When we understand that the church truly is a “family”, we realize how difficult it can be to move on...and so our departure from Eastside truly has created a void in our lives. We wish that we could just jump right into a new church and get plugged in, but that’s not easy either, because it obviously takes awhile for deep and meaningful relationships to develop.
For us, the process of getting re-connected is even more complicated because we’re in a season of waiting. We can’t really plug into a new congregation right now, because we believe that God will move us into pastoral roles…somewhere…in 2010. To a certain extent, then, we need to “tread water” until the Lord clarifies our next step.
So how do we connect with God’s people during this time? And how do we make our church experience meaningful and productive?
As we’ve prayerfully wrestled with these questions, we’ve come up with an answer...at least for the Fall. We’ve decided to visit the Stadia church plants throughout southern California that I’ve had a hand in getting started. So each Sunday, Julie and I are worshipping in a different location. In the past three weeks we’ve visited Solid Ground Christian Fellowship in Redlands, Life Spring Christian Church in Beaumont, and Momentum Christian Church in Chula Vista. It feels a bit nomadic, but there’s also a strong sense of connection because of the relationship I have with the pastors who have launched these new churches. These visits are a great opportunity for us to affirm the planters and their wives, to encourage them, and to thank them for the vital ministry they are performing by starting new congregations.
We’re also discovering that this is a great learning experience for us. As we participate in different kinds of worship services, we’re able to evaluate the pros and cons of these various approaches. This is helping us to sharpen our focus on how we would like to be able to help shape the priorities of our next church…wherever it might be.
- Bruce
About Me
- Bruce and Julie
- After seasons of working in both the for-profit and non-profit worlds, God called both of us into ministry. We have two over-riding passions: (1) to communicate - via speaking, teaching, and writing - God's truth as found in the Bible, and (2) to help men and women experience a faith in Jesus Christ that meets the deepest needs within their souls. + + + + Both of us are ordained ministers in the independent Christian Churches. Bruce is the Preaching Minister at Garden Way Church in Eugene, Oregon. Julie has earned a certificate in Spiritual Direction, has been a Women's Pastor and an adjunct college professor, and oversees a non-profit women's ministry called "the unfolding soul". Together we are developing a prayer garden at our home in Springfield called The Lavender Pavilion. + + + + We have been married for more than 30 years and have three adult children.
