Okay not really, but this news has enormous implications for my family and I. (just to clear things up, there is not shot involved here. I dont even own a gun or claim to know how use one. Its really just a figure of speech.) Since March I have been a contract employee of the Chapel, doing all sorts of video projects for them. In January I shared the news with them that my family and I would be moving to Kansas City to be a part of the Restore team. This was a giant leap of faith, because there was no job or paycheck that we were going to receive for this new role. Even though I had only been a video producer for 4 months, prior to this announcement, the leadership at the Chapel graciously kept me as a part time contract employee. If it wasn’t for this huge provision, I don’t know where we would be right now. Their generosity has allowed me have a front row seat for what God is doing in the Restore Community.
On Friday, I received the news that the Chapel had finally found my replacement and that in 30 days I will no longer under contract for my services. This has been a big piece of our financial puzzle and honestly we have no idea what is going to happen. We have some serious choices to make in a very short amount of time.
This is also a moment to celebrate the goodness of God. This job for the last 6 months has been a complete blessing. It has met our financial needs, allowed me to stay at home with the kids, and given me the freedom to be involved with Restore meetings. My good friend Andy Burns, has been my contact for all of the projects assigned to me. I got know Andy as while I was working on site at the chapel. We did so many video shoots and projects together. It’s weird because I feel like we have gotten closer since I have been in KC. I have also learned so much from him. He has pushed me to do things that I felt were outside of my abiltiy when it comes to post production and motion graphics. I can honestly say that I am better at what I do for knowing Andy. I really believe that all of this was God’s provision for my family and I.
Looking ahead to the future we need guidance and help, and we need those things right now.I cant help but believe that God is continuing to provide in ways that we don’t yet understand. This could be the proverbial pushing out of the nest for us. It may be time for us to step out and trust God at an even deeper level. (which sounds a lot like God) Please pray for us as we make this transition and seek the answers and direction that we need.
Okay, so there are definitely nerve racking moments where working from home and staying home with the kids catches up to me. But there are also some great moments, like tonight. It wasn’t anything special, it was just fun to hang out with the kids. One of the highlights of my day is seeing what Ethan brings home from school. Below is something he made in art class today. Not to be out done, Abbey had to be in the picture, too. They also wanted pictures with the little people that they were playing with. Sounds like soccer mom stuff, I know. But, I am loving the time I spend with the kids.
I’ve been not very good about updates lately. It is because I have absolutely nothing to do, I am soooo bored. Ok, not really. So my goal is to post more regularly here updates and thoughts about life. So here goes with the shorter, faster, better, nateandjill.org. Tomorrow is a big day. We have been planning for tomorrow since June. We are officially going to two services. Last week we had a preview, which was preparation for this week. We had plenty of technical hiccups including a brand new dead projector. But we ironed out all of the wrinkles and we are ready for the big day. I have always heard in ministry that we need to be prepared for God to bless with a sudden influx of people. But I have never been at a place that actually plans and executes on the assumption that God will actually make it happen, until now. I can’t wait to see what happens, in a lot of ways I feel like I have a front row seat to see God come through in some incredible ways. So here is our series bumper for our new series, “With”, which begins tomorrow.
One of the things that sets being a part of the Restore team apart from any other church ministry experience that I have had, is the culture of multiplication. Don’t get me wrong, I have been a part of some communities of Faith that value multiplication. But, I have never ever been a part of a team or church that is so intentional about multiplication. We take risks based on that culture of multiplication. Maybe for the first time in my 8 years of ministry, there have been moments that I have wanted to tap the brakes a bit. Every aspect of life at Restore is driven by multiplication. The fact that we are counting on growth and maturity which lead to multiplication is a little uncomfortable, because it puts the pressure on us as leaders. But it makes for an exciting ride. I am learning so much from everyone around me. I am challenged to not just do what I do, well. That in of itself is no reproducing. So I constantly find myself rethinking how I do things and how I can train up others to do what I do.
This culture of reproducing functions at the macro level at Restore. The next big thing for us is that we are multiplying services. On September 14th we are launching our second Sunday service. This is a proactive step that has everything to do with multiplication. Adding a second service multiplies oportunities to contribute and opportunities to attend.
This reproducing culture functions on the micro level too. I am trying to come up with one more person to work myself out of one of my roles on Sunday morning. The micro includes our media setup. We are going from one projector to two on Sunday. That’s right we are multiplying screens! But we probably won’t add anymore than that in the future. Why? Because anymore screens becomes less reproducible. It would require a lot more equipment and it gets way too expensive and complicated. How’s that for thinking big? Below is the miraculous multiplication.
I am a lot of things... a stay at home dad... an off site video producer for the Chapel.. a media arts director for Restore Community Church and a wanna be church planter. Read here to see what happens when all of this collides.
