Just over 2 months ago I received an interesting message on my cell. I was sick at home. Not expecting any calls from "Montana" I let the intrusion forward to voice mail. We get lots of out-of-state calls into the internet department of Discovery Honda. I figured it was either an Ebay lead or referral from a previous Montana client. To say I was surprised when I finally listened to the message would be a bit of an understatement! Let me explain.
You see, I had just gone through an extremely disappointing and useful candidating process with a great church in Alaska. Long story short, I was 1 of 2 chosen for serious consideration. They went with the other guy. The only rub was how freaking long the process took. It was like 10 months to a year before I had a "final answer." They prayed. We prayed. Applications and resumes. Phone interviews and board meetings. When things didn't work out I decided it was time to reevaluate where I was headed. I would take a season to wait on God. After a couple months I guess God felt I had waited long enough.
The call came on Wednesday, July 12th from Pastor Dan Nagel of Alliance Fellowship in Bozeman, MT. This 6 year old church plant needed a worship pastor. I was recommended to Dan through my college music professor, Tim Smith. Interestingly, my wife, mother-in-law and youngest daughter stayed the night in Bozeman the same day Dan called. They were returning from a dinosaur dig in Wyoming when all this was going on. Note: No one in our family had ever stayed the night in Bozeman, MT previous to Dan's call. God had my attention.
So it all began.....again! Phone calls, application and resume, interview with Alliance Fellowship's search committee, prayer, and finally an invitation to visit AF and Bozeman. We were pumped! I took a weeks vacation and we headed over in our '97 Mercury Villager packed to the max. Some close friends of ours, Paul and Shari Loeffler, had just accepted a youth pastor call near Missoula. They graciously made arrangements for us to stay with a fun couple from their church. This was a huge blessing as it broke up the 9 hour drive.
Once in Bozeman we stayed the first three nights in a cabin at Yellowstone Alliance Adventures, a C&MA campground only 20 minutes from town. This was ideal as it allowed us to connect as a family while trying to recover from some nasty colds. After our days of R&R, a 4 1/2 day candidating process began. We were invited into the friendly homes of AF folks. Afternoons were spent at the senior and associate pastor's homes. All in all we were in 19 meetings. I hope we didn't pass on a blessing (our colds) to too many people during our stay! On Sunday morning I led the worship music for both services. I had no voice but fortunately the worship team was very supportive. Our son, Christopher, added some edge on guitar. God met us. Many people testified of experiencing God during the services. We left Bozeman with a sense of faith and expectancy of what He might do. And He would have to do a lot!
The position originally presented to me was part time. So I spent an hour with the sales manager of Simpson Honda in Bozeman, investigating different part time solutions to pay the bills if AF decided to call us. You can imagine my excitement and relief when Dan called me Saturday, the 16th of September, offering me a full-time pastoral position. When my wife, Deea, heard the news she just about fainted*! We had been praying, believing, and hoping for an opportunity like this for several years now. Thank you, Jesus!
Half of my time will be spent leading the music ministry of the church. Half is yet-to-be-determined. What is clear is this church wants me to serve pastorally, helping them reach Bozeman with the gospel of Jesus Christ. That's what I'm excited about. A call. A mission. A promise fulfilled.
We are officially in limbo as I submitted my letter of resignation to Discovery Honda 3 days ago. Our house went on the market today. After the house sells we have the difficult job of saying goodbye to a loving church family who have equipped and trained us for the journey that lies ahead. Please pray for us during this exciting and difficult transitional period. Thanks so much!
* "wet herself" - earliest manuscripts
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