It has been a week since my last post and some of you may be wondering why. Well since my last post I have been on a whirlwind tour that included Tampa and also northeastern Ohio. Monday and Tuesday of last week I spent in Tampa with some other COG (Church of God) church planters. The group has expanded which is really awesome because each new face represented a new congregation of Christ followers. Even though a majority of them are revitalizing existing congregations it is exciting to see God resurrecting some dying churches and giving them new life. I am not sure which is more difficult starting with nothing or starting with baggage but I know that God will get the glory either way.

The COG has brought in a coach for all of us, Dr. Owen Weston which we will be meeting with once a month. It is exciting to see the use of some talented outside resources to assist us in the state to be more successful. I don’t know how many other states around the country are being this aggressive regarding church planting/revitalizing but I don’t think there are many within our denomination.

While in Tampa us church planters had dinner with the State Council and Dr. Martin Taylor (State Bishop) shared his heart regarding us and the vision he carries for the rest of the state. Even though I had heard the basics of this before I enjoyed the refresher. When he started the discussion he said that he liked taking opportunities like that to have new, existing and retired pastors in a small intimate gathering because he recognizes that in the 13 years since he has pastored that he has lost touch with the local church. Can I just say that the fact that he said that speaks volumes of his character, intelligence, and his desire to be a catalyst for change within the state? Thank you Dr. Taylor for recognizing it and making a great effort to connect with the pastor’s you represent. My opinion may be somewhat swayed by the fact that your vision is part of the reason I am here but I have heard similar opinions from many other pastors in our state.

All in all I had a great time on the trip even though I feel a little like the black sheep of our planting family. I am the only one this far south, one of two without a building, of the ones without a building I am the only one that parachuted into unfamiliar territory, and I am seemingly working off a different plan than everybody else. Even though that last part may not be by choice it is the direction we are going and I have some level of confidence in it. I am not one to back down so even though the challenge seems overwhelming at times, I know who sent me and we will keep pressing toward the goal. My prayer is that fear of failure isn’t the source of my will but that it is my desire to do what God is asking me to do that drives me. I don’t want to reach the goal and have unnecessary casualties or miss out on God’s perfect will. So continue to pray for us that we will get to the place God wants us, using the methods He intends for us to use.