After a few weeks of back and forth communication with Joe, I got the go ahead to send in my resume to Dan. And me and Dan began e-mailing regularly back and forth.
There are so many specifics I could share. God was doing so much in that time. And every time I got an e-mail from Dan I was not only overwhelmingly excited, but I was amazed at how God was answering such specific prayers of mine. Everything I was learning about the church and about Dan and his family was so encouraging and direct with where I felt God was moving in my life. Even things I wasn't praying about but more worrying about God answered! And it almost seemed too good to be true.
Dan and I even read through a book together and discussed it over e-mail! It was a lot of fun getting to know him and being able to learn about his heart and the story of Eastside.
As time went on I became more and more confident that THIS was where God was leading. And He was aligning things to perfectly.
As I was heavily considering Shelby Township being my new home, I started to worry about leaving my close-knit His House community and moving to a place where I literally knew no one.
And then God spilled over answers to that prayer request.
A close friend of mine, someone I've known since freshman year of CMU, and was in a wedding with me this past June told me that she was moving home to Troy and would be around for a while.
Ding! So happy to have a friend.
Then a dear friend was on my mind for about a week straight. She had graduated from CMU and moved home and I was missing her a lot. I kept thinking I needed to get in touch with her soon. throughout that week her name continued to come up in random conversations with people reminding me that I needed to get ahold of her. Well sure enough, she happened to drive into Mount Pleasant and be at Church that Thursday night without me ever having gotten in touch with her. I just saw her! We began to catch up and she told me that she was living and working in Rochester! Just a brief 20 min drive from where I would be.
Ding! Another prayer answered.
Then, there were two girls specifically that God had placed in my life through dance and mission trips. They were best friends and I got the joy of baptizing one last summer. Both of them were going to be near Rochester and Utica student teaching this fall.
Our God is good! and if you don't believe in God....well, He's good!!
All of these specifics kept piling up and I was becoming more and more convinced that God is up to something big.
Then, the icing on the cake. I decided to go to Eastside Vineyards website because I hadn't visited it before. And right there, on the main page, in bold font and fun colors read Galatians 5:6 "What is important is Faith expressing itself through Love."
This verse my best friend painted on a canvas for me for Christmas and I had sitting by the window in my room because it is by far one of my favorite verses. I stumbled across that verse some time in the beginning of college and ever since have held it dear as a motto and way to live out my faith.
It's a non-negotiable for me and something I see as extremely important to live by as a Christ follower.
And there is was, as a banner Eastside was waving and firmly believing.
Not only do they believe it, but in these past few weeks I've been able to see how they truly put it into practice.
God continued to astonish me. And each moment seemed to be more and more exciting. Needless to say my faith grew in the process.
So, I came to visit two separate weekends and stayed with Dan and his family. Dan continued to remind me that It was so important for me to feel like this was a church I'd go to if it wasn't my job.
And I firmly believe and know that.
This church has become home.
And the more I discover about the heart behind the ministry the more I believe in what it's doing and in the people here.
God is certainly at work, all I need to do is trust Him.
He obviously has a plan. Yes, for me. Yes, for Eastside. But even more importantly to me is He has a plan for these youth. A bigger plan than I could ever dream of. And He is putting it into effect.
I can't begin to express my thankfulness. And every day I have to surrender my control and put my trust in my God who IS more than capable and who is already at work.
Thanks for letting me be a part of this story and this journey.
And I hope you continue to join what God is doing here and what He is doing in your own life.
God is everywhere, and He is at work. It's powerful stuff.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 "He who calls you is Faithful; He will surely do it."
1 Peter 4:19 "So then, those that suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to a Faithful Creator and continue to do good."
Friday, August 16, 2013
Eastside Story part 2.
Fast forward to college. Still certain that I want to go into ministry, but attending Central Michigan University which is definitely not a "Christian school". I was majoring in Communication (which I loved) and minoring in Youth Studies (which I loved even more). Those two areas of study really taught me a lot and I believe God used them in profound ways to shape me in where I am now.
But right away in college I got involved in a campus ministry called His House and as soon as possible I started taking on leadership roles. I lead a lifegroup my sophomore year, the dance team and youth group my junior year, the dance team and a spring break team my senior year and then came on staff with His House after Graduation as the Dance Ministry Intern. As a staff member I lead the Dance Ministry team including the leaders of the team, co-lead a spring break mission trip to Dallas, TX and just returned on July 12 from a month long mission to South Africa which I co-lead as well.
I absolutely love the ministry of His House and loved what I did and the people I got to know.
But something was stirring in me that this wasn't it.
As much as I love college ministry and really really love dance, I knew God was calling me to youth.
And I became determined to find a job working with youth.
