Someone recently interviewed me and asked the question, “What made you and your family take up the hard work of church planting?”  Part of my answer included the fact that initially it was the desire to see a church, which through the proclamation of the gospel, changed people lives.  While this is still a desire of mine, I am finding that God is using this church plant even to change me.  While my focus was and continues to be on the hearts and lives of others, God is doing a work in me that I did not anticipate.  He is changing me by bringing about so many unanticipated changes in our plants direction and scope. 

The one thing I can say has been absolutely consistent in every stage of this plant is that things change frequently.  It seems every week we are met with new faith-testing, God-ordained, Christ-glorifying challenges.  And as we meet these challenges by the grace of God, God strengthens us even as he stretches us.  When the old saints would say, “I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow,” I can not help but wonder if they had church planting on their minds. 

Today I am thanking God for the changes – in our church plant and in my heart.