the searbys

Lots of exciting things are happening in our lives right now. First, we're moving into our new apartment this weekend! We're looking forward to having a place to call home that we can decorate, settle into and enjoy. We've signed a one year lease and if we live there for a full year it will be the longest we've been in one place since we've been married! That's right, between going back and forth to Chile and our move here to Gainesville we never lived in one place longer than eight months or so. We really like our apartment and hope you'll come see it! We've got two extra rooms!

Second, and perhaps most exciting, is that I've been asked to be the interim minister at Harvest Christian Church. They are anticipating a three to four month process of searching for the next minister. I'll be preaching each week along with a few other responsibilities. This is a great time at Harvest as the church is really at a crossroads with incredible potential for growth both in numbers and in depth. I'm looking forward to "learning as I teach." It has been so good to have a place where we can get to know people and create relationships that hopefully will become life-long.

Harvest is in a great location in Gainesville and I hope that even now during this interim time we can grow. I think there is a niche waiting to be filled in Gainesville that Harvest is capable of and ready to begin filling. There are lots of churches in Gainesville, running the spectrum of faiths, location on the liberal/conservative "scale," and style. However, there seems to be some emptiness in the middle of that spectrum. Churches are either very liberal in both theology and social stance or very conservative on both. I know there are some that fall in the middle but I don't see many. I believe Harvest has a tradition that can fill this much needed middle ground; to be theologically conservative with an openness to forward moving/ thinking social activity. This town is basically made up of three hospitals and a huge university along with a large community college. Education is the common thread. A church that can be theologically significant and give real "meat" through its teaching can, I believe, really make an impact. People want to know that they can really believe what the Bible has to say, that God really can and does make an impact in their lives and that religion is not a non-thinking drug (as Marx would say) for the intellectually shallow. In addition, when those commitments are backed by loving action, as Christ taught, I think we'll begin to see people of deep faith truly impact the world around them. That is my prayer for Harvest.

-joel

Joel - that is exciting news about you being the interim minister at Harvest. I know you will put your whole heart and soul into it. There is a reason why this is happening at this time in your life at this place. God will reveal that in time. I know you will do a fantastic job and the congretation will love and respect you. You can always call dad for ministry advice! (p.s. - Jen will make a great minister's wife, too!) Love, Mom  

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Joel- How are the people at Harvest responding to your preaching? It sounds like you are making some great friends. I pray that God will continue to use you.  

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That's great news Joel! I'll be praying God blesses both you and Harvest during this interim period.  

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