
3. The youth served pizza for a Nazarene church plant in Green Bay so that their people could interact with the community on their first worship service experience
4. Our church has allowed a Hmong church plant to use our facility the last two years
5. Called Out conference for Minnesota and Wisconsin youth groups; has brought in church planters to speak, we prayed with them, wrote letters, visited their planting location, etc.
Some of these thing would have happened and some wouldn't have happened; if it were not a "question" at age thirty for me. It is in my DNA of how God has wired me! To help church plants, to partner with other churches, to serve the community, to share God's love, to be what God wants me to be.
I have many mentors and friends that have spoke into my life; many not knowing much about my circumstances and my story. Leaders coming alongside me and asking if I ever thought about becoming a senior pastor? You would make a great lead pastor. You are not where you are supposed to be. Among so many other comments and life spoken into me. Another, Ouch! Not only did it hurt with the "question" now it is hurting when believers are sharing with me. Why? Because I am still not ready and God is using individuals to get through to me...Within my preaching, it has changed. One message I ended with something that was not in my notes for the invitation. I quoted James 4:17 " If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." Wait, where did that come from? A verse I have struggled with for months. Another, Ouch! My last sermon title was called "Time to Move" which had everything to do with us as Christians making the move God asks us. Great message; but then it hit me this is becoming reality, it is time to move.
I am not ready! What if...? I have been in ministry for six and half years! I have strong roots in Green Bay! So many connections and partnerships within the community! I have an income, a place to live, food for the table, health insurance! Im comfortable. Where am I landing? Where am I going? Is it going to be okay? Will I find a job? Will I find a place to live? Will I last at seminary?
It's time to go full circle, back to the beginning of this. "Burn the Boats!"
Burn the boats, so we moved forward! It started with many conversation between Amber and I. Conversations with family and friends. Turning in my resignation to my senior pastor. Amber and I sat down with the youth and their families and talked about our decision; my youth mean the world to us. We love them and their families dearly. This coming Sunday it will be announced to the church. We talked to our landlord. I have resigned from the Called Out Conference planning team, the Recharge Conference team, being a youth ministry network coordinator for Green Bay and telling my YMCA supervisor that we will be leaving. With each decision and conversation, we knew we were "burning the boats." We are going forward and we are going to step out in faith. We are going to conquer what God wants for us as a family. We will go where He wants us as a family. We will invest where he plants us and be game changers. We will be obedient!
Currently what I know: I have been accepted to Midwestern Seminary and at the time intended to do online classes; but now we might move to Kansas City. Being on seminary would benefit us, the cost of living is reasonable on the campus. Kansas City is a Send city for North America Mission Board; maybe a perfect place to plant a church or be involved with the current church plants. There are quite a few churches in the area with open positions; many that I see us fitting in. Definitely some exciting ministry positions, churches that I could see being part of. Lots of potential things; but conversations need to take place, opportunities need to present themselves and I need to have my ears open to God's voice as He directs. We need lots of prayer for sure:
1. Prayer for a healthy transition
2. Prayer for the next location
3. Prayer for needs as we step out in faith
4. Prayer for obedience
5. Prayer for next steps to fall into place
Burning the boats is not ideal, but if you have been dragging your feet on what God has been asking you, that moment could define the rest of your life.
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