Don’t you love reading emails/blogs/texts/facebook posts that start with that title? The exclamation point adds extra anticipation! If the writer is a woman, guaranteed you think she’s announcing a pregnancy because what in the world else could be exciting news with an exclamation?! Rest assured, we aren’t adding to the earth’s population with anymore Hirschman’s.
So…here it is…we are starting our own church. I mean, we are starting our own church!!!! Most of you have already heard this news, so this might be anti-climatic. I apologize. We’ve known this is happening for awhile, but I thought I’d take a minute to explain where things are at this point, and how we got here.
Many things have happened leading up to now, but here’s the gist: Andy has felt, for awhile, that God might have something different for us. I was resistant because I don’t like change. Why would God want anything different for us when I’m perfectly happy right here? So Andy prayed. And then I thought I should pray, so I did. I didn’t want to be a pastor’s wife, oh wait, I guess I already am. Well then, I didn’t want to be a senior pastor’s wife, because that might mean I have to do more stuff, be available to more people, wear floral patterns and love collecting tea cups…oh, sorry. Isn’t that what every senior pastor’s wife does? No? Phew. I guess I’m good then.
Back to prayer. The more I prayed, the more I felt like maybe Andy was right and really did hear God speak to him. Yikes. And through another series of events, I knew. Yep, this is gonna happen. And I knew it was right.
Some say they’ve heard an audible voice from God, which I’m guessing sounds very deep and calming (I’m thinking James Earl Jones, although I’ve never actually heard it) or some just feel a calm peace and knowing in their heart that something is right. Others ask God for a sign, then flip open their bible and whatever verse they fix their eyes upon, there’s the sign.
My hearing from God was more of a peaceful feeling that this change is right and good. How do I know this was from God, you may wonder? Well, like I said before, I don’t like change and I don’t like not knowing the exact plan. This decision involves both of those and I not only felt okay with it, but ready for it. No freaking out here, so clearly, that has to be God.
There are still many questions to be answered, but for right now, through the end of this year, we are having weekly prayer meetings at our house with a small group of people. We spend time talking and praying for direction and provision, but mostly we pray that God will go ahead of us and teach us how to love others more with the love of Jesus. I find that the more we pray for those things, the less nervous I get about working out every detail. After the new year, we hope to start Sunday morning services.
This decision requires much faith, lots of prayer, and anxiously waiting to see how the Lord works it all out. That’s the most exciting part, watching His plans unfold.
