A moment in time - THE MEETING PLACE

 

27 days could lead to another change of direction.

As I sit here this morning reading God’s word, I am starting to get a little nostalgic. There are some pretty amazing moments in my life that signified significant changes in direction. I met Stephanie at the “milk counter” at Carroll High School in the spring of 1977. That wonderful moment changed my life. Finding Jesus at 12 years old, meeting Stephanie, getting married, each of the births of our kids, career changes, and retirement all stand out as moments in time that signaled a powerful life changing event. There are others, too many to mention!

I can’t help but sense another significant change coming. CHANGE always brings with it mystery and questions with unknown answers. One of the questions that I have been getting is “What happens to ‘the meeting place’ if you are selected to become senior pastor?” Really, that is a good question and in all reality I do not know. 

God placed this vision, serving here in Bluffton on my heart in a powerful dream and with that dream, I thought we would be here forever. If you look at what is going on here, things were growing and we were being productive. So, was this vision meaningless? I can tell you it was not meaningless. I can also tell you God is in the midst of this change. We have prayed for signs and directions, open doors and closed doors. We are very much at peace in what we are doing!

I was reading John chapter 12 and 13 this morning. Jesus had been in ministry about three years and he realized the end of his earthly ministry was coming to an end:

“Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.” (John 13:1-2)

I certainly don’t consider Jesus and I equals. But Jesus’ ministry was about to change. His ministry on this earth was nearly complete and things were about to change, drastically. I find it interesting that Jesus ministry on this earth was about three years long and OUR ministry here at “the meeting place” has also been three years. They have been wonderful years filled with joy and fruit. Much of our work continues on in the lives of the people we have interacted with. I feel at great peace realizing how God has used us in this moment of time at “the meeting place.”

As Jesus neared the end of his ministry on this earth, you could just sense his love for his followers. It is like he was getting a little nostalgic. As I think back over these past three years, God has been so good. SO MANY PEOPLE have donated and supported us. So many lives have been changed, not through us, but through Christ working in us. I pray those that contributed don’t feel their contributions were useless. They each have made such a Kingdom impact. I have kept track. We have prayed with and discipled 287 different people during this past three years. We have held 1023 discipleship group meetings involving most of those people. We have led funerals, weddings, and preached many sermons at traditional churches. God has been preparing us and we didn’t even realize it. Those are seeds planted and crops harvested. 

I don’t completely understand why God is making this change, but he has been in charge of this process. Even though we are leaving behind something really great, some really great people, a place we have loved to serve and live, we are looking forward with great anticipation to the future. And we are filled with excitement to be involved with more great things in the coming months and years ahead, just in a different location!

Here are some verses that keep playing in my mind:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

“”See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up: do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness for you. I will go ahead of you in the desert and make the rough places smooth. I will not forsake you.” (Isaiah 43:19)

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage, with great patience.” (2 Timothy 4:2)

“Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in the darkness, though he is surrounded by the light. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength. You have told me what we asked of you and revealed to us what the king demanded.” (Daniel 2:20-23)