A few months ago I was on a three day hunting trip in Laredo, Texas. The goal was to control the growing deer population in that area, but I also use these little "getaways" as a break from life's daily hustle because it allows me to spend some serious quiet time in prayer, and in the word. I’m usually set-up in a “tower blind” about 20 feet off the ground equipped with a thermos of hot coffee, my bible, and a weapon by my side. From 6am to 10am, and again from 3pm to sunset, I sit there... Reading, praying, sipping coffee, and patiently waiting for the perfect moment to pinpoint and strike my targets.
But I was the one who was hit on this last trip; with a revelation. It kept breaking my concentration and caused me to reflect on all the little things God has been preparing for us over the last 24 months. I suddenly gained a new perspective and realized everything our ministry had been going through (good or bad) were now being used by God to prepare us for His future... And the more I contemplated on this, the more obvious it was to me that this NEW CHAPTER we are about to embark on actually began to materialize much further back; when me and my wife stepped-down as the Senior Pastors of Living Word Church in Minden, Louisiana six years earlier.
That was a very tough decision. We loved Living Word, and we still do, but God began to deal with Paige and I (while we were still the Senior Pastors) that it was time to make a big change. As you may already know, God will always confirm something like that through His Word, but also through someone else you greatly trust. So when you believe God is speaking to you about something—especially something of that magnitude—wait for the confirmation. In this case, leaving the church I had been a part of for the past 24 years (leading the last 13) was a BIG DEAL.
After praying immensely, we felt led to do some traveling and missionary work after connecting with a man named Pastor Tom Deuschle and his wife Bonnie—who have been missionaries to Zimbabwe, Africa for the last 40 years, and whom we met in 2006. By the spirit there was a powerful connection between us, sort of like we all knew each other, and Paige and I knew God wanted us to get involved with what they were doing. So we began serving them. We helped advance their bible school, and traveled to dozens of their rural church plants throughout the nation (there are now over 115 churches). That’s when another piece of the puzzle fell into place, and we began to realize God’s next step for us: to teach, train and build-up believers. Believers who were called to lead, and leaders who were called to strengthen the Body of Christ and expand Kingdom of God throughout the world.
It is important to understand that, from a natural mindset, I never wanted to leave “my home” at Living Word. We loved "our sheep," and we were very well taking care of by them and the board: spirit, soul and body. But I have learned this, when you get comfortable with God—get ready, because the only way that you and I are going to grow is by getting uncomfortable. I know that sounds SCARY, but it can also be very exciting. I’ve also learned that if something is not growing it is dying. That is why Paige and I have agreed to take on this next big mission. To lead a struggling church that we’ve been connected to in Johannesburg, South Africa for one whole year.
Now of course, this does not mean we are leaving America and moving to South Africa, but it does mean we will spend a good portion of the next 12 months in Johannesburg:
Pastoring the church.
Strengthening and growing the congregation.
Holding healing services every Friday night.
Reaching out to the entire community to join us on Sunday's and for church events.
We are 100% seeing this as an open door to minister to the people of Johannesburg, South Africa, and it is very much a strategic move in our vision to keep Empowering the kingdom of God. We are officially doing this as a DDM project, and are holding true to our calling of Evangelizing the world and Equipping the nations.
So I'll leave you with this. Trust God with all your heart. Stay hungry for His presence. And never wait on Him to say, "Go." Instead, GO UNTIL HE SAYS STOP!
Thanks for reading my first blog! Hope it blessed you in one way or another. The next one will be in June!
God bless you all,
Pastor David