“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

— John 13:35

I have been so grateful for friends that have called, texted and supported us in our move to Jacksonville. I am not kidding when I say, we have some incredible, kingdom-minded friends. Just yesterday alone, I woke up to a sweet text from a friend in Ocala praying for our services at Chets Creek. And then later in the afternoon, another friend wrote to say she was thinking of us and hoped we had a wonderful morning of worship!

Man, THIS is the kind of love that we (Christians) should be known for. Not self-seeking or self-gratifying, but just-because-I-care love with no other pretense.

I have to be honest, one of the hardest parts of transitioning in ministry is leaving one church for another and praying they truly get that it's about the mission and don't take it personally. These calls and texts from friends are exactly the encouragement I've been needing in this season. And I felt a strong sense that maybe there are some of you who are needing this encouragement as well. I hope you'll keep reading, and find some inspiration for your kingdom-work, my friend. 

A little over a month ago, we packed up our home and said goodbye to one ministry to start another. I wouldn't say it's been an easy transition, because I'm not sure that "easy" and "transition" ever really go well together. But I do believe it's been a healthy one.

After so many years in student ministry, I remember my husband (Josh) saying multiple times that "a sign of a healthy transition is when you leave a ministry and it doesn't fall apart."

His reasoning, at the time, was to encourage leaders in the student ministry to invest in the lives of those students so that the ministry was not all about him. If he relied solely on his own (super awesome) personality and (incredibly gifted) teaching to transform the lives of students, then what would happen if he ever left? (adjectives in parentheses inserted by his super-fan wife 😉)

A question that can only be answered when someone ultimately does, leave.

I love hearing and seeing what God continues to do in the ministries we have been blessed to be a part of. There were some great things that happened under our leadership and some even greater things that have happened since we moved on! Not all the seeds we planted grew while we were there. But it's exciting to watch from afar and know that when growth does happen, someone else had the blessing of doing the watering.

Ultimately, it is God that grows that seed. And we could never take credit anyway.

“It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers.”

— 1 Corinthians 3:7-9

 

I think it is a temptation for all of us, especially our media-saturated, status-driven generation, to become deceived and prideful about growth. It's easy to see why - a lot of people attending our ministry is an exciting thing! And should be celebrated, no doubt!

But pride will quickly shatter a kingdom-heart. Other ministries become competitions and other ministers become competitors. Jealousy and selfish ambition are signs of the last days - and unfortunately, the church is not an exception.

The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. This is the church, friends. Working together with the same purpose. It doesn't always have to look the same. In fact, it shouldn't always look the same. We are each called to play different roles in different lives at different times. Planting and watering. One is not more important than the other, but both are necessary. And ultimately, the growth - the glory, the awe, the wonder and beauty - is God's.

This is what it looks like to be workers for the Kingdom. And you know how people will know we are His? Not by tweeting our service numbers (although, I pray they are growing!) but by cheering each other on. 

Last year I wrote a post on Medium called, "Are you really pro-life?" It was during all the controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood. If somehow you were living in a bubble (or completely zoned out during that time, like I have a habit of doing) and aren't caught up on it all, go read my post and then come back here to continue. I only ask that you read it, because for some of us - we won't do anything until we get angry. 

Oh hey. Now that you're back (and angry), let me redirect your attention to some great news. Hope, in the midst of all the chaos going on in our world. There is a wonderful organization that I have recently been introduced to by a blogging friend. Her husband left his job in law enforcement and turned his passion of "protecting lives who cannot protect themselves" towards the unborn. He now works for, you guessed it... 

Save the Storks.

Ashley and I have been blogging buddies, but recently connected on Snapchat (yes, I'm 15 years old and have a Snapchat now, another blog post for another time), where she saw my husband and I were attending a fundraiser for our local women's pregnancy center a couple months ago. She messaged me about Save the Storks and that was the first I had ever heard of it. 

To sum it up, the company operates as a mobile pregnancy center. Literally. They are a life-saving machine on wheels. "Stork busses," as they are coined, are strategically placed outside of abortion clinics, on university campuses, and at public events - to target abortion-minded women. They provide counseling + free ultrasounds, and meet women's needs not just physically, but emotionally, spiritually and financially as well. 

