If you haven’t heard already…the rumor is true! We are moving to California!
On Monday, Jan. 26 Richard formally accepted the position as the College Age Pastor at Adventure Christian Church in Roseville, California! It has been so amazing to see how God has orchestrated this whole move. Although it is a HUGE change, we are so excited!
Here is the story in Richards words:
Following Jesus is never predictable. When I became a Christian I did not fully understand what I was committing to. All I knew, and needed to know, was that I was a sinner headed to Hell and I needed the Salvation that only Jesus can give. But through the years I have learned more and more on what it means to claim Jesus as Lord. Claiming that he is Lord means that He guides what I do, what I say, and where I go. This has become even truer in the past year.
A year ago God put a spirit of uneasiness in me that drove me to search Him out. In the process, I grew in maturity, put to death bitterness, and developed a softer/deeper heart for Jesus and his people- the church. I began seeing the potential of the church, and thus it broke my heart to not see the church at their full potential. I served diligently to do my part at Campus Christians to raise up leaders for the church that would go forth and help the church to achieve it’s full, God-given potential.
But then this summer as I was doing dishes (yes I do dishes to help my beautiful wife out), I had a strong impression – which I have only had a few times in my life – and I knew it was God trying to tell me something. What He was telling me was that I was not going to be at Campus Christians come May. Instead, I would be in a church in a big city. That was it. So I went and told Tiffany, “We are not going to be here in May, but will be in a church somewhere in a big city.” Of course she had as many questions as I did, so we sought out to see if this truly was God leading us somewhere else. Things are very exciting and going well at Campus Christians, so it was hard for me to envision leaving. But after praying, fasting, studying, and talking with Godly men whom I respect, we determined that this was indeed the voice of God. Because we believed this, we decided to let the church come to us.
In November I was at the National Missionary Convention and it was there that I ended up talking with Roger Gibson from Stadia. In talking with him, I told him where I felt God was leading me, but unsure what that would mean. He asked if I wanted to continue working with the College Age and I said absolutely. He then blew me away by saying, “I just got a call today that there is a church out in California that is looking for a College Age minister.” So I sent him my resume to give to the church. I doubted that anything would come of it, and even if it did I didn’t know how Tiffany would react. The one place she said she didn’t want to go was California. But my folks were familiar with this church, and the more Tiffany prayed about it and heard about it, the more at ease she felt. Then came the phone call. Scott had just received my resume and called me immediately. It was as though we were old friends. The process continued to the point where we were flown out there. This was the real test, and when it came time to leave both Tiffany and I felt like a part of us was staying behind. On January 26th I received the long awaited phone call and accepted the position as the College Age Ministry Leader at Adventure Christian Church in Roseville, CA.
It is hard breaking the news to everyone, but we stand confidently in knowing that this is where God is directing us. We look forward to seeing the continued fruit that comes out of Campus Christians because of the work we have put into it, we know that the foundation which has been laid here will not crumble, for it is built upon Jesus, not me. I stand gazing towards what awaits in California, and I am both excited and terrified. I recognize that it is only by God’s grace that I am a Christian, in the ministry, and have been guided towards this opportunity. I am able to sympathize with Paul’s sadness as he left the different churches, and with Solomon’s prayer of dependence birthed out of overwhelment as he prayed, “”Now, O LORD my God, I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
He ended up having pneumonia. We spent our whole weekend in the hospital and where released yesterday. Today he went back to the doctor for a check up and the doctor said he is doing much better! So hopefully he is on the mend. After the past few weeks I have had…all I can say is I HATE HOSPITALS!!!
