From the time I stepped away from the church I started (September 2018) until October 2019, I went from trying to get back on staff in a church to wanting nothing to do with the thought. I had two interview processes and a 7-week trial run leading worship at an Elevation Church wannabe. After seeing myself fitting nowhere in the modern church scene, I resigned myself to plopping my butt in a seat and encouraging the pastor. Unfortunately, my pastor for the previous 3 years was leaving. I was determined to support the interim and whoever would follow. Almost two months after the pastor left, I received a surprising phone call. It was the church secretary calling to invite me on staff temporarily to lead worship for the church’s traditional service. My heart wanted to say no, but God wouldn’t let me. She said it would only be for a few months, and I was thinking more like two or three😂.
November 2019 began what I had hoped would be very brief. The new pastor came in, and I wanted to give him a few months to settle in, but COVID threw a wrench in that. After he had his plan to ease the church back to normalcy, I had offered my resignation so I could focus on an itinerant preaching ministry. When he came back and offered to give me 6 weeks per year to do that, I agreed to stay.
“A few months” turned into a year and a half until I was called into my next pastorate. I was so excited! While I loved the people of this church dearly, I knew my time had come. This church was our home when we were ministering elsewhere. The Wesleyan community loved me when I felt like the Baptists had forsaken me. It was a break from the daily infighting of Southern Baptists. This conservative bunch loves Jesus and others. Their meetings were marked by community and love. It was very healing for me.
I could go back to any of their services or meetings right now and pick up where I left off. I still have friends on staff. My wife even attended their ladies retreat last weekend. I will forever thank God for their healing presence in my life.
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