We leave tomorrow and for Little Rock. We have 5 days of interviews. There will be three key groups of people we will meet with. 1. Church Staff 2. Elders 3. Youth Leaders.
All four of us are going and the girls will be with family for the most part. I will return on June 4th. Chris & the girls will stay through June 6th.
I cannot tell you all how generous we feel the church has been to us. Every step we take with them is great. I told someone yesterday that it was like a great dance, no one is stepping on anyone else's toes!
We are VERY excited to see our family. We have not seen most of them for a year.
Bellevue is still very much in our minds. We really loved it there and felt like God could certainly make that our home.
If we are given the choice we trust that God's plan will be made very clear.
I want to thank you all for your dedication to pray for us. I am constantly amazed at our faithful friends and pray that we can be the same for all of you!
Grace & Peace,
Dree
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Can't stop God
Today is one of those days you work out your relationship with God and what He wants step by step, word by word, and prayer to prayer. Andrea and I are prayerfully considering all of this right now so be praying that God would give us wisdom (as He does liberally) and clarity. That He would make His will for our lives known clearly to us.
I had the teleconference this morning with Grace Church in Little Rock, AR. I spoke with four of their elders along with the lead pastor. They were a great group to talk with and it was great to hear their heart for their students. It felt like a place that Andrea and I could fit into well. From here they want to talk together and make a decision about whether or not they would like all of us to fly out for an extended weekend. They would like to have someone in place by the middle of the summer so it sounds as though they would like to fill the position as soon as they can.
That happened early this morning. Last night I received a message on the machine from Bellevue Alliance. I returned their call this morning after speaking with Grace. They have formally offered me an invitation to candidate to be the Associate Pastor of Youth and Discipleship. Basically, the girls and I will go back and meet everyone involved with the church, especially the youth group. The official decision would be made then. In essence, the position is there for us to accept.
Andrea and I want to choose the place we minister according to what God wants for us and nothing else. There is a lot for us to wade through now. We want to do what God wants us to in a manner that respects both the churches, we can already tell that there are precious people at both.
While I was praying with Dree last night I was reminded that God holds us in the palm of his Hand. I told her that I believe that the Hand is moving us to a different place, although I didn't know where it was. But, I know what is on the hand, Isaiah 49:15a says, "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hand." It's amazing that God has Andrea and I engraved on the Palms of His Hands, that He will always remember us. I just want to concentrate on the fact that He has saved me and will always be faithful to me and my family, even if I am not. I know that wherever His Hand places us, He will continue to lead us and bless us by that same hand. God is good.
Right now I am trying to get in touch with Grace Church to determine a few things. I have already spoken with Bellevue Alliance. They were very gracious and understanding and did not feel as though I was trying to manipulate the situation which I wanted desperately. We'll let you know the details as they come.
Chris
I had the teleconference this morning with Grace Church in Little Rock, AR. I spoke with four of their elders along with the lead pastor. They were a great group to talk with and it was great to hear their heart for their students. It felt like a place that Andrea and I could fit into well. From here they want to talk together and make a decision about whether or not they would like all of us to fly out for an extended weekend. They would like to have someone in place by the middle of the summer so it sounds as though they would like to fill the position as soon as they can.
That happened early this morning. Last night I received a message on the machine from Bellevue Alliance. I returned their call this morning after speaking with Grace. They have formally offered me an invitation to candidate to be the Associate Pastor of Youth and Discipleship. Basically, the girls and I will go back and meet everyone involved with the church, especially the youth group. The official decision would be made then. In essence, the position is there for us to accept.
Andrea and I want to choose the place we minister according to what God wants for us and nothing else. There is a lot for us to wade through now. We want to do what God wants us to in a manner that respects both the churches, we can already tell that there are precious people at both.
While I was praying with Dree last night I was reminded that God holds us in the palm of his Hand. I told her that I believe that the Hand is moving us to a different place, although I didn't know where it was. But, I know what is on the hand, Isaiah 49:15a says, "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hand." It's amazing that God has Andrea and I engraved on the Palms of His Hands, that He will always remember us. I just want to concentrate on the fact that He has saved me and will always be faithful to me and my family, even if I am not. I know that wherever His Hand places us, He will continue to lead us and bless us by that same hand. God is good.
Right now I am trying to get in touch with Grace Church to determine a few things. I have already spoken with Bellevue Alliance. They were very gracious and understanding and did not feel as though I was trying to manipulate the situation which I wanted desperately. We'll let you know the details as they come.
Chris
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Back from Bellevue
We got back from Bellevue a couple of hours ago. The people there are wonderful and have a sincere passion to reach the students in their community. We really enjoyed getting to know them. They will meet this week and talk about what they want to do next.
The next step should be a "Candidacy Weekend". They'll establish a time to have us come back. I'll get to meet the students at that point and probably preach for the students. Then they'll vote on me. We'll keep you updated when anything happens.
On a different note, I have a teleconference with a church in Little Rock, AR at 8am on Tuesday. It's something we want to take a look at further because it is so close to family.
Be praying that God would make it clear where He wants us to be.
Chris
The next step should be a "Candidacy Weekend". They'll establish a time to have us come back. I'll get to meet the students at that point and probably preach for the students. Then they'll vote on me. We'll keep you updated when anything happens.
