Over a month removed from my previous job, I’m finally taking an opportunity to share some insight into the transition from Grace Outreach Center to my new church home, Faith Fellowship, plus share some of my experience thus far. My time at GOC was a great experience that prepared me to be a more effective pastor in the future. The lessons I gleaned from the leadership there and the investment Pastor Dennis made into me is invaluable and I will be forever grateful.

Almost a year prior to resigning from GOC, Kelly and I both felt like a change was coming.  We didn’t know what it would entail and conjectured that it would be a promotion at Grace that would secure an even lengthier tenure there.  Months later, we came to realize that that wasn’t the case and that we would be leaving Grace to pursue employment elsewhere.

My desire from the onset was not to simply find another job, but rather to land at a place that we could call home-our church home.  We needed a congregation of believers who we could connect with in deep and significant relationships.  We needed a place where we could invest our lives for the long haul, confident that the church would reciprocate that investment into our family.  Simply put, we wanted a church home-even if that meant me taking a secular job to attend the right church as laypersons.

Faith Fellowship was a risk for us. Small, and a little more country than we would have preferred, we were unsure about taking the position there at first.  It didn’t take long, however, for us to see that this was a church where God was moving, where people were coming and growing, and where those deep relationships were a chief priority.  Our experience here has been all that and more. It takes time to really have those aforementioned relationships, but we are well on our way.  Additionally, this is a growing community with so much potential to make an impact for God’s kingdom!  And the pace allows us to focus more on our family and personal growth as we take time to grow both spiritually and intellectually.  And finally, it is relieving to know that I can finally support my family on my income alone if necessary.   It has always been our goal to be in that type of financial position, though it has been a struggle to see it come to pass.   Praise God that it finally has! (We’re also on the verge of buying our first house. How sweet is that?!)  We felt God was leading us here.  We took a step of faith and have been so glad we did.

Detoxification: the metabolic process by which toxins are changed into less toxic or more readily excretable substances.

I was told I’d experience it, but never believed I would.  No, no. I’ve not been on any drugs or abused alcohol.  I’m talking about the shift that’s resulted from a transition between churches.   A good friend recently asked if working at GOC is similar to working at other churches.  “Is it like this everywhere?”  No, it’s not.  GOC is great, but it’s GOC and nowhere else will be like it.  While there I got used to doing ministry the GOC way.  It became so natural that I actually believed there would be little change in my modus operandi once I headed to my new church.  Hahahaha-man I can be so wrong sometimes.  Okay, a lot of times.  I was warned by a close friend that this would happen, but I really didn’t expect it.

Let me clear something up.   I’m not in anyway likening the work culture and ministry style of GOC to being full of toxins as a result of an addiction to illicit drugs.  Detox is just the best way I can describe what I’m experiencing right now.  Slowly, daily, I’m seeing things in a new light.  I’m realizing there are so many ways of doing effective ministry and what works for one church, in one area, with one set of people may not work at a different church, place, and with different people.  In fact, it may be counter-productive at times!  I’m just changing.  And praise God!   I’ve prayed that He would make this ministry what He wants it to be and that I would be used as a tool in His divine hands to accomplish His good purposes.   I’m learning what works here. I’m seeing God’s vision for THIS place as the one for my last one fades to bygone.  I guess you could say I’m experiencing a detox from my addiction to the GOC way.

Detox.  That’s what it is.  Change.