Big News!! Big News!!

The last few times we've shared this in person, the look on people's faces and the excited gasps have required us to preface with this...

I'm not pregnant.

I am however, most likely moving. I want to share the journey (thus far) with you.

Please note that anything good I say about one church (former or future) does not mean that other churches (former or future) do not possess that same quality. This is not a compare and contrast exercise, since we're all one body - yay :)

Early this summer, youth pastor friends of ours at the church in the small town where I grew up suddenly stepped down. (Oddly enough they also moved to town and bought a house down the street from us.) Lots of people wondered, some hinted and a couple asked if Nic and I were going to apply. Nic and I responded confidently that the Lord had called us to our current church and we would not abandon His calling. Over the next several months they received almost one hundred applications and Nic and I grew exponentially. We even spent some time with the pastor of that small town church and his wife. They're quite hip and we like their heart for ministry.

December hit and just before Christmas some mutual friends ran into that pastor and his wife. They had a conversation that went something like this:

Husband in mutual friend couple: How the youth pastor search coming?

Pastor from small anonymous church: Sore subject :(

Husband: :( Why so?

Pastor: Over 90 applicants and not one worked out.

Wife in mutual friend couple: See, I told Nic and Ellie months ago that they should've applied.

Pastor: (with excited look :) Really? You should tell them to pray about that!

Wife: Why don't you tell them?

Pastor: I would never do that to their pastor, but they should consider whether that's something the Lord wants them to do.

Couple: Ok, we'll let them know.

And both couples went on to enjoy their lunch.

So they told us. We prayed. And we prayed. We talked. And we prayed some more. We sought wisdom from wise men. And we prayed even more. And we applied.

That church's search committee didn't even wait for more resumés. They interviewed Nic and then interviewed us. And then the board interviewed Nic and then they announced that we were the candidate they were looking at. In the interview process we've been asked why we're leaving our old church (a great question). We can only answer that we weren't trying to, but we felt like we would have been disobedient if we didn't apply. Also, we've been praying all along that the Lord shows us His will through the process.

Well so far, the search committee and church board have all agreed they want us. Now, over the next two weeks we will go and teach at a few youth and adult meetings and the members will vote on February 19th. Our current Pastor has wisely announced to our congregation that we're being considered by another church so that they can be praying for the Lord's will, whatever it may be.

It is sad that we may be leaving some of our church family, especially since we had assumed we'd be there forever and ever. But at the same time, we are not going terribly far and therefore our Kingdom-minded relationships with other believers here can continue to grow. So in many ways, it's to good to be true. Going to my home church, keeping all of our friends close, growing in the Lord and growing His Kingdom!

I'll keep you all updated on which way the Lord leads and we would love it if you would pray! Grace, Peace and Thanks to my brothers and sisters across the world!