Four out of five women that enter a stork bus, leave saving their baby! 

That news excites me. But my heart is still thinking about the one that didn't choose life. And this sobering reminder only means that we need more resources going towards the efforts to make that number 100%. 

To quote the post I referenced in the beginning,

“Being ‘pro-life’ means we need to go BEYOND just saving babies from being aborted (and believe me, I WANT babies to be saved from abortion!) Being pro-life should mean providing counseling for young mothers, single mothers and rape victims. Helping meet the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of women who consider/want an abortion. ”

Last summer when I wrote that, I had no idea what a "stork bus" was. But reading it back now, I can't help but smile to know there are organizations like Save the Storks out there representing exactly what it means to be pro-life. 

If you choose to become a monthly partner with STS, you will receive this cute free t-shirt (I'm wearing above) and for $30 per month for 1 year, help save the lives of mama and baby from the heartache of abortion.

84% of women who have had abortions say they didn't have all the information they needed before they chose abortion.

What if your support could mean they did?

It's been just over two weeks since we made the move from Ocala to Jacksonville. I'm still trying to teach my 3 year old, Micah, that we didn't actually move out of state. He keeps asking when we're going back to Florida. Ha.

The city of Jacksonville is absolutely gorgeous. As I remember it, from when we lived here 8 years ago. The water and bridges make every drive scenic and beautiful. There is no lack of things to do, places to eat, or people to see. I know it won't be long before our days will be filled, so I am just enjoying the freedom of having a somewhat unscheduled calendar.

A lot of people have been asking if we are "settled in" yet. And what I think they mean is if our boxes are unpacked, to which I can enthusiastically reply, "Yes!" But that's mostly because Micah and I were sick and cooped up in the house the first week we moved here, so those boxes HAD to go.

But, while our house looks and feels like home and we've made it through our first couple weeks without too much trouble, would I say we are really "settled?" Not quite.

And the more I think about it, I'm not sure how long it takes to get settled somewhere or if that's even really the goal.

Would I say we were settled when we left Ocala? Sure. After 4 years, we were comfortable, secure and had found a good routine. But that's also how we knew it may be time for us to move on.

We don't feel God has called us to just live comfortable, safe and secure lives. We actually think being on mission looks quite the opposite. That's not to say we shouldn't use wisdom when making decisions for our family, but it also means we shouldn't fail to exercise faith when the decision sometimes seems risky.

But for many people, becoming settled in life, that is the goal. And ironically, it became more obvious to us once we were uprooted.

It's easier to notice how comfortable everyone else is in a new town, when you're the one getting lost every five seconds. Or how apprehensive people can be to new relationships, when you're the one trying to get to know someone.

Not everyone is that way, of course. But you can usually tell who the "settlers" are.

The cool thing about Jacksonville, is the huge military community that resides here. We live really close to a Navy base and have met several military families already. They are some of the most warm and inviting people you will meet. Why? Because they rarely ever "settle" in one place.

Military families and Ministry families are quite similar, in that they are both called to a "mission." If you're in the military, you may change locations and take on different job roles but the mission (to protect and serve your country) never changes. Same is true for those in ministry, moving and changing job titles is part of doing whatever it takes to fulfill The Great Commission (to go into all the world making disciples of Jesus Christ).

Settlers say things like, "Missions isn't my calling." I get it, because I used to say those things too.

That was because I was comfortable, had never moved in my entire life, and really, honestly, didn't get the mission. I didn't see the need for the gospel overseas, because I never gave my heart a chance to see it.

Once I saw it, I couldn't forget.

"Now that I have seen, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead." - Albertine by Brooke Fraser

It may not be everyone's call to uproot their lives and move around every few years (Lord knows I'm praying it isn't ours anymore, either) but I think it is possible, as believers, to still live without a "settler" mentality. You need to remember the mission goes beyond just your church, the mission goes beyond just your city, and the mission even goes beyond just your country.

Once you get the mission, it's hard to really answer the question, "Are you settled, yet?" Because Lord-willing, we may never be.

 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20