The Year That Wasn't Suppose To Be

I did not foresee this being a part of my life. I did not believe at 53, I would be starting over. I thought I would be settled by now. But God did not create me to be a settler, but a trailblazer.

Many of you know this, some may not, but after 13 years of pastoring CrossRoads (now The Driven Church), I step down. I can honestly say I did not know what the future had in store, then again do any of us. But I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep doing this pastoring thing. To much pain, hurt and heartache. To many times of saying goodbye, (or not), to the ones you have come to love. How many more times could I ask my family to do something new.

But a dear friend told me, "What seems like the darkest time in your life right now, you will thank God for in the days ahead." Thanks Claude. The darkness is beginning to fade and the light is beginning to shine.

Last August a group of Do Overs ask if I would like to blaze a trail with them. To see what God wanted to do with a group who truly just wanted to Love God and Love People. So thanks to a dear friend who is now looking down on us from heaven (Dr. Bob), we met for the first time on August 4th in the Upper Room. The numbers were small, but then again we should not "despise small beginnings."

Over the next couple of months we continued to meet in the Upper Room. But it has been said that what God originates, He orchestrates. And He did just that. We were given the opportunity to start meeting in what use to be a well known "pool hall," here in Etown. What better place for a group of Do Overs to meet and invite their friends.

So we began the task of renovating this pool hall into a place where we could set out to "change the way people see Jesus and Sundays." The name of the ministry is Revolution, which at its core ask that we drastically change the way we think and act. Yes this was a place for trailblazers. A place to love people where they are, not for who they are not.

So on January 4th, 2015, at 11:07, the transformation was complete and we opened the doors for our first gathering. What a first gathering it was. We were blessed to have 175 people join us that morning. Many were guests, but many have stayed and many others have come to join us. Currently we have about 170 who call Rev their home. I am truly humbled but God's goodness and His Grace.

So now one year later we are preparing for our One Year Celebration on January 3rd, 2016. If you are reading this you are more than welcome to come and celebrate with us. God has given us a very specific assignment: Love The Lowly. The lowly are those who have been hurt, are hurting, need help or hope. The lowly is no respecter of race, status or gender. Each one needs to be loved.  We can't expect others to follow Jesus until you/me/we treat them like they are made in the image of God. Everyone who breathes is made in the image of God. So since everyone matters to God, they must matter to us.

Claude was right, even though I believe man steps in and does things at times that is out of God's will, I am finding that sometimes the darkest days can lead to the brightest of futures. Today I thank God for the darkness, because I see His light is shining brighter than ever before!

Make it a great day!
Pastor Ed