I copied this post from grace2whitty to give the story behind what we’re doing and why:
Nina and I first began thinking about church planting when we moved to Virginia Beach and began attending Colonial Baptist Church of Oceana (now Cornerstone Bible Church) a church plant pastored at the time by Tim Valentine. It was an offshoot of Colonial Baptist Church, the church that houses Central Baptist Theological Seminary where I attended and graduated from last May. We started attending Oceana very early in our seminary experience and loved our church family deeply. As we met each week at the school near the Naval Air Station, I realized that God was doing a work in our hearts concerning small groups and the formation of new churches. I realized I had the desire to see God continue to do this and felt even then that it was a necessary part of God building His church. I was in the Air Force Chaplaincy Program at the time and this was one of the primary reasons we moved to Va. Beach in the first place was to work with the chapel at Langley AFB. Well, the Lord used several things in our lives to move us from the military, not the least of which was my poor health. We knew that door was shut. Even as I type this I miss the military, while simultaneously knowing it is not God’s will for us to be in the chaplaincy. Following our exit from military life, Nina and I began searching out what God would have us do in ministry. I was still a few years from graduating, but those of you who know me well know that I cannot just sit in a chair at church–I need to be ministering in some way. This is when I began sensing the same heart that my pastor had: a desire to see new churches started. Nina and I began praying about this, but nothing was open for us to pursue and so we continued to serve at Oceana and working toward completing seminary.
In January of 2007, Pastor Mark Habecker from Antioch Church in Windsor, VA gave me a call and told me that Pastor Tim had given him our names as potential candidates to help with music and some other pastoral ministries at the church. We didn’t even know where Windsor was, but after visiting and speaking with pastor and the deacons were convinced this is where God wanted us. We began part time in April of ‘07 and then last June the church called us on full time as the Associate Pastor. Even though we knew God had called us to minister at Antioch, we still had church planting on our thoughts, even if it was in the ”back” of our minds. Sometime in late ‘07 or early ‘08 an opportunity arose for a church plant in Moyock, NC and I jumped at the opportunity. I was graduating in May and felt that I could make things work with this new church plant. One thing led to another and I was convinced this was God’s will. We told Antioch we were leaving in a few months and started looking at housing in the area. All was looking promising and then the Lord just closed the door. As I look back now, I realize I tried to force many doors open that God was not opening. I still believe there is a huge need for a new church in Moyock; I just know it is not where God has called my family. So here it was in March–I had told Antioch we were leaving, I was selling my landscape business, and our contract on our rental home was to be terminated that June. We were expecting Elliot June 15th and I was graduating from seminary in May. Other than that, nothing was going on. Well, I’m so glad our God is faithful, because as I drove up to Windsor that Tuesday and told Pastor Mark of our predicament he assured me that God would care for us in an extraordinary way. Later that month, Antioch graciously called us on full time and we moved to Windsor in late May. We have enjoyed our time at Antioch. The Lord has taught us so much about the body of Christ, how to deal with teenagers who need Christ, I’ve gained valuable experience leading the music program at the church, and Pastor Mark has given me so many opportunities of service. We know the Lord moved us here for a specific reason. We are thankful beyond words for His faithful provision in our lives.
Fast forward to last fall. We had just moved to Windsor, we were seeing the Lord do some incredible things here, and yet church planting is still hovering in our minds. We went to visit my parents at their time share at Massanutten Resort just outside Harrisonburg, VA. We had been there a few times over the past years and I absolutely love the Shenandoah Valley area, especially the people there. Dad and I had often talked about the ideal spot to plant a new church and this area had come up on more than one occasion. At first, I thought my vision was clouded by the relaxation and all the crazy thinking that comes with a week of vacation, but then I began to realize that the Valley area was very similar to the area in which I had grown up. Greenville, SC is inundated with churches, much like the Valley. Dad had often told me that in those types of areas a pastor needs to “convince people that they are unsaved before they will come to Christ.” I never really understood what that meant until I began working with people in the south. Everybody goes to church–everybody. Yet, there is a lack of spiritual growth in many people’s lives and I am convinced it is because many of these people have never really been saved. This may sound harsh, but it is a reality that pastors have talked about for centuries. The fact that churches are filled with unsaved people is not a new concept in the 21st century. But why start a new church in an area that is saturated with churches? Well, I think the easiest way to explain it is by following the biblical mandate of teaching the “whole counsel of God”. Many churches in the south have the facade of godliness, but the message they proclaim is nothing but Pharisaism and traditionalism. I will write more about this topic later, but it is something I am very concerned about in modern evangelicalism. I will tip my hand by referring you to the gospel accounts of Jesus dealing with the Pharisees. There are few places in Scripture where we see Christ’s anger in full view, but His attitude toward religious hypocrisy is evident as He deals with this group of people. Having said all that, I believe the south is a very needy area, despite all the churches. People need to hear the truth of the glorious gospel of God, not a feel good, pat on the back liturgy a pastor downloaded from the internet.
