So...10 years at Ogden Church. Hang in there...this is gonna be long and sappy. When Bobbi and I moved back from West Michigan, Cmax was 16 months old and Ethan was 2 months old. Our amazing neighbors were either new to the neighborhood, too or not even moved in yet. I was excited to join an amazing team of pastors as a Student Pastor. Pastor Kurt was there with Mark Stoner to help us unload using Bobbis amazing packing/unpacking system. Jacki Priest literally stopped in long enough to drop off some sub sandwiches. My oldest literally walked for the first time down the isle at OC. We knew we were in the right place. 10 years...1 Senior Pastor, 3 associate pastors, 2 lead pastors, 1 worship pastor, 2 student pastors (if you include me) and a flurry of childrens ministry directors here and gone. All teaching me something about God and about myself...impacting me in my ministry. 10 years...Ive seen amazing friends come into my life that have changed me forever. Ive seen amazing friends leave my life that have changed me forever. Ive seen our church thrive and Ive seen it struggle. Honestly, I have no idea why God has kept my calling at OC while he has called others away, but I do know this. Me and Bobbi are called to this place. I can tell you that in the darkest days when I prayed that God would release me from this call, my passion for my friends and body at OC was what drove me to fight for it. Now that we are seeing God move in crazy ways at OC, I cant imagine being any place else. Ogden Church isnt just any group of believers. Its my family & home. Its a group of people who refuse to be told by any other source but the Bible what a church should look like, live like and serve like. Someday God may change my call, just like He may someday change your call, but Im confident that He has called me to this body, community. I love my Elders, my Pastor (John Maguire), my team and my fellow followers of the TRUE Jesus. It sure hasnt been easy, but what of value IS easy? Mostly, what of KINGDOM value is ever easy? So a HUGE thanks to my Elders for loving me, my Leadership team for serving along side me, my Worship team for following my lead and sacrificing so much, my church body for loving me and my family so deeply you never let us go. Of course, you all know that this isnt just me, but my own loving wife and boys who have served alongside me all these years. Im literally blown away by them and how theyve propped me up in my weakest times. I love that my boys get to grow up under this church body! So thanks for everything. In the words of one of the wisest men I know, William Stutzman (I call him Bill), Its been a great 10 years. Lets do another 10...and another 10 until we go see Jesus. Truth is, Bill...I see Jesus everywhere I turn. Lets keep it rolling! I love you all!
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 13:45:02 +0000
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