It's hard to believe that almost nine years ago I moved to Orange County to work with my pastors, Jeff and Sandra Morgan, at SouthCoast. It's even harder to believe that almost seven years ago GOD blessed me with my other self and—over the next few years—our four beautiful daughters. For most of the last nine years I have served as Assistant Pastor to the Morgan's and SouthCoast; a role made easier when Olga joined me (gotta love marriage). But today starts the beginning of the end of this leg of our journey.
Around four years ago Olga and I began feeling that GOD was calling us to launch a missional community in New Orleans. For several reasons this has been something with which I've struggled ever since feeling the first call. While we both feel that GOD has called us to New Orleans, we also know that we are not quite ready. We have been in prayer over this call, along with our pastors—and both our parents—for the past year. Even though we haven't felt the release to head south, we knew that GOD had something else in His Purpose for us.
Olga and I knew that June was going to be a monumental month in our journey. We began to pray very intently for GOD to illuminate His Purpose in our lives. We were willing to even force the door open in New Orleans, if this was what GOD intended for us.
Isn't it great how GOD always knows exactly when to answer?
After much prayer and seeking GOD's Purpose, Olga and I are accepting a pastoral ministry position at Life Church in Anchorage, Alaska. We will be working with Pastors Jim and Heather Blackshear, and are very excited about the door that GOD has opened to us.
This is going to be a major adjustment for us, having lived in Orange County for almost a decade, but we know that GOD is leading us into this opportunity. There are a lot of aspects of ministry that we'll be working in at Life Church, and I'll make sure and keep everyone posted.
I have learned so much over the last 8-1/2 years working with Pastors Jeff and Sandra Morgan. Their transparency, consistency and godliness have taught, inspired and occasionally rebuked me, and I thank GOD for their leadership in my life and in my family. They are two of my closest friends. In addition to this, they are also the GODparents to all four of my daughters, a role that they've filled with grace and class, and a role that Olga and I take very seriously. We will miss the late nights and long Sunday afternoons together, but we know that the friendship and closeness will never go away.
I want to thank the entire Morgan family for the past 8-1/2 years. It will be hard for us to leave all of you, especially Logan (I've got a close affinity with Logan, as I see a lot of myself in him. Good luck buddy, life's going to be interesting).
We are sad to be leaving, but excited about where GOD is taking us. No, it's not what I expected, but GOD knows what He's doing (what with Him being GOD for as long as He has), so I trust Him.
All that remains is to simply turn the page and begin the next chapter.
