God's Story - God's Call

God wants to write the story of every individual. On the pages of Scripture we find the account of God’s redemptive plan, as well as the stories of those He graciously chose to be part of that wonderful plan. More than archaic writings of yesteryear, the words of Scripture share the incredible work of an Almighty God, often accomplished through ordinary,sinful, individuals like us.

God began writing my story in June 1996. He had been at work in my life a long time before then. However, it was at that time I came to a conscious, act of the will decision to trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. I had heard about God all my life. I heard the children’s church stories and the youth group messages. But not until I was 17 did I truly understand that all of God’s redemptive plan which included His Son being murdered and then being resurrected was for me personally. That June in 1996, my life was forever changed. So began an incredible story God has been writing, a tapestry He’s been weaving, even a symphony He has been composing.

Shortly after God adopted me into His family, God called me to ministry. Having begun college with my own plan of pursuing a degree as a medical doctor, my plans were radically changed the very first semester when I knew God was calling me to ministry. A friend had loaned me an audio message of a man named Ronnie Owens who was sharing about his own testimony. As I listened to that message, God spoke to my heart calling me to full-time Christian service. Thus the story God was composing for my life became even more interesting.

I took my first staff position at 18 years of age working with children Kindergarten through 6th grade. I served in that position nearly 3 ½ years. I left after graduating college to move here to North Carolina to attend Southeastern Seminary. And after a year of working at UPS, God called me to serve as the middle school minister at Bay Leaf Baptist Church.

My first Sunday at Bay Leaf was June 17, 2002. That was over eight years ago. Much has occurred during that time. I got married, had three children, and a lot more. But there has been some interesting moments while serving here. As always, there have been ups and downs; days you really enjoy and days that are extremely difficult. It is interesting to look back and see God’s work through 8 years.

At the beginning of 2006, a church just east of here in Selma, NC, contacted Sarah and I about meeting with them to discuss coming to be the pastor there. We did meet with them, had a great conversation, and left the meeting agreeing to pray for God to make clear His will. Believing God speaks always by His Spirit and primarily through His word, I prayed and read Scripture. One morning, I read 1 Timothy 1:3 and God spoke to me saying, “Stay where you are. I’m not finished with you.” It didn’t make a lot of sense for me then. But as often the case, we walk by faith and trust Jesus even when it doesn’t make sense.

Sometime later, Sarah and I were reading with our children (Isaac and Ethan at the time) before bed. We decided to read through Judges. That night as we read, God spoke once again. We read Judges 2:10 which spoke of a generation rising in Israel who did not know the Lord or what He had done in and for Israel. I knew in that moment God was speaking. I remember saying to Sarah after a long pause, “I perceive that God isn’t finished with us in working with students.” Again, that didn’t make sense except to believe that we were going to remain working with middle school students for an indefinite time into the future. But as often the case, we walk by faith and trust Jesus even when it doesn’t make sense.

A short while after that night, our high school minister at the time resigned. I was preparing to leave on a mission trip when in a meeting I was asked about assuming a position as student pastor here, overseeing both middle and high school. That began in the Fall of 2006, roughly 4 years ago.
Now all of this is past tense of how God has spoken to me and to Sarah in writing His story in our lives.

Recently God spoke again. One morning as I was reading Acts 23, God spoke to me. I came to verse 11 and God basically said, “You have been my faithful witness at Bay Leaf, you will be faithful where I send you.” Over 10 years ago, Bay Leaf began a church campus in the northern part of Raleigh to reach the expanding neighborhoods of the North Raleigh and Wake Forest area. Originally called Bay Leaf North Campus, that church is now known as Wakefield Baptist Church. In March of this year, Wakefield’s pastor resigned. The church, and its Transition Team, began to pray for God’s wisdom in discerning who the new pastor should be. In July of this summer, the Transition Team called me to ask if I would meet with them to discuss the possibility of being the next pastor. That morning when God spoke to me from His word in Acts 23, I knew He was calling me to Wakefield to serve as their pastor. While Wakefield has not yet voted to affirm this decision (for the vote will occur on September 12, it is my belief that God has called my family there and therefore I will be leaving as student pastor at Bay Leaf. Therefore, I wanted to share this with you today so that you did not hear it from anyone but me. I love you! And I wanted to share this exciting, and yet sad, news with you personally.

Today I stand here with mixed emotion. I am overjoyed at God’s work and His calling and that He has called me to a new place and a great place. I am excited to see God work, bring people to faith and grow His body at Wakefield. I am sad to leave after 8 years. I am sad to leave students that I have deeply loved, with whom I have spent much time. But I knew when God called me to ministry that such would be the case at times. Bay Leaf is only the second church I have served. I am grateful for each of you.