Lisa and I began our sabbatical by participating in a church planter
assessement center with the Evangelical Covenant Church. ECC is a
growing denomination that I have been exploring for the past year. The
spirit and culture feels very similar to our experiences from Westmont
and Fuller Seminary, as well as Young Life and Golden Gate
Community…relational, evangelical, engaging and diverse. We are
looking forward to serving in this context going forward. The
assessment was an intensive few days and helpful in many ways. At the
conclusion we were affirmed with a full recommendation to plant a
church with ECC. We also were able to spend some time with my
step-father in Toledo, OH. That was blessing upon blessing!

Many of you are aware that I have been a candidate for a Lead Pastor
role with a young Covenant church in SF. Although the church has been
growing for the last 2 years it is technically a church plant…thus
the assessment center. After receiving the assessment recommendation on
Saturday I met with the Lead Pastor of the parent/planting church on
Monday. He informed me that the leaders from the SF church had decided
“not” to extend a call to me.

This was quite unexpected as everything had been proceeding very
positively. However, after talking a bit it became clear to me that it
was a good thing. They affirmed us on many levels, but in the end
they felt they wanted a more driven leader. People have used many
adjectives to describe me, but “driven” is not generally one of them.
Although, this turn of events is surprising and disappointing on some
levels, we have been praying for the Lord’s guidance through the
closing and opening of doors. So, in many ways this is answered prayer.

This obviously changes our entry into sabbatical and that is where the
theme of pilgrimage comes to play. It seems the Lord truly wants this
to be a season of restoration through a pilgrimage of deep trust.
Think…Psalm 23:1-2, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet
waters, he restores my soul.” I am embracing this as my vocation during
these weeks and months. Our shalom in Christ is not dependent upon
jobs, security or good planning, but on his sufficiency. With Lisa and
the kids, I will pray and wait, trust and rest; and in the end we will
taste and see that the Lord is good, whatever the situation.

I ask that you would pray along with us as we look to see what the Lord
may have in store for our next steps in life and ministry.

May the God of Shalom be with you!