With almost 40 years of pastoring at the same church, my parents are retiring by merging with another local church! I can't even begin to portray the way that my parents have loved people, trusted God, and pursued the calling of God on their lives (and I know that they are not done yet!).
I attribute who I am (the good stuff) to my parents and their guidance in my life. They were always the biggest cheerleaders in my life. They exposed me to missions at an early age, taking me and my two brothers to Haiti to see our grandparents when we were young. Little did they know what that experience would ignite in my heart.
They always allowed and encouraged me to pursue the things on my heart, even dreaming of being Shamu's (the whale at Sea World) trainer! They encouraged me to go on two mission trips to Mexico during my freshman year of college, which really grew a passion for missions in my life as well.
After my freshman year in college, I went on a mission trip to Atlanta. I remember calling them from that trip saying that I wanted to jump into a discipleship program in Atlanta and leave college. It was a hard call for me to make, but they continually have been there to support me. I remember leaving them and then trying to drive the 14-hour trip from Michigan to Georgia with tears blurring my vision. One year in Atlanta turned into two years and it was my parents and New Jerusalem Christian Fellowship (NJCF) that allowed me to take what I learned in Atlanta and apply it to our backyard in Jackson, Michigan. It was my parents and NJCF that encouraged me to start a non-profit to share the love of Jesus with hundreds of inner-city children and youth.
As newlyweds, Laura and I watched my parents serve in full-time ministry, love each other well, build the church, and keep their eyes on the nations. Moving to Haiti with Laura and baby Reagan was inspired by my parents and grandparents. Coming back to Michigan suddenly after only 3.5 months, my parents were there to pick us up and encourage us as we sought what God had for us next. They quickly found a way to employ me at NJCF as their children's pastor. A couple of years later, and now a family of four, we accepted the position of youth pastor at a church in Delaware.
As if moving 10 hours away wasn't far enough for 8 years (while adopting 3 more kids), when God called us as a family of 7 to Costa Rica, it was my parents and NJCF (along with so many of you!) that cheerfully supported us to go.
Any fruit we have harvested also gets credited to the accounts of my parents and others who have supported and believed in the calling God has had on our lives. Every step of faith and every decision was bathed in prayer by them. Even when they weren't sure, they trusted God inside of us.
As NJCF now merges and my parents step into retirement, we know they aren't done in ministry! We are excited to see them more often and hope they can enjoy some southern living throughout the year!
We love you, Mom and Dad! Well done, thou good and faithful servants! Your legacy lives on inside of your children and grandchildren!
