Ten Years!

[Sherri]

Today we celebrated ten years of pastoring in Jackson, TN. We started in 2001 with one committed family besides ours. We met in the Holiday Inn for one year, in a strip mall for one year, and then on our present property in our first building there. We moved in our new building in March 2010. It doesn't seem possible that we've been here ten years! God has been SO good to us.

I was reading yesterday in Proverbs where we can make our plans, but God directs our steps. My plans eleven years ago would not have included planting a new church in Jackson, TN! I was settled and comfortable in the place that we had pastored for almost two decades. I thought we would be there for the rest of our lives. God doesn't like people to get "comfortable". He picked us up and put us here, and the rest is history. Now I'm so happy and fulfilled like never before, but the transition was emotionally difficult back then. I didn't think I could ever love any other people like I loved those that we had pastored for all those years.

I'm thankful that this house has let me stretch my wings and find my destiny. I always loved pastoring but felt a little unfulfilled, like I hadn't found my niche. I had taught, cleaned the church, done the books for years, led the choir, led worship, and anything else that needed doing, but never felt complete. When I came to Jackson, I started doing missions, and I'm more content today than ever. I guess I had to wait until my kids were grown, but this church has been so accommodating in letting me go to the nations. They have a huge vision, and for that, I'm so thrilled.

Ok, so I'm done bragging on my people. But they deserve a big THANK YOU, because they're awesome. And God deserves all th glory.