Even my supervisor at His House told me how thankful he was for my work and how much needed I've been in the ministry, but he couldn't deny my calling and gifting to work specifically with youth.
So I applied to different jobs, talked with a strong connection I had near home, and considered my options.
I had a lot to think about and I wrestled with ever settling on a decision.
I could never say "yes" to jobs that came my way, I just felt unsettled.
Then there was an interesting moment.
I was having an off-day (sometimes off-days seem more normal than whatever "on-days" would be...but you get it), and I was feeling really frustrated with my own shortcomings.
I was driving to go pick up a friend and just started praying out loud.
At first I was praying for God's guidance and direction to lead me in my life.
That I didn't want to make any decision apart from Him and I want to live in His wisdom every day. I was praying that I wouldn't ignore His voice and I would know where He is moving and leading.
Then, without any conscious decision on my own, I just started praying for the next year very specifically.
Words were flowing from me that I didn't even have time to truly hold on to the thought.
I started praying specifically for guidance and direction in where God was leading me this next upcoming school year.
That I felt called out of College Ministry and into Youth Ministry and that I wanted to know where He was leading me and what He was doing.
As I pulled in to pick up my friend, put the car in park and said "Amen!", my phone rang.
It was Dave who was my boss at His House and oversees the creative arts department.
He had just got a call from Joe Vercellino.
Joe recently graduated from CMU and worked at His House for a period of time as well. I knew him well because of His House and many experiences we had together.
Now Joe was teaching and working part time at a church.
His call to Dave was about his church looking for a youth pastor and wondering if Dave had any recommendations.
Dave wanted to recommend me, if that was ok.
So, here I am, feeling called to Youth Ministry, finding my season with college ministry wrapping up, applying for jobs but not feeling strongly about pursuing them (for whatever reason), and as I'm driving down the road praying mainly out of frustration, God leads me to praying specifically about His guidance and direction for just a few months down the road, and then the phone rings.
I stuttered to respond to Dave and told him I would be grateful if he put my name in.
That moment I will never forget.
I remember not being exactly sure about what just happened, and not being sure if that was real, but I couldn't wait to find out more.
Find out more in the next and final blog about this incredible journey!
So thankful to YOU for being a part of it :)
But right away in college I got involved in a campus ministry called His House and as soon as possible I started taking on leadership roles. I lead a lifegroup my sophomore year, the dance team and youth group my junior year, the dance team and a spring break team my senior year and then came on staff with His House after Graduation as the Dance Ministry Intern. As a staff member I lead the Dance Ministry team including the leaders of the team, co-lead a spring break mission trip to Dallas, TX and just returned on July 12 from a month long mission to South Africa which I co-lead as well.
I absolutely love the ministry of His House and loved what I did and the people I got to know.
But something was stirring in me that this wasn't it.
As much as I love college ministry and really really love dance, I knew God was calling me to youth.
And I became determined to find a job working with youth.
Even my supervisor at His House told me how thankful he was for my work and how much needed I've been in the ministry, but he couldn't deny my calling and gifting to work specifically with youth.
So I applied to different jobs, talked with a strong connection I had near home, and considered my options.
I had a lot to think about and I wrestled with ever settling on a decision.
I could never say "yes" to jobs that came my way, I just felt unsettled.
Then there was an interesting moment.
I was having an off-day (sometimes off-days seem more normal than whatever "on-days" would be...but you get it), and I was feeling really frustrated with my own shortcomings.
I was driving to go pick up a friend and just started praying out loud.
At first I was praying for God's guidance and direction to lead me in my life.
That I didn't want to make any decision apart from Him and I want to live in His wisdom every day. I was praying that I wouldn't ignore His voice and I would know where He is moving and leading.
Then, without any conscious decision on my own, I just started praying for the next year very specifically.
Words were flowing from me that I didn't even have time to truly hold on to the thought.
I started praying specifically for guidance and direction in where God was leading me this next upcoming school year.
That I felt called out of College Ministry and into Youth Ministry and that I wanted to know where He was leading me and what He was doing.
As I pulled in to pick up my friend, put the car in park and said "Amen!", my phone rang.
It was Dave who was my boss at His House and oversees the creative arts department.
He had just got a call from Joe Vercellino.
Joe recently graduated from CMU and worked at His House for a period of time as well. I knew him well because of His House and many experiences we had together.
Now Joe was teaching and working part time at a church.
His call to Dave was about his church looking for a youth pastor and wondering if Dave had any recommendations.
Dave wanted to recommend me, if that was ok.
So, here I am, feeling called to Youth Ministry, finding my season with college ministry wrapping up, applying for jobs but not feeling strongly about pursuing them (for whatever reason), and as I'm driving down the road praying mainly out of frustration, God leads me to praying specifically about His guidance and direction for just a few months down the road, and then the phone rings.
