The Slow Walk of Faith

This past weekend was an eventful and important couple of days in the life of our church.

I've often said that the human soul is a slow boil endeavor, and I find that premise proved out time and again as I follow along this path of ministry and pastoring onto which God has led me.

Saturday morning, Journey had its first ServantCorps work day. It might not sound like much to some, but it was only nine or so many months ago that I appointed the very first deacons this church has ever had. There were only five back then, and that included two of the elders. We stepped along the path of God's design for His church as I led us into one of those leadership endeavors that had better work (you pastors and CEO's out there know what I'm talking about). Skeptics were not hard to find, but we were following the path of Scripture, and that is a sure footed way to go.

Finally, it came time to appoint our new year of servants, and Saturday we came together in force, plus a few folks who just heard there was work to be done and showed up. My heart smiled. ServantCorps is now fourteen and functional.

Then Sunday came and it was time to see the next steps of what God has been cookin' up here in the Big Easy. First, our children's choir sang. I just sat and smiled as I watched and thought through the long journey here from a point of virtually no children's ministry, to a point of a whole group of kiddos not only coming to church, but singing and praising God with songs they've been learning in CHILDREN'S CHOIR! My heart smiled again as we enjoyed the fruit of the increase of God.

Finally, it was time to commission our Youth Ministry. TREK Student Ministries has been a long time coming to say the least. Finding the right leaders, getting families and students excited and involved, and seeing those both happen at the same time has been a "hat trick" here... and in truth, just finding God's perfect timing. But Sunday it all came together.

As I called upon the church body to find our Middle School and High School students all around the worship center, to lay hands upon their shoulders and to quietly pray for them, I began to hear the whispered prayers of of men and women all around the room. God was moving and I could hear the whispered foot-steps of His church. My heart smiled once again.

Finally, last night we met as TREK Student Ministries for the very first time. We had a great group of students, a wonderful group of leaders, and I was privileged to kick it off and then engage our very first "Parent Round Table." We sat and talked about the futures of our students, of the ministry, of our families together for the longest time, hearing the laughter and craziness of our students in the cafe/fellowship hall. By the end of the night, momentum was flowing through the building and the students were already crying out for more. I love it when God does His thing! And you guessed it, my heart smiled again.

Here's the catch... these simple movements of God took a long time to come to fruition. They took longer than I had hoped. They didn't come easy or cheap. There were times that were dark, times that were hopeful, times that were frightening... and through all of them, I had to just stand on the fact that we were going where God was leading us. Now that's easier written than done!

Here are a few things I'm learning more and more about the walk of faith as I travel its pathway:

1. The walk of faith is slow.

2. God comes through in His timing.

3. It's OK to tell Him you're horrified.

and

4. It's OK to follow tired and scared... believe me, although most would never admit it.

God knows His plans and works them out. I'm just here to follow Him, to lead His church, and to savor the moments that make His heart smile.

It's not easy, but I guess it's not supposed to be. This morning I'm exhausted... but then again, what are we doing if we don't "leave it all on the field," anyway!

In the end, or at least at this pit-stop in the race, it's good to see God post some big, you just can't miss 'em, "W's" on the board.

May there be many more of those... and that's just me bein' human.

In the peace of Christ,

Pastor John