Life's Great Adventure: Chapter 3

{Photo Credit} 

When Ryan proposed to me years ago, he asked me specifically if I would join him in serving the Lord. I said yes, and so began our sweet adventure together in ministry. The first part of our adventure together began as newlyweds. I was teaching 2nd grade and Ryan was finishing college (and working at the Olive Garden!).  We attended Denton Bible church and Ryan volunteered for their Student  Ministries. The second part of our adventure began when we moved to Roanoke. Ryan got his first real grown-up job. We served hard. We were blessed with Eva. And now the third chapter of our life begins....

If you sat down with me in my living room and asked, "Kate, what's been going on in your life lately?" I'd have an earful to tell you. I've wanted to write this post for a while but every time I sat down to do it, I couldn't find the right words.

Redeemer Church, where Ryan has worked as the Director for Student Ministries, announced at the end of April that the church as a body was entering into a time of transition. From the stand point of being a spouse of a staff member, I can tell you that this was a hard decision to make and that our church leadership has put lots of time into praying through all of the big choices that are ahead of us. Our church was planted in Westlake a little over three years ago. Ryan and I joined when he came on staff about 2 and a half years ago. Even though we were sad to leave Denton and the great church we were a part of there, we knew that this was where God was calling us to serve. We knew it 2 years ago when we moved to the area. We knew it a year ago when I quit my job to stay home with Eva, not knowing at the time that Ryan's position would become full time within 2 weeks of my last day at my previous job. We've had a love for our students and have been blessed to build relationships with so many people in this area.

After a few weeks of having home church in our Pastor's house, it was decided and announced that Redeemer would be merging with Bara Church, another local nondenomenational plant church that meets in Trophy Club. The people at Redeemer are so, so wonderful and it is our hope that most of the congregation can transition to Bara and remain together. Our first Sunday at Bara was last week for Mother's Day and it was awesome to see both church body's be merged together to worship God and hear true, Biblical teaching. How awesome is it that we live in a country where their are so many good churches and we are allowed to worship the Lord freely? Pretty awesome.

So, where does this leave our family? Oh how I wish I could answer that question definitively right this moment. But I can't. Right now Ryan and I have begun meeting with Bara's student ministry and this Sunday will be the first time for us to transition and have hopefully all of our Redeemer students meeting with the Bara group. Ryan is technically on staff at Bara but it's such a unique situation that is dependent on God's plan for us and on the resources that are provided to Bara. In an update that we sent to our close friends and family a few weeks ago we said that we want to go where God calls us. If God's desire is for us to stay here and serve, we will gladly do so with the trust that our daily needs will be met. If God calls us to another church family, we will go, being sad to leave behind close friends but looking hopefully towards our next season of life.

We do know that we are moving out of our apartment by July 2nd when our lease ends. We know that God's love for us is true and sufficient. We know that either a decision to stay or a decision to go will require an act of faith. Times of transition are always challenging, but we can consider it pure joy when we face trials because that is how God shapes our hearts and builds our character. Every time I get that rush of fear or feel the tears building I remind myself of who God is and what our ultimate purpose is. And I promise you, that every single time that I have spent time reading my Bible instead of sitting on the couch crying, I have felt the comfort and peace that comes only from Holy Spirit. It's real. I pray all the time for God to lead us to where we can tell the most people about Jesus. That Jesus died for our sins. That by faith we can be forgiven and find love in our Savior.

God is good all the time. Not just some of the time. Not just when you have all the answers. All the time. Thank you to our friends and family who are joining us in prayer for our next great adventure.