It was announced today at Genesischurch.tv that I would be leaving. Now before you flip out and go into detective mode to try and figure why I would leave such an amazing church I am just going to tell you so you can know. I am planting a brand new church in Panama City called Baypointe Church!!!!

For the past few months Pastor Brian Hunter and I have been talking about this and I feel this is the next step for me in my faith journey. The Florida Church of God State Office has approved me, and my family and I are taking some steps of faith to make this vision I have a reality. I am excited and a little nervous (okay, a lot nervous!) about this but know that I know this is a God moment in my life. Pastor Brian and Genesis will be partnering with me to plant this church. They will providing resources, equipment, coaching, as a way to be a major part of this church plant.

A couple of details I am sure you are wondering about. My last Sunday at Genesis will be October 4^th. Brenda (through a huge miracle of God) has been transferred from her present job to her corporate office which is located in Panama City. She starts on October 12^th so we will be moving the weekend of the 9^th and 10^th. (We need help moving! At least you will be getting an excuse to go to the beach for the weekend…) Our opening day for Baypointe will be April 4^th 2010 which is Easter Sunday. Between now and then I will be forming a core group, training teams, and yes RAISING MONEY! It will take a lot of finances to make this dream a reality, but I believe that God will lead me to the right people and churches that will invest in a kingdom moment. Many of you reading this I believe are those friends that God will use to help financially and in prayer.

This is not a sad thing, this is a great thing! I will miss so many people at Genesischurch, but through our partnership with Genesis I will be in close touch with many of you. Please keep us in your prayers as I take on the daunting task of raising the necessary funds that will make the dream of a life-changing, Spirit filled, church in Panama City a reality.

http://blackeyedpeas.dipdive.com/media/76361

This is one of the most amazing videos I have ever seen…

Imagine what would happen if one person was willing to stand for Christ? Could it catch on like this?

You might not like The Black Eyed Peas, but I think you will get the point.

Last night I completed all my course work for my Doctorate of Ministry degree. My dissertation was successfully defended and all paperwork is complete. So it’s over and I really don’t know what to do with myself. This morning was the first time in 8 years that there were no text books in my bag. I don’t think it has sunk in yet. I have accomplished a task I sat out to do almost a decade ago, and now that it is done, it’s weird. Here are a couple of things I leaned along the way:

1.     A lot of the work was tedious and definitely not exciting, but it through those courses I learned discipline.

2.     A lot of the work will never be taught from the pulpit, but through it I learned how to discern the needs of those God has placed under me.

3.     A lot of the work I thought would never get done, but through it I learned perseverance.

4.     A lot of the work stretched me theologically, but through it I found that God places wisdom and learning in me when I need it most.

Please do not get me wrong, I learned plenty of academic material and when I made the statement to Pastor Brian that my brain is full of a lot of useless knowledge, he simply said “it’s not useless, it’s the foundation on how you now filter everything.” Good point.

I want to say thanks to my amazingly patient wife, Brenda. She has put up with 8 years of me and all the frustrations that went along with it. It’s over, baby! Also, I have to say thanks to my dad, who made it financially possible. I have no student loans due to his willingness to pay tuition. And finally to Dr. E Bob Kuschel and Pastor Brian Hunter for their willingness to put up with a full-time staff member that still held to a dream of higher education. Most “bosses” wouldn’t let that happen and you guys did, thanks.

Okay so now what?

1.     I am going to read books that I want to read!! Lots of them No more being force fed books that I had no interest in…I AM STILL TRYING TO GET MY HANDS ON A KINDLE!! Keep your eyes and ears open for a used one all you Craiglisters and Ebayers…

2.     I am going to sleep.

3.     I am going to clear my muddy head.

After that I don’t know…but I know God does.