No, really. I'm serious. DH and I have decided to take the plunge and expand our search beyond the Twin Cities area.
I haven't heard back from the church I interviewed with in November, and the more I think about it, the more I am feeling like it isn't "the one." Dan Rector gave me some great advice and that is, when it's the place God has for me, I'll know beyond a shadow of a doubt. I knew the second I set foot in my current church that it was where I was supposed to be.
We prefer to stay at least in the Midwest - we're looking in the Wisconsin/Northern Michigan District, as is YP - they have lot of well-paying positions open for children's pastors and youth pastors.
YP and I have both come to the sad conclusion that we may not be able to live right by each other anymore, but since God worked overtime making sure we'd be friends, we are going to stay in touch...visit often...call...probably not write (I'm just being realistic )...make sure our kids know each other someday...all that jazz. I have confidence that we'll make this work. We talked on the phone today for about 45 minutes scheming and planning vacations where we'd meet halfway between wherever we're at. That's the hardest part of this whole thing - the possibility of moving away from our best friends or their moving away from us. I'm getting a little misty, but I'm not panicky or depressed about it at all. God has really given me a peace about it - I know He is going to work this out somehow.
So if any of you are looking for a children's pastor or a youth pastor (or both - even better!), or know of someone who is, let me know.
And I've just got to say - I am married to the most wonderful man in the world. I asked him about the theatre company, and he said, "If we moved to a different state, it would just be a matter of changing the paperwork." He's actually getting excited about the idea of just starting over somewhere - finding decent paying jobs, catching up on our bills, moving to a place where the cost of living is lower.
It's scary. I've lived in MN all my life. But it's scary-good, not scary-bad...I'll keep you all posted.
Our best friend is looking for a children's pastor. However it's probably where you don't want to go -- Arizona. Doesn't sound anywhere near where you want to be, however they are great pastors (after all, they are my best friends!) and it's a great church. If you have further interest, let me know and I will give you further detail.
You probably wouldn't have wanted to come to FL either, but back when we had our position open we would have definitely considered you. We finally found our CP and it's been the best decision of our lives, so...I know we are in God's will anyway.
We will keep you in prayer. I just encourage you - take the lid off the box and open yourself up to whatever God has for you. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy another part of the country!
As the person who does kids church, I'm definitely looking for a children's pastor. Actually we would love to have a children's pastor & a youth pastor. Unfortunately, we cannot afford either positions at this time. The church can't even afford us full time. But I'm definitely praying for a couple or two who feel God calling them to our small, drug-filled community, filled w/ kids starving for love & attention. Right now, we have more youth & kids than we know what to do with. We just don't have enough adults.
As you know, we had several people leave. The church bank account is lower right now, as the people that left were tithers. However, we have a unity in the church now that we have not had since we've been at the church. We've been told the former C.A. is still out spreading rumors & dogging dh & the church. But God is bringing us through.
Sorry this doesn't help you out Puppetmaster. (As Deanna said, you probably wouldn't want to come to Florida anyway.) I am still continuing to pray for you.
Oh, just one more note. Our best friends live almost 6 hours away. In fact, we've never lived less than 45 minutes away. But when you have best friends, location doesn't matter. We saw each other last Monday. And we talked on the phone for about 45 minutes today. I'd love to see them more & we are constantly at each other to move closer. But we are both where we need to be right now.
We just hired a great young couple 4 months ago. Jason and Mandy just had thier first baby last month, Jeremiah. We did not have a youth pastor before this. The director of Sunday School and his wife took care of it until we got Jason. I do not know anyone in ministry out your way....sorry. Keep praying and looking for what HE sends your way. Mandy is in the hospital right now awaiting gall bladder surgery. They say she is in a pretty bad way. Jason had to stay home this weekend from the youth outing to Va.. He was very disappointed but we have a great group of kids who told him that his place was at Mandy's side and they will have just as much fun and blessings with the stand-in adults going with them.
Have a happy new year! Lori
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...... Then they came for the Catholics, and I was a Protestant, so I never said anything. And then, they came for ME, and there was no one left to speak up. Martin Neimoller, German Pastor, WW2
Okay, so maybe I'm not as "at peace" as I thought I was!
I am sitting at my mom's in Nebraska...just got off the phone with DH, who told me that YP did, indeed, snag an interview at the church she's interested in - and is VERY interested in her. She's visiting family who lives about an hour from this church (that's how she found out about the position!), and is going to squeeze in an interview during her visit.
I am an emotional wreck right now.
"Friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them..." Blah, blah, blah. Whatever. Put a sock in it, Michael W. Smith! I want my best friends close to me. I know it's not always the way it works in the ministry, but I want it to, dang it! I want our kids to grow up together. I want to help each other with their graduations, their weddings...I want to have at least one person in my life that I care about to be within "coffee-going" distance. Just one. I thought I'd found that person. Even if we do end up in the same district (and chances are good that we will!), we're still talking at least 3 hours apart.
I will admit that I have a very bad attitude and a sour taste in my mouth regarding the ministry right now. I'll probably get over it, but right now I want to quit and go be a plumber or something!! Gotta run...the family's starting a movie right now...
Puppetmaster: I do understand. I would love to have a person to go have a "girls day out" with, get coffee (or a coke, I don't do coffee), or go shopping with. I don't have that as my best friend is so far away. I am praying that I find such a person.
)...make sure our kids know each other someday...all that jazz. I have confidence that we'll make this work. We talked on the phone today for about 45 minutes scheming and planning vacations where we'd meet halfway between wherever we're at. That's the hardest part of this whole thing - the possibility of moving away from our best friends or their moving away from us. I'm getting a little misty, but I'm not panicky or depressed about it at all. God has really given me a peace about it - I know He is going to work this out somehow.
