I have a job.

After six months of uncertainty…I have a job.

Crystal and I have been in a pretty intense transition period.  We’ve been exploring, praying, healing, journeying, and trusting God to lead us.  We’ve been surrounded by family and friends and people who love us, praying for us and supporting us.  We’ve been humbled by each of the opportunities presented to us and the conversations we’ve been invited into.

Throughout the entire process we have been committed to seeking God’s leading as we have diligently explored each opportunity.  We have not wanted to just run to something…we have wanted to belong somewhere.

And now that this season of our lives is ending, I’m struck by the beauty of God’s power, His provision, His faithfulness, His affirmation and His care for us.  We were thrust into this season…we didn’t plan it, didn’t ask for it, but we are so very thankful for it.  Thankful for where God has had us and for where He is taking us.  We have learned a lot about ourselves and what we are capable of.  We’ve learned a lot about what we are looking for and what we want to accomplish.  And we’ve learned that God’s plan is intricate and purposeful.  Throughout our journey, every conversation, every opportunity, every encounter has had purpose and led us to this point.

I have just accepted an Involvement/Young Adult ministry position at Northside Christian Church in New Albany, IN.  I will be working with (obviously) involvement and with college-age young adults; connecting people to Christ and community in the church, and developing a college-age ministry.  I love helping people connect the dots between their passions and their gifts and helping lead them to the moments where they collide to serve the Kingdom.  I love working with college students…the college experience is such a transformational time in one’s life and I’m so excited to pour into them.  I think about all of the incredible relationships I’ve been blessed with during my time ministering to University of Illinois students, and I get pumped about the opportunity to pour into students I haven’t even met yet.

We’ve been living in the offbeat…its time to get a rhythm.

We’ve been in Champaign-Urbana for a long time. Our families are here.  Our house is here.  Lots of our friends are here.  Our lives are here.  Amid the excitement, we know that saying goodbye will not be easy.  We have never sold a home before…never moved our family before…never left our home church, our preschool, our pediatrician, our familiar community before.  We have loved our time here…loved it.  And even though we have a lot of work ahead of us in the coming weeks, we are at peace…overwhelming peace.  God’s fingerprints are all over this journey, this decision, this move and we trust in that…we trust in Him.

Ah.  I have a job.