News and updates as we begin a new year and new decade…
Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.
1 Timothy 3:1 NIV
For Mary and me, 2019 was a very eventful year: our son Josh married Allie in January (Happy Anniversary!), Mary and I moved to Virginia Beach in March, our daughter Jenn with husband James and our two grandsons moved to the Seattle area in May, and Mary and I had an incredible trip to Israel in November. We look forward to an even more eventful year in 2020.
One of the reasons for our 2019 move was to get more training and to serve in new ways in the Hampton Roads Church. After many discussions and much prayer, the leadership of the Hampton Roads church has decided to place me along with Mary before the congregation for consideration of us being appointed as an elder and elder’s wife. This was announced to the church at the Southside and Peninsula worship services on January 12.
It’s both humbling and a great honor to be considered for this important role in the church. Paul described aspiring to be an elder as a “noble task” in 1 Timothy 3:1. It’s noble in that it requires having lived and continuing to live an exemplary life dedicated to serving the Lord, and it’s a task in that it requires effort and can be a demanding responsibility. It’s also both humbling to be considered for such an important leadership position and joyful in that Mary and I have the opportunity to serve as shepherds alongside the elders and their wives in the Hampton Roads Church.
At the January 12 worship service, a sister who’s become a dear friend told me that now she could bring her long list of difficult questions for me to answer, and I replied, “Not yet, what I really need is your love and prayers”. She assured me that “you’ve got both”. For those in the Hampton Roads church: we want to get to know you better and grow in our love for one another. For the church and all who know us: please pray as we continue to train, learn, shepherd and grow over the next few months. Let’s celebrate together when the day comes for our appointment as an elder and elder’s wife.