The next chapter of ministry begins...

Walking the walk of faith is and has always been an adventure but it seems at times He will take things to another level.  That's where our family has lived over the past year.  It's a LONG story and God seems to be leading us in a direction that it could possibly be a book so I'm not going to share the long version because this is a blog not a book.
Suffice it to say that God began months ago maybe even a year plus ago, creating within Eddie and I a feeling that things were going to change.  Having no idea what that meant at the time but trusting God fully, we began a journey with Him that at times felt like a never ending roller coaster ride.  It has been overwhelming, wonderful, at times driving us face down in tears and prayer and other times shouting for joy and excitement.  Bottom line is God has led us away from an almost 17 year ministry at Millbrook in Aiken SC where we have served, raised our children, lived life to the fullest, created friendships that will last into eternity to a new ministry at Fairview in Greer SC where we are fully trusting and believing God to do a work that only He can do and where He alone gets much glory.  He's given us a love for His people there already and a passion to take that area by storm sharing Jesus in every way He opens an opportunity.  This has been a God thing and a story only He could write and we feel so incredibly blessed that He reached down and chose us for this.  It hasn't been easy.  At times, we probably both wanted to scream NO and keep fighting Him but blessings always come when we obey and He has shown Himself to us in ways we have never experienced before and all I can say is THANK YOU JESUS for choosing us to walk this path and all GLORY goes STRAIGHT TO YOU!!!  He is more faithful than I even imagined He could be.
I'm so thankful for our precious family who have walked through this with us.  I'm sure at times you thought we had lost our minds but from the beginning you supported and prayed and encouraged.  One of the sweetest times of all was when Eddie and I along with my parents and our children got on the floor together sobbing and praying as we listened to our son-in-law pray out loud over us.  I hope as old as I get I never forget that sweet moment or how powerful it felt.  We had just shared all of this with them and their first response was to bathe us in their tears and prayers.
I'm also thankful for our family at Millbrook.  You are a church like no other as we shared this story with you before we ever knew the ending.  You cried with us and prayed as well.  I promise you we FELT your prayers.  As letters and calls and conversations poured over us of support and love from you all, it made this journey so much more special.  You are a special people.  We were warned that it could be ugly being so transparent with you and I'm sure there's a few who hoped for that but you were overwhelmingly loving and supportive and are forever etched on our hearts.  God turned everything that Satan meant from all of this to harm us and made it for our good!!  We saw Him over and over fighting for us even when we were fighting to hang on.  His scriptures came alive daily and provided everything we needed and more.  Thank you Millbrook for everything not just over the past months but the past 17 years!!  We love you and we are praying hard for you!!  If you want to be blessed, read our daughter's blog.  It's a thank you to you Millbrook straight from a Pastor's Kid spoken with much love and gratitude and I know she speaks for her siblings as well.  They all love you SO!!
Fairview, we are so excited to join you.  God has written a story there too and now He has joined us together for the next chapter.  It's going to be a thrilling ride as we let go and let God!!!  The next chapter begins April 7th...