On a different note, I have a teleconference with a church in Little Rock, AR at 8am on Tuesday. It's something we want to take a look at further because it is so close to family.
Be praying that God would make it clear where He wants us to be.
Chris
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Chris is Accredited!
Chris passed his accreditation interview/exam. That is good news.
We head to Ohio this weekend.
He also has a new lead in Little Rock and will be having a video conference call with the pastor & elders on Tuesday morning.
These are all good things to report.
We head to Ohio this weekend.
He also has a new lead in Little Rock and will be having a video conference call with the pastor & elders on Tuesday morning.
These are all good things to report.
Monday, May 14, 2007
A week of something
It's Dree here...
I wanted to get you all in the loop. We have had many weeks over the last year of waiting. Waiting for something, anything, to happen. We have learned a lot about waiting. Sometimes I think we are waiting to learn how to wait. God is still exceedingly abundant in the waiting and that is significant.
Enough of my "waiting ramblings." Here are two things that are happening and are something...
1. Chris & I travel to Harrisburg tomorrow for him to take his accreditation exam with the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church. This is something because it will equip him with some credibility within a denomination. Although we fall in line with the CMA beliefs we are not closed to opportunities in other denominations.
Chris and I will both be in the interview/exam. I will be there to answer "lifestyle" questions. He will be drilled on doctrine having to support his answers with scripture and do it in the most paraphrased way possible.
I have great confidence in him. He is pretty darn smart. My hope is that he can relax and be himself. Himself is fabulous!!!
2. This weekend we will be traveling to Ohio for an interview at Bellevue Alliance Church. The whole family will be coming. They want to church to meet us, specifically the youth and the youth workers. They have a bon fire scheduled for Friday night as a meet and greet and then on Saturday Chris & I will be interviewed. They have childcare arranged for the girls.
Chris will also be interviewed about his knowledge and philosophy of small groups as this job would be a youth ministry position as well as the small group coordinator. Chris has been serving our church, PVCC in this capacity for a couple years so that is right up his ally.
It is not a job offer, but it is a significant step forward. Typically Alliance churches do this and then if they like you they invite you for a candidacy weekend which is followed by a job offer. A candidacy weekend in sort of like "in view of a call" in a Baptist church. Needless to say there are still several steps in the process, but this step is still a good one.
If you pray, you can pray for good health for all of us and that we would be infused with God's wisdom throughout all of this. I rejoice in this season of our life even though it has been perpetually challenging.
Hebrews 5 says:
" 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. "
I can't say I have suffered like many suffer. But I believe this still applies. We have developed character and through character, hope. And not just any hope, but a hope that does not disappoint. I think we have finally learned that our hope does not rest in the changing of our circumstance. Our hope rests on who God is and that no matter what our circumstance God is God and God is good. He is powerful and full of love. That is something to have hope in that will never change!!!
Thank you all for hanging in with us. We will update after the weekend.
Grace & Peace,
Dree
I wanted to get you all in the loop. We have had many weeks over the last year of waiting. Waiting for something, anything, to happen. We have learned a lot about waiting. Sometimes I think we are waiting to learn how to wait. God is still exceedingly abundant in the waiting and that is significant.
Enough of my "waiting ramblings." Here are two things that are happening and are something...
1. Chris & I travel to Harrisburg tomorrow for him to take his accreditation exam with the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church. This is something because it will equip him with some credibility within a denomination. Although we fall in line with the CMA beliefs we are not closed to opportunities in other denominations.
Chris and I will both be in the interview/exam. I will be there to answer "lifestyle" questions. He will be drilled on doctrine having to support his answers with scripture and do it in the most paraphrased way possible.
I have great confidence in him. He is pretty darn smart. My hope is that he can relax and be himself. Himself is fabulous!!!
2. This weekend we will be traveling to Ohio for an interview at Bellevue Alliance Church. The whole family will be coming. They want to church to meet us, specifically the youth and the youth workers. They have a bon fire scheduled for Friday night as a meet and greet and then on Saturday Chris & I will be interviewed. They have childcare arranged for the girls.
Chris will also be interviewed about his knowledge and philosophy of small groups as this job would be a youth ministry position as well as the small group coordinator. Chris has been serving our church, PVCC in this capacity for a couple years so that is right up his ally.
It is not a job offer, but it is a significant step forward. Typically Alliance churches do this and then if they like you they invite you for a candidacy weekend which is followed by a job offer. A candidacy weekend in sort of like "in view of a call" in a Baptist church. Needless to say there are still several steps in the process, but this step is still a good one.
If you pray, you can pray for good health for all of us and that we would be infused with God's wisdom throughout all of this. I rejoice in this season of our life even though it has been perpetually challenging.
Hebrews 5 says:
" 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. "
I can't say I have suffered like many suffer. But I believe this still applies. We have developed character and through character, hope. And not just any hope, but a hope that does not disappoint. I think we have finally learned that our hope does not rest in the changing of our circumstance. Our hope rests on who God is and that no matter what our circumstance God is God and God is good. He is powerful and full of love. That is something to have hope in that will never change!!!
Thank you all for hanging in with us. We will update after the weekend.
Grace & Peace,
Dree
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