New Home in Benton Harbor!

“...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Phil. 4:11-13

This is a scripture that has been LIVING in and very much so part of our lives for the past two years now, and we have seen and been part of the the awesome wonders of God, and now have come to know this verse to its fullest meanings in our lives. We have been living here in our new home for the past month now and have been really loving it.  Here are a few things that we have been loving about it...

• It's our first actual house to live in (even though we are renting).
• We are loving our block and meeting our new neighbors.
• Having a small yard for the girls to play in.
• Our good friends and partners in this church plant together are right down the road, the Bennett's.
• Learning what it truly means to follow Jesus at all costs and to live on mission everyday.

God has truly reshaped my paradigm of ministry for the last couple of years. Coming out of college I thought I had it all figured out and new exactly what it all should look like.  I had the picture painted and knew what was best for me and my family. I mean, why not? I did everything I should have done in the right way, right? God called me, saved me by His grace, called me into ministry, went to college, graduated with honors, plenty of ministry experience under my belt, married the most beautiful woman ever :) what else could a guy want or do...and so what "should" have followed just simply didn't. 

We didn't end up at "that church", you know the one I'm talking about, the one that could actually afford to pay us and give us a nice little package with all the benefits, etc. Nope, that was not what God had for us, He was calling us to be part of something different, not better or worse, just different.  As I'm writing this I am smiling from ear to ear, knowing that this is the best place I have ever been on my walk with God thus far in the last nine years of journeying with him. God had to show me what ministry truly is and what it really is all about, and that is people. Loving God and loving people, PERIOD. And what's most important is that we are living on mission, following Jesus, selling out our lives for Him everyday, recklessly abandoning all else and going hard after all that He's laid before us.

So that brings us to where we are currently at with Overflow, Benton Harbor, Urban Missionaries, SW Michigan, helped to start a church, not only that but a children's ministry of all things.... and guess what these are all things I never thought or dreamed of doing right out of college, especially the children's ministry thing :)  And now looking back on the last two years of our lives and where God is leading us now, I thank God for His grace and mercy that has been seeing us through and allowing us to be part of what He's been doing all along.  Thank you Jesus! We've learned what it truly means to be content, just your orindary radicals living in Benton Harbor, Michigan.