A decade ago I was beginning a small ministry called "Inversion" in the Nashville metro area at Fellowship Bible Church. During that start up season Hurricane Katrina slammed into the gulf coast bringing devastation to several coastal regions. A group from Inversion hopped on a bus to Biloxi, MS to serve.
During that trip, I overdid it a bit loading palettes of water all day and my back went out pretty bad. It was during that time, feeling helpless and useless, that I read a book about planting churches that were theologically driven, yet culturally engaged. Just 10 years ago...
Ten years later those dreams and passions born in Biloxi have grown and morphed and walked into the world a bit. We've been involved in planting theologically driven, culturally engaged, missionally innovative churches for some time now. In those 10 years we've had another kid, moved to NJ, planted Jacob's Well, served to shape Acts 29 New Jersey with some faithful friends here in the garden state. We've been through another fierce lady of a storm named Sandy as well. Just in 10 years.
Just this week Inversion called about me coming down to celebrate with them the work of the ministry. Inversion is on the eve of planting its third church with the faithful guidance of the elders of Fellowship Nashville. Just in 10 years.
God willing, I'll fly down to Nashville on the evening of 9/24 to share a night of rejoicing in the Lord's blessing over the last decade. It's been a strenuous 10 years, my wife has been such a faithful partner in the gospel and has put aside comfort and preference and family for the sake of Jesus. And in many ways, to serve me in my calling.
I'm just a bit overwhelmed with gratitude today and also have a tinge of sadness this morning as life moves so fast into the future. We've got much older kids who remain the deepest gift and blessing of our lives. We have a church family that we love in New Jersey. We are heading into our 20th year of ministry together and will hit 20 years of marriage in May.
One of my friends, Matt Eldredge, put together a slide show of that little trip to Biloxi and set it to the song "I will praise you in this storm." Life in many ways, has many storms and yet the Lord is faithful in and through it all. Many times we wish we knew what the next 10 years will hold, but one thing is certain. Christ will be Lord of it all.
Two slides shows from the two storms...thankful to all who served together during both.