As I sit at one of my favorite places in Davis (Crepeville) and ponder what I am going to do different this time around. In my years of ministry, I am reminded now and it is quickly approaching 14 years of being a pastor of some sort. Here are some random thoughts to help me as I get started again.
I will be….
People centered vs. Systems Centered
Creating culture vs. Church mandates
Try differently vs. Trying harder
Listen first vs. Speak first (gonna try on this one!)
I vividly remember my first invitation to serve in ministry (thanks Lee Coate). We were at Applebees in Vegas and I was powering back some BBQ ribs and Lee was eating a Chicken Caesar Salad and then the offer came. “Tom would you like to be a Jr. High Pastor? We can either pay you a stipend per month or have the church pay your college tuition?” I chose the stipend because I thought I should get used to getting paid as a minister. Pretty funny stuff though.
That started me on a climb in life that I had no idea of the result. I just kept climbing and then I fell and got up and kept climbing, met and married Rochele, kept climbing some more. After the 11 years of climbing, there was a pause. Rochele and I heard God leading us to start a church in Davis, CA. The most educated city per capita in the nation! No money, No denomination, very little friends around and a handful of people looking at me to lead them with this awesome endeavor. So Rochele and I said ok God, here we go on another climb. I have pastored in a few environments that I would consider challenging but this would be a huge challenge for us.
After a little over two years, here we are climbing and now putting in every ounce of energy, time, prayers and hope into our church. We love the city of Davis and the mission we are on and can’t wait to see what happens next!