I stuttered to respond to Dave and told him I would be grateful if he put my name in.
That moment I will never forget.
I remember not being exactly sure about what just happened, and not being sure if that was real, but I couldn't wait to find out more.
Find out more in the next and final blog about this incredible journey!
So thankful to YOU for being a part of it :)
Eastside Story
My journey as youth pastor at The Eastside Vineyard church officially began July 23 of 2013. And these first few weeks on staff have been a blast! I've genuinely enjoyed all that I have been able to experience and be a part of so far. It feels like family at Eastside.
However, my journey began months before officially moving to Shelby Township. It even began months before accepting the job.
Let me tell you a little bit about how I came to Eastside.
See, I grew up in a very tiny town. Corn fields all around, one blinking traffic light, and 67 people in my graduating class. That was home.
We took vacations every summer, and celebrated holidays with family in the area, but we never had any need to go to Detroit or surrounding cities because we didn't know anyone over there!
Our primary reason for ever driving to the east side of Michigan was either to go to a concert or some kind of sporting event. That was all we saw of "Detroit".
So my ever hearing about The Eastside Vineyard church was slim to none. But not in God's realm.
Being a youth pastor has not only been a dream of mine but something I truly felt has been a calling on my life since the age of 15.
I remember standing in a crowd of other high schoolers, underneath a tent during a night of worship at Faholo camp in Grass Lake. While standing there praying and worshipping the speaker of the evening called down to the front every person in the room who felt called specifically into ministry.
As I stood there, feet stuck to that position, I didn't even consider moving. Until I felt a still, small voice inside of me say "You should be down there. You're going to be a youth minister."
It was so clear to me. I never made my way up front, but I've never turned back from that calling.
It just fit. Every passion of mine, my most dominant strengths, my desires and abilities all seemed to fall within that role. I'll be a youth pastor. And God will equip me.
Continue reading the rest of the story in the next blogs! Thanks for being a part of the journey!
However, my journey began months before officially moving to Shelby Township. It even began months before accepting the job.
Let me tell you a little bit about how I came to Eastside.
See, I grew up in a very tiny town. Corn fields all around, one blinking traffic light, and 67 people in my graduating class. That was home.
We took vacations every summer, and celebrated holidays with family in the area, but we never had any need to go to Detroit or surrounding cities because we didn't know anyone over there!
Our primary reason for ever driving to the east side of Michigan was either to go to a concert or some kind of sporting event. That was all we saw of "Detroit".
So my ever hearing about The Eastside Vineyard church was slim to none. But not in God's realm.
Being a youth pastor has not only been a dream of mine but something I truly felt has been a calling on my life since the age of 15.
I remember standing in a crowd of other high schoolers, underneath a tent during a night of worship at Faholo camp in Grass Lake. While standing there praying and worshipping the speaker of the evening called down to the front every person in the room who felt called specifically into ministry.
As I stood there, feet stuck to that position, I didn't even consider moving. Until I felt a still, small voice inside of me say "You should be down there. You're going to be a youth minister."
It was so clear to me. I never made my way up front, but I've never turned back from that calling.
It just fit. Every passion of mine, my most dominant strengths, my desires and abilities all seemed to fall within that role. I'll be a youth pastor. And God will equip me.
Continue reading the rest of the story in the next blogs! Thanks for being a part of the journey!
Saturday, August 3, 2013
No One's Perfect.
I am an imperfect worshiper.
Full of daily mistakes and constant worries, I know that I never can measure up to the goodness of God.
But that's what makes me worship Him all the more.
Everyone has a story to tell. and everyone's story is it's own. No two stories could ever be the same. And with my story, I choose to worship God.
As a little girl worshiping God was easy. I had a love for Him that came naturally. Jesus was my best friend and I was proud to say it! Sitting in church was so much of a joy for me that I hated going to kids class and wanted to be where the adults were. Something about knowing God felt so right.
But as I've added years to my life I've found that worshiping God gets a little harder. Sometimes it isn't so innate. Sometimes I have to choose to do it even when everything around me isn't going so well and I don't really understand God.
Because even though God is perfect, life isn't; humans aren't. And everyday I see brokenness in others and in myself that makes me wonder if that's all there is.
There was a very specific time in my life where I had to redefine my understanding of God altogether.
If it was natural and easy before it became extremely confusing and difficult to worship God. A lot in my life was coming undone at the seams and I was standing on shaky ground. Everything around me felt unsafe. And if God had protected me my whole life, what was stopping Him from doing so now? And what did I do to push His protection away?
Questions like that begin to take over your desire for worship and begin to instill a sense of control.
"Something made God stop protecting me, and I've got to start getting it together so He always protect me and never stops again."
