I've been sitting on some information this week because I haven't known what to say about it. I still don't know what to say about it but I'm hoping that the Holy Spirit gives me words to say as I write.
Ken and I received the news that we will be moving to serve a new church this year. We will be moving our family in early July.
You probably know that my husband is a United Methodist Pastor. You may or may not know that being a pastor in the United Methodist Church means that you are part of an itinerant system. The clergy in the United Methodist Church are appointed to serve churches. You might be wondering why this is.
There are many reasons why the United Methodist Church does this. Jesus was sent to earth on a mission to save us because of God's love for the World. And after Jesus had fulfilled his mission here on earth, he left his followers with this directive:
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV)
Jesus calls us to go and make disciples of all nations and that is the primary objective of the United Methodist Church. We are called to go into all the world and proclaim the Good News. Being a pastor is about the GOOD NEWS not about being a chaplain, though, at times, that is part of the "job". We go where we are sent, pure and simple. And while, appointments are made by a Bishop and his or her cabinet, I know WHO is really in charge. And though this itinerant system was man-made {begun by John Wesley, founder of Methodism}, and therefore, has flaws, I fully believe that as it says in Romans 8, that all things work together for the good of those who are called according to HIS purpose.
And all that knowledge is what makes all this so dern hard!
I know God is sovereign and that HE is ultimately in charge. I know that HE will work it all out for HIS good. And I do trust all of that.
But it is always so hard. Matter of fact, it is the hardest part of being a pastor's wife. I'm sure it's the hardest part of being the pastor's kids. I'm even sure it is the hardest part of being a pastor.
It was just 4 short years ago that we got The Call to move to Sylva. And it was only two short years before that when we were called to move to Drexel.
Starting over in a new place, building new relationships, is always hard. Starting a new school and a new church, living in a new house, for my kids, is always hard.
Leaving the people we have grown to love, the people we have poured our lives into for the past four years is hard. Feeling that there is so much more to do here is hard.
BUT, it is our mission. There are many times that I feel much like a missionary. We may not be going out of the country but were still being called to go somewhere new. To start over. To go, and proclaim the good news in a new way to a new church in a new town. And all of that combined brings on a myriad of emotions. Sadness, worry, trepidation, excitement, tiredness, and many more I can't even put into words.
But, because I know that this is the life God has called my family and I to live, I will do it. NO matter how hard it is or what man has caused, GOD is still in charge and He is calling my family to serve in a new place.
It reminds me of this song....
Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me,
I will hold Your people in my heart!
God is calling my family to go to Sherrill's Ford, NC . And we will go, not reluctantly, but with excitement in our hearts for what God will do through us. We will go with a bit of sadness for leaving those we've come to know and love in Sylva. We will go remembering what He's done before and what He will do again! We will go. We will go, EVEN though it is the hardest part. We will go, holding all of HIS people in our hands.
We will go, because as it says in the Message version of Matthew 28:20, Jesus goes with us day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.
in HIM-
My dearest Mindy, As I shared w/ our little Sunday school class lastSunday that YOU (& the Holy Spirit)started, the only thing that keeps me from expressing the deep anger and disappointment that I feel for "the system" that makes it necessary for you and your precious family to leave us is the TRUTH that ALL THINGS do work together for good to those who bow to HIS PURPOSES. I also told them that my constant prayer over the last couple of months has been that ONE DAY, you and Ken will look at each other and say: "Being called to AND AWAY FROM Sylva FUMC was the most challenging and painful time in our lives, BUT it is where are faith was strengthened THE MOST and we learned to trust God's will in the deepest part of our hearts!"I actually HATE that any memories of Sylva that you take with you are sad and hurtful and that being w/ us isthe hardest thing God has called you to, but since I KNOW you and Ken will one day see the blessings in all this, I bow to His will, too, and thank God for the awesome privilege of knowing Him in and through you and Ken. W/ luv, Lorraine
ReplyDeleteso you're moving? Been there. Know how it feels. My Dad was a Wesleyan pastor. (kinda similar). We always had the 4yr move. It was hard. It was sad! I remember looking around at all my friends and thinking I was never gong to have friends ever again. But now I look at my memories and I am so glad that I had so many friends from so many places and times in my life. I look at my Facebook page now and realize that I really did make amazing friends who I would have never met if we staying in Virginia, or Indiana, or Michigan. I tell Josh all the time that moving from an amazing youth group to a small town church near Amish country as a freshman in HS was I thought the worst thing in the world. But I met my husband, father of my children, and best friend! I think that move was just for me.
ReplyDeleteI could go on and on about this topic but just know that as hard as it is there can also be amazing things that come from following Gods path. Enjoy the journey.
Thinking about your precious family during this transition time! God bless!
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