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!