We Moved! And, So Did The Lord!

After a year or more of praying, months of planning, weeks of packing, and several hours of driving, we have officially moved and started our life in the Greenville, SC area! It still has not sunk in that we are not just visiting, but I am sure after a little time this place will not only be home but will also feel like home too. We are out in a more rural area, and the trees and country setting are just beautiful! I was driving around on some back roads and thought, "Oh, I think I love it here!" (This coming from someone who cried like crazy leaving my sweet little town of Wake Forest just the day before!) I truly believe that God has knitted this time together and is (in every way) in control. One way that this fact is so clear is what we experienced on Sunday.

The plan we have in moving down this way is to be involved with a small church for a time while we get settled and get to know the community. We want to seek wisdom from the Lord during this time in whether we are to plant a church in this area or be involved in church revitalization. We were in contact with a small church, Living Grace Baptist Church, before we moved and felt like this would be the congregation we would join with for a time. It is a small, rural church comprised of sweet people who have embraced Jesus as their Lord. In a letter written in the beginning of this year, the pastor, Rod Wilton, describes the congregation as "a tiny beacon of light flying the banner of 'Christ is Lord.'" He also calls them a "faithful and loving body of believers." In our first interaction with them, I wholeheartedly agree! Also within this letter were a few prayer requests (the letter was written to folks at a conference that went on early this year).

David Crowder sings a line in one of his songs that says, "sometimes you're closer than my skin," and a few of Pastor Wilton's prayer requests made me feel just like this. Here they are...

"1. Numerical Growth- We have no interest in numbers per-say, but we need encouragement. We truly rest in God's good providence, but we need to be strengthened and we pray, "Lord, send us a couple of families who are mature believers who will serve you faithfully as soldiers of the Cross!" We pray this way knowing that there are mitigating circumstances such as our rural location, and a culturally complex community.

2. New Pastoral Leadership- ...Our three elders agree that a younger man is needed to take this work into the future. There is a great challenge ahead, but a solid foundation had been laid and there is opportunity for making an impact..."


As my sweet friend from college and I would often say....FREAK OUT! I mean, our heart has been to reach out and minister in a more rural context, there are 3 families here now and 3 more on the way, and the men are desiring to either start a church or revitalize. This may be the place that Lord has for us long term, but regardless, this is where He has us now, and I am thankful. I am more confident of this move just about every day and I am thankful for this small little glimpse of seeing His hand moving us and working through the prayers of His people.

Pray for us. We want to follow the Lord and be a light for Him. We want to impact this area for the glory of the Lord. Pray that we will trust Him through every step of the way. Thank you so much! We are excited to see the way He is already moving, and excited to see what He will do in the future!

Believing that it is all from His hand, 

~Heather