Now God, that don't make no sense!

Comfortable is, well, comfortable. We all like the familiar. What do we do, then, when God calls us out of our comfort zones? In short, we face what Henry Blackaby has often called a “crisis of belief.” We are forced to consider whether or not we trust God, as well as our ability to perceive God’s subtle voice. This is the very crisis I have faced in the past few months.

            I am quite comfortable here in Northeastern North Carolina, even more so at the First Baptist Church of Elizabeth City. My family has a home here. We are not too terribly far from family and friends. The church is loving and active. It would make sense to remain in this location as long as possible.

            God does not always ask us to do what makes sense. For the past few years God, through friends, prayer times, scriptures, media, and an inner gnawing hunger, has steadily called me to do something that may not make sense: sell much of what you own, store or give the rest away, uproot your family, leave the ones you love behind, and go to a land I will show you! He was calling me to overseas ministry. In my standard way I first replied, “Say what God?” Yet, in time I simply could not escape God. I made a commitment to God that wherever in the world he called me, I would go. Now, don’t get any wrong ideas about me here. I’m no super faith man or anything. It’s not as if I readily and easily answered God’s call. As I said, God was inescapable! I simply couldn’t shake his persistent voice.

            Within weeks of surrendering to this uncomfortable idea, I found myself connected with Immanuel Baptist Church in Wiesbaden, Germany. I’d like to tell you the story of how I fell in love with the ministry and people of Immanuel. I’d like to share with you the process that led me to know that this small mission congregation was THE place within God’s heart for me. So, I invite you to follow this little blog of mine to learn about how I got to this point. I will also continue to post and share as we prepare to move on December 30. You may also keep up with my family and I as we minister and serve in the coming years. Stay connected my friends! I love you all!