Chapter 6 - A New Thing

If God were writing a story of our lives (and I like to think he is), I think he would be at Chapter 6. The story begins when Dennis and I met...32 years ago, but it really began the day we were born because we both have a story before our story. It seems we have lived five chapters of our story (full of romance, adventure, joys and sorrows, good times and hard times), now entering the sixth. When we resigned from SLWC three months ago, we were coming to the end of the fifth chapter, and we were eagerly waiting to see where the sixth chapter would begin for we sensed that God was moving us beyond the local church.

Over the past couple months we have been zeroing in on two possible options. It has been a process in both cases. While walking the Grand Haven pier this past Tuesday evening (this has not been an unusual scene in Chapter 5), we landed on a decision.

On Thursday it was approved that Dennis will be filling the role of Assistant District Superintendent for the West MI District of the Wesleyan Church along side of DS, Mark Gorveatte. Dennis' primary responsibilities will be leadership development (80%) and global focus (20%) - both play into his passions, strengths and gifts, forming a sweet spot that excites us. The position will officially begin on July 12th. Certainly this is still very involved in the life of the church, just in a very different way - in a broader scope.

We'll still try to sell the house, but don't feel a need to rush that since we can commute to and from Grand Rapids where the District office is located. Eventually, though, we would like to move to Grand Rapids. We'll see how the story goes...

So, here we are...moving on to a new chapter in our lives. New things...that thought has been on my mind lately and these scriptures have crossed my path to solidify what God has been placing on my heart.

Isaiah 43:18-19 ~ Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

Revelation 21:5 ~ I am making everything new!

God is the Author of the story of our lives. He will take all that we've experienced in the past 30 years of ministry and somehow weave it into this new chapter. He is doing a new thing! I am eager to read ahead, but the chapter isn't finished yet. That's for us to discover.