This post is going to be different for me. My posts usually center on helping Christ followers, next generation ministry leaders, and others mature their faith and circle of influence. For this one, I want to give you a personal update on the journey the Lord has my family on.

I have served as a local church associate pastor for the last twelve years, mainly in student ministry. It was what I went to school to do and what we, as a family, have invested many hours of time and energy in. We have been a part of four great churches during this season, seeing incredible ministry occur. At all four churches, we have been blessed to be around incredible families who have loved us like their own family and been there for us. Local church ministry on the staff level can be robust, no doubt. It can be messy figuring out how to best work in that “system.” We firmly believe that God called us to all four churches, and His hand guided us during the season while we were there. I love pastoring and shepherding the next generation. I have a deep passion for the local church because it is God’s primary vehicle to spread His Kingdom.

About seven years ago, I stumbled into writing with a local publishing ministry in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ll never forget it. I sat around the table with the ministry leaders, writers, and editors, and we planned how to help best this curriculum line take the next steps. I remember calling my wife that night from my hotel and telling her, “I loved being a part of this—I don’t know what this means or looks like, but I would love to write and help local churches and ministries in this way.” One opportunity led to another, and I began contract writing soon after and haven’t looked back. I love writing and have a deep passion for helping churches and ministries through the written word, whether in curriculum, storytelling, articles, blog posts, or training materials. I do not doubt that I can see what I thought seven years ago was “stumbling” across a writing project as God’s providence in my life.

Next week, my two passions–the local church and writing–collide in a new full-time ministry opportunity. I have accepted a job as a copywriter with The Gideons International, an incredible organization whose sole purpose is to win the lost for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Will it be a change of pace and a learning curve? For sure. Are we excited? Absolutely! God is faithful. He has and continues to reveal that to us time and time again. He can be trusted when things are going well and when you have no idea what will happen next.

Our lifelong calling is ministry and the advancement of the Kingdom of God. We get one shot at what we call life and want to do well. God established the local church for a reason. I encourage you to plug in, be active, serve, and give faithfully.

I love the local church and pastoring. I also love writing and am eternally grateful for this God-ordained opportunity. I am also incredibly thankful for my incredible wife and family, who have been right beside me every single step of the way.