Picture this. . .

A unanimous call to the pastorate

On Sunday, February 24, Berean Baptist Church of Pioche, NV unanimously called Mitch as their pastor! We were able to stay in the church parsonage (above right) for the last six days so that we could learn more about the church, get to know church members, and explore the community and the surrounding area. We found Berean to be a wonderful church with loving people. It was just an incredible trip! We took over 100 pictures and will unveil many of these on the blog in the days ahead. We'll also post forthcoming details about our move. For now, please pray for our trailer to sell quickly and for final decisions to be made about Jane's replacement at work.

Thank you for your faithful prayers for us during this time of finding the church God intended for Mitch to pastor. We feel overwhelmingly blessed with the way God orchestrated this call and brought a unanimous decision! And we are excited to get to Pioche and get busy!

We'll keep you posted.

It's been fun!

As we wait for the Lord to open the door for a pastorate, we know that we are nearing the end of a