I think it’s time for Jeremy and I to give a life update to
our friends and family (and all you other facebook acquaintances who are simply
curious).
[the house]: In case you didn’t know, Jeremy and I bought a
house in 2008. When we bought this house, we honestly thought we would stay in
it for three years, sell it, make money, and move to seminary. That was “the
plan.”
Well, as we all know, the housing market took quite a tumble
in 2008; therefore, leaving us stranded in our house. Through this, there have
been many tears shed, many questions asked, and our hearts have been torn over
the realization that we are not moving out Birmingham for a while now.
[courtney’s job]: In 2011, I started working for a great
non-profit called WMU. WMU specializes in the development of missions
resources, the publication of Christian literature, and helping artisans around
the world through the sale of fair-trade products.
In this job, I get to read missionaries’ stories all the
time, gain ideas for reaching others in my community, and develop missions
curriculum for young adult women. Plus, I get to work with an amazing group of
women and men committed to making disciples of all nations. I’m in a great
place.
[a new season]: As many of you know, Jeremy has taught in
the Shelby County school system for over four years. He has been a JV boys’ and
Varsity girls’ basketball coach. He’s a great educator with a passion for
students and kids. But his true passion is to teach the Word.
Jeremy and I began praying for God to open doors for us to
serve more in our community. We were thinking that meant potentially changing
churches or beginning to serve in a new ministry. God had other ideas.
At the end of April (this year), someone who was on a search
committee approached Jeremy because they were looking for a part-time youth
minister. After much prayer and consideration, Jeremy quit his coaching
position and took this job.
That position was at a wonderful church where we loved the
people and students. However, Jeremy began longing to teach the Word and be a
minister full-time. We began to pray for God to open a door to make this
happen. I mentioned this to a close friend, and she said her church was
actually looking at hiring a full-time children’s and youth pastor.
[A long story short]: After much prayer and seeking the
counsel of those closest to us, Jeremy has now quit his full-time teaching
position to take a full-time position of Youth, Children, and Community
Outreach Minister at Riverchase Baptist Church in Hoover. We could not be more excited. This position provides him the opportunity to use
his gifts and abilities to serve the Lord and people. And he will have the
opportunity to begin seminary in the near future. This position is honestly
perfect for Jeremy. I see so many opportunities for him to use his talents and
abilities to serve this community. I praise God that He opened this door for
Jeremy’s job to be a minister.
I never thought I wanted to be a minister’s wife because I
wanted to be a minister or missionary, yet I have found that I am as much a
part of this process as he is. I am sure I will learn more as time passes of
the joys and challenges of being a minister’s wife. It’s a new adventure within
itself. As I have prayed about my role in this process, I have found that
I consider myself a minister to the minister. And I am content with this role.
I will start my masters in education (with a concentration in
school counseling) in a couple weeks. If you know me, you know I've worked with students and kids since I was a youth. This is something the Lord has laid on my
heart as my love for children and students only grows (especially with Jeremy
taking on this new role). I cannot wait to see where the Lord leads with this
new journey.
[what about doing missions?]: One question I have heard from
a few people is, “Are you and Jeremy still going overseas?” My answer is, “I
don’t know.” It’s not that we are not willing. Because we are. It’s not that we
don’t “have a heart for it.” Because we do. It’s simply that the Lord has not
opened that door for us at this time. We have a great desire to serve God
overseas in an intercultural setting, yet see plenty of opportunity to serve
Him here where He has placed us. Since that desire has not disappeared yet, I
see this as something the Lord will reveal to us in His time.
There are days I am anxious over this—not going overseas
right now. There are other days I am incredibly thankful for the time we have
here with our friends and family and now our new church family. I know He has
created me to serve Him and I know I enjoy working in diverse settings. I
simply don’t know what the future holds anymore other than serving Him where He
leads. And I believe this is enough.
What I do know is that our new church family makes my heart
happy to be right where I am. I can see the Lord moving in this body of people
to make disciples in the Hoover area and around the world. I get excited when
thinking about working with students and children. I am full of joy when I
think of my husband getting to use his God-given creativity to teach others
about our God. And I am overwhelmed when I think of serving God and others
alongside my husband.
I have found comfort in the Old Testament stories lately.
Especially the ones where God would give someone a specific calling, yet not
bring that calling to fruition until much later and sometimes in a different
way than initially thought. One of the greatest stories is Abraham and Sarah’s.
The Lord said, “Go to the land I will show you” and Abraham went. The Lord
said, “Go and sacrifice your son” and Abraham rose. The Lord continuously led
Abraham to situations that seemed so counter from the original calling, yet it
was all for His glory. And the faith of Abraham was astounding.
I pray Jeremy and I continue to go where the Lord leads and
do as the Lord commands. I pray we continue to see opportunities to serve
others and tell them about His love. I pray we have faith to trust His
leadership over our lives. And I pray my soul finds rest and peace as we live
our life fully here. Although it isn’t what I thought it would be. Although “I
never thought I wanted to be a minister’s wife,” He is teaching us His path.
And I’m learning that His ways are better than my own.
“In hope he [Abraham] believed
against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been
told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as
dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the
barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the
promise of God, but he grew strong in
his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that
God was able to do what he had promised”
(Romans 4:18-21).
-From a minister’s wife
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