A Personal Journey

Here's the answer to the oft-asked question: What am I going to do now that I've graduated from seminary?

Here's the short answer: I will be staying in the Kansas City area for about a year, continuing to work at Nazarene Headquarters through next summer's General Assembly and Conventions. Then I will begin a missionary assignment in Romania with the Church of the Nazarene.


And here's the long answer:

Over the past few years, God has been expanding my limited perspective to see more of His vision for mission. I'm sure that there's still much to be unveiled, but here's a bit of the journey I've experienced.

I have already spent over a year and a half in Sighişoara, Romania, which one of the reasons I have wanted to return there. Throughout my four years at seminary, I felt God reminding me not to be too confident in my own plans. "The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will be established." (Proverbs 19:21) I felt that God was preparing me for something I did not yet see, and I had to be willing to go wherever He called. Photo: Panoramic view of Sighişoara, Romania

Then one day, it made sense. Scott Meador, the Nazarene missionary in Romania serving as district superintendent, asked if I would be willing to serve with the district office in Bucharest, Romania, instead of in Sighişoara. This would not have been my first choice if God had not been preparing my heart to be obedient wherever He calls. If Bucharest is where I can best serve the Church, then I'm all for it! Thank you God for preparing my heart to be always obedient to your will, and thank you for allowing me to serve in the country that I have come to love so much. "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)

Over the past year, I have been considering what the best time would be to begin this assignment. The most likely time would be in January 2009. Then on the plane ride home at Christmas, I felt God preparing my heart that maybe I should wait until summer 2009. I could then work and save money to pay for school loans while I'm in Romania. Then about a month ago, the Meadors asked me to postpone the beginning of my assignment until after General Assembly and the end of their home assignment next spring, as this timing would work best for the church there. Thank you, God, for Your perfect timing.

In the next few months, I will begin working on certain aspects of my ministry assignment, even though I am still in the U.S. First, I can begin studying the language. I am somewhat conversant in Romanian, but it's been 4 years since I've been there, so I'm a bit rusty. Nothing like reviewing grammar and adding to my vocabulary. Second, I am going to begin developing a website for the Church of the Nazarene in Romania. Third, I am going to find and prepare materials to train Romanians for Christian education and discipleship ministries.

I will continue working at Nazarene Headquarters in the Sunday School & Discipleship Ministries International (SDMI) department through the transition to the Global Ministry Center this fall and General Assembly and Conventions next summer. Since this is a part-time job, I will probably be adding another part-time job to my schedule for a few hours a week.

I also hope to soon start setting up some appointments to speak in churches. I will need to raise all of my support as a Nazarene Mission Corps missionary - about $8,000 per year, not including personal expenses. Please visit the new website just about my Mission Corps assignment.

So that's the journey I'm on. It's where I've been, where I am, and where God's leading me. Thank you for letting me share my journey with you.