How scary. I was pushed into the arms of God, but not necessarily because I felt safe with Him, but more because it was all I knew to do (which I am thankful for!) and because I wanted to make right whatever I had made wrong.
Praise God for His faithfulness. He never left me.
Never, ever, ever. Not in a single moment of that brokenness was God ever far away. Nor will He ever be in the brokenness I see now and the brokenness to come.
Oh, how beautiful!
It's through God's faithfulness that I began to see how God never left me. And that in every moment He was not only with me, but He was teaching me.
Romans 8:28 says "For we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." (ESV)
So no, I don't believe that God intends for bad things to happen. I don't think He initiates it or enjoys seeing it happen. I believe His heart breaks over injustice. And I believe He is sad to see the sons of man turn away from Him and choose evil.
But I do know, that God takes what was intended for evil and turns it into good for those who love God and invite Him in.
So when devastating circumstances happen around me, I can look to Him and know that it pains Him even more and that I am safe to come running to a God who understands and who will use it for good in my life because He loves me.
So, I'm not perfect. Never have been, never will be. At least not through my own human abilities.
But oh, how I delight in worshiping God with my life. Because He is so good and so worthy. And because in Him I have true freedom. Freedom to be me and to tell the story of Him through my life.
And that's what brings me to Eastside. Because I believe God will use me here and teach me here. Because of all the hope I have found in God I can't help but want to share it; specifically to teens who may not know how they can worship God in the midst of so much brokenness.
The cool, long version of how I came to Eastside will come soon. But know, that I have a heart to spread the hope of Christ everywhere to all people!
And I hope you find the way God is moving in your life and how He desires to reach into the middle of your life and situation and make good. :)
Thanks for being a part of the story.
Full of daily mistakes and constant worries, I know that I never can measure up to the goodness of God.
But that's what makes me worship Him all the more.
Everyone has a story to tell. and everyone's story is it's own. No two stories could ever be the same. And with my story, I choose to worship God.
As a little girl worshiping God was easy. I had a love for Him that came naturally. Jesus was my best friend and I was proud to say it! Sitting in church was so much of a joy for me that I hated going to kids class and wanted to be where the adults were. Something about knowing God felt so right.
But as I've added years to my life I've found that worshiping God gets a little harder. Sometimes it isn't so innate. Sometimes I have to choose to do it even when everything around me isn't going so well and I don't really understand God.
Because even though God is perfect, life isn't; humans aren't. And everyday I see brokenness in others and in myself that makes me wonder if that's all there is.
There was a very specific time in my life where I had to redefine my understanding of God altogether.
If it was natural and easy before it became extremely confusing and difficult to worship God. A lot in my life was coming undone at the seams and I was standing on shaky ground. Everything around me felt unsafe. And if God had protected me my whole life, what was stopping Him from doing so now? And what did I do to push His protection away?
Questions like that begin to take over your desire for worship and begin to instill a sense of control.
"Something made God stop protecting me, and I've got to start getting it together so He always protect me and never stops again."
How scary. I was pushed into the arms of God, but not necessarily because I felt safe with Him, but more because it was all I knew to do (which I am thankful for!) and because I wanted to make right whatever I had made wrong.
Praise God for His faithfulness. He never left me.
Never, ever, ever. Not in a single moment of that brokenness was God ever far away. Nor will He ever be in the brokenness I see now and the brokenness to come.
Oh, how beautiful!
It's through God's faithfulness that I began to see how God never left me. And that in every moment He was not only with me, but He was teaching me.
Romans 8:28 says "For we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." (ESV)
So no, I don't believe that God intends for bad things to happen. I don't think He initiates it or enjoys seeing it happen. I believe His heart breaks over injustice. And I believe He is sad to see the sons of man turn away from Him and choose evil.
But I do know, that God takes what was intended for evil and turns it into good for those who love God and invite Him in.
So when devastating circumstances happen around me, I can look to Him and know that it pains Him even more and that I am safe to come running to a God who understands and who will use it for good in my life because He loves me.
So, I'm not perfect. Never have been, never will be. At least not through my own human abilities.
But oh, how I delight in worshiping God with my life. Because He is so good and so worthy. And because in Him I have true freedom. Freedom to be me and to tell the story of Him through my life.
And that's what brings me to Eastside. Because I believe God will use me here and teach me here. Because of all the hope I have found in God I can't help but want to share it; specifically to teens who may not know how they can worship God in the midst of so much brokenness.
The cool, long version of how I came to Eastside will come soon. But know, that I have a heart to spread the hope of Christ everywhere to all people!
And I hope you find the way God is moving in your life and how He desires to reach into the middle of your life and situation and make good. :)
Thanks for being a part of the story.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)