So we come to the specifics of where God has called us. Following the redirecting hand of God after the Moyock church plant concept, we were obviously very gun-shy when it came to church planting. We wanted to make sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was calling us to do it again. We had received numerous opportunities from various other churches around the country, but felt God was not moving us from Windsor just yet. In October, I emailed Dr. Jack Klem, one of my most trusted mentors and asked him to pray with us as we once again considered church planting. I wanted others to know about our desires, even if I was very unspecific. I told him nothing of the Valley area, only that we were seeking God’s will. Within a week I had received a reply from him and he told me of a family that had moved out to Fishersville, VA in 2008 who were looking for a seminary couple to help them start a new church. I remember googling Fishersville and sitting here at my laptop with my mouth wide open as I found that it was right in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. Remember, Nina and I had been “casually” praying about this very area for a couple years now. Also remember I had not told Klem anything about area or specifics, only that we were praying about church planting in general. I was very excited and talked to Nina about it right away. While we were initially excited, we were also very cautious, since we had been down this road once before only a few months earlier. We knew we needed to proceed slowly and methodically. I emailed the couple Dr. Jack had given me and told them who I was and some of my burdens in ministry. I could sense even through email that this family was very much like ours and their hearts were burdened for the same type of ministry we were. So, things began to progress and I talked with Pastor Mark about the possibility of us pursuing another church plant. He told me he wanted us to follow God’s will, no matter what or where that would be. I began demographic study on the area and researched the general spiritual condition and existence of established churches in the 3 county area surrounding Fishersville and the Lord continued knitting my heart with the family there. I then began seeking godly counsel from my mentors and each one said this looked like a good idea. I have not had one negative comment concerning this opportunity since the Lord placed it before us and I consider that remarkable in and of itself.
After months of earnest prayer and research, we decided we needed to take a trip out to visit the family and the area. Sean and Chrissy Godden invited us out for the weekend of March 13-14 and we had a life-changing time. Both Nina and I felt the trip was more of an initial survey trip of the area. I was pretty sick and it was snowy and kind of a gloomy weekend as far as the weather was concerned. What happened that weekend neither of us could have anticipated. We both came away from Fishersville knowing we were going to move there and that God was going to use us with the Goddens to start a new church. We were excited and saddened at the same time. We knew moving would mean that we would have to leave our dear friends at Antioch, but we knew God was moving us…we had no doubts.
It has been a month since that visit and we are more convinced than ever that God is doing a work in the greater Staunton area. At this time we are tentatively looking at a move around the first of next year. Nina is due with our third child, Ethan David, on August 30 so we want to give time for mommy and baby to adjust to this huge transition. We are also looking at being full-time church planters, if that is possible. With the economy the way it is, we are looking forward to what God is going to do in our lives, but this will give us time to travel to different churches and present our vision of what God is doing in the Valley.
Phew! Well that was a bit longer than I anticipated, but hopefully that gives you a good idea of what God has been doing in our lives leading us to this point. We are excited about the future and ask that you would pray with us for the following things:
1. That God would continue to bring the core group together in Staunton and bring other families to help us as we start this church.
2. That God would allow us to be fully supported by the first part of next year.
3. That we would continue to see the Lord work here at Antioch Church as we serve Him and seek His will for the future.
4. That we would be able to determine the precise location for the church in the Staunton area.
5. That churches and families would be able to undertake a partnership with us, even during these tough economic times.
6. That God would be glorified as we seek to add to His Kingdom.
7. That Nina would have a good pregnancy and a healthy delivery in August.
8. That the doctors would be able to regulate my medication and that I will have strength to do what I need to.
9. That we will be sensitive to God’s timing and direction.
10. That we would be faithful and diligent over these next months.
Thank you for reading and please pray that God will continue to open doors. I will keep you updated concerning our progress.
Grace and peace.
