I haven’t blogged about this in a while and that is my fault. Lots has happened since July, try to follow along.

In my last post I talked about the HUGE news that we are moving up to Detroit Lakes, MN to help out Mike and Amy Verlennich and eXperience Church grow. I encourage you to check it out to get the background on that move.

In  the last little while, we have had our faith tested which is pretty normal when you take a huge leap of faith like we are. My bible readings recently have been filled with stories of Abraham and that has encouraged us. God called Abraham to pick up his entire family (which in those days included not just their immediate family, but extended family, servants, livestock, all their stuff, it was a big ordeal) to move from their home, their friends and all they have known to a foreign land where they didn’t know the culture or anyone.

Along the way, Abraham’s faith was tested about having a son, increasing his wealth by giving away 10% of all he owned, waiting on God to provide a sacrifice so he didn’t sacrifice his own son, and many other things.

I’m not trying to compare our journey to Abraham’s, but we are encouraged by his example. God provided everything Abraham needed in just the right time. God blessed him when he was obedient. Ultimately, God has used Abraham as an example for us to keep our own faith strong when we question how crazy this is.

We are EIGHT days away from packing up the moving truck and relocating to Detroit Lakes, MN. Not because we know many people there or because of a job, but because God has told us to. We are completely humbled that God has called us to do something radical for Him.

Here is the thing though, we are completely relying on God for everything here. We have just enough to pay for the truck rental but little else. We still need some cash to complete this move and I’m not exactly sure what I am going to do for work. See, in February, my business stopped being a viable option for income. I started doing contract work, but it’s been part time and not nearly enough to keep us going. We’ve been tithing regularly which has helped, but been tough. I started another contract at the end of June and we thought that this contract would let me work remotely when we moved. Last monday, I was told that wasn’t an option anymore. In the meantime, I had been looking for work and had a few interviews but have received nothing but rejection letters and emails.

So, while we have an awesome place to move into on a lake, we still need some cash to get us by on utilities, living expenses, and a month of rent while I’m looking for work. Some of you reading this might be like, “Oh these guys are crazy! How can they move without having the resources, that doesn’t MAKE SENSE!” Yeah, I would agree with you. But following God’s call doesn’t always make sense in the natural. Do you think it was natural for Jesus to walk on water during a storm? Do you think it was nuts that Peter got out of the boat too? But guess what… even Peter walked on water for a few steps. Debbie and I have gotten out of the boat because we believe so strongly that God wants us to help that church grow that we have JUMPED knowing that the only way we will make it is if God comes through! It takes radical, insane, crazy steps of faith to follow Jesus and to make sure other people know about Him.

We are not worried about any of this. The call on our lives is vital to seeing a church grow full of people who will get in touch with a real Jesus who can change their lives. We have seen God come through in many ways lately, not just in our own lives, but the lives of others. Samm and Angie Platt followed God’s call to New Zeland early Thursday morning. They sold their house, left their jobs all to move to New Zeland for 6 months with their three young boys. As of Wednesday night, they still needed $9000 to have their entire trip and expenses paid for. Guess what? God came through 5 hours before they were about to leave. The Crossing took an offering and matched the gifts and the Platts were able to leave on the plane knowing God did a miracle.

God has and will always come through. So, as we follow this call on our lives, we know God will come through. Sometimes its through strangers, sometimes its through people like you. One of our pastors of eXperience church posted on her blog yesterday. I’d encourage you to go check it out. It gives some more details on what their church is doing right now and how you might be able to help us. Click here to check out Pastor Amy’s blog.

Our journey will be an exciting one. It will be a TON of hard work, but it will be so rewarding as we see people come to know Jesus! Detroit Lakes has no idea what it’s in for. We hope to make that area one of the hardest places to go to hell from. We would appreciate any help you could give us! Thank you!

To Him be the Glory…