The excitement of the Kingdom
Two months down, and there are all kinds of things rolling through my mind.
Something is happening; something amazing. I've found that in the past, it seems like the day-to-day is monotonous. It feels like we just kind of chug along, waiting for something incredible to happen. ...but when?
I've read enough books and heard enough stories where people experience audacious, bold, ridiculous things, and then I wonder why I'm not a part of any of that. Why does it feel like I'm just trying to get along?
Well, what if we dreamed more?
I get it, not everyone is like me and wants to dream all day, and if everyone was there would be nobody to make sure people like me got anything done. Yet, I can't help but think that we don't spend enough time realizing what God is doing in the midst of our lives.
When I first was getting to a place that was willing to leave Boston behind, a few people were upset at me for wanting to leave. It didn't necessarily go down well with my roommates, with problems on both sides of the interaction; people were asking tough questions about whether or not I was running because I wasn't getting what I wanted there in that city; it even seemed weird to me that I would leave a city that I loved to move to a city that I thought I would barely visit, let alone live in.
I knew, though, when this whole move was beginning to form that the Lord was in the midst of it. It didn’t make sense for me to move from a dense city to a college town in south AZ. It didn’t make sense that I would leave a good community in order to go where I knew one family, especially when I had done almost the exact same thing only 12 months before. I mean, people do these kind of moves more often than we might be aware, but why in the world would I do that just a year after I had already done it? (Especially when that wasn’t the plan.)
I think this is why it was questioned. I believe it didn’t make logical sense and so people reacted the way they did. Not only that, but it happened so fast that it seemed I was being impulsive. We’re taught that in order to make wise decisions we need to take time and think about them; slow down, it’s going to be better thought through if you take some time.
I don’t disagree, but I do have one question. If we do this only, are we keeping ourselves from the things the Lord wants to do?
I say this because within about 2 or 3 weeks, I went from, “I’m staying faithful to Boston and the life I have been led into here,” all the way to, “I’m leaving at the end of the summer to move back to AZ.” When I made that decision in an attempt to be faithful to the Lord, I had no idea where I was going next. All I knew at the time was that I was going back to AZ, and that was enough for me to step out and make the commitment.
From there, I saw how the Lord reminded me of a conversation that was had before I made the commitment. That conversation caused me to look to a place where I believed they would give me the opportunities I needed to prepare for ministry. It turns out that this is where I needed to be, and I wouldn’t have traded this option for anything else.
From there I was given immense amounts of opportunity to step in and be seen as full-time staff. I learned more about ministry in the first month or so than I have in years in ministry volunteering. Turns out I had heard the Lord and simply willingly responded. Yet, it doesn’t even end there!
When I came, Pantano staff knew that I was looking to plant in Phoenix. My supervisor, Becki, from the very beginning planned to prepare me for that very task. Because of that, I went to a church-planting conference (Exponential West), and I immediately meet all of these people who want to help me plant in Phoenix. Seriously, I was blown away at how many people were excited for me and wanted to do anything they could to help me.
From there I come home to be given a new vision for the coming years: 15 churches in 15 years in the Phoenix area. With that, I begin to make connections with two different church-planting organizations that are willing to help with the vision. I’ve had conversations with people who I want to come along and seeing them willing to think through the vision and even possibly end up stepping in. I’ve got people who are baffled when I tell them the vision, and yet willing to be a part of the conversation. I’ve even got plans that will help me get connected to the city of Phoenix in the coming months so I will be better prepared for the actually planting to happen next year!
What is happening??
I stepped in to the story. This story is messy, confusing, and sometimes draining, but I’ve never been so excited about the story I’m in than I am right now.
I say all this not to say I’m something special. It’s not that the Lord is doing something greater through me than through anyone else. All I’m saying is that I’ve finally learned to step into the story. I’ve finally given myself to a mentality that says I’m willing to be uncomfortable for the sake of the kingdom of God. I’ve finally gone farther than just stating my availability in God’s work, but asking how I can act in faithfulness.
God is doing something amazing with all of his people, but do we really want to step in? I think we’re too comfortable; too willing to simply be how we are right now. I don’t want to live like that anymore.
This kind of life is hard, messy, and full of uncertainty. It’s mildly terrifying all the time to live like this, but I promise you it’s the most fun I’ve ever had in my life. This kind of fun is not just for me; I believe it’s for all of God’s children.
Do it! Step in. Make yourself available. I promise you won’t regret a second of it.










