The last 18 months I have spent as the church planting pastor in residence at The Journey North Community Church in Brainerd, MN have been some of the most difficult and rewarding months of my life. There has been shaping and molding that I never would have dreamed of.
I knew going into this period that it would have a beginning and an end. I even knew about when that end would be, but I didn’t have any idea what it would look like. Now the end is here. On Sept. 1st we move to Detroit Lakes, MN, on Sept. 1st we leave The Journey North, on Sept. 1st we start something new. It seemed so far away even a few weeks ago, it seemed as if it would never happen and now it seems like there is so much left to do and I really don’t see how it will all get done. We have less than 30 days to pack up a home that I have been in for nearly 20 years, a home that has the belongings of 8 children, 1 dog and 2 adults, less than 30 days to transition my assimilation position at the church to a new person, less than 30 days to set some foundational things in motion for eXperience church so I can begin a new ministry in a new town.
I think we all have a tendency to think that we have time, that there will be tomorrow to take care of things, there’s plenty of time and one day without any warning,tomorrow is here and there is no more time…
I think about the past year and a half and realize how much I am going to miss the wonderful friends I have at The Journey North, while I can stay in contact, it’s not the same as being there. I’m looking forward to the new relationships that will be created in DL and I know that it will be amazing as we will experience so many “firsts” within our new community.
I wish words could express how thankful I am for the friends I have now, who have shared many firsts with me and have made this whole new season a reality.
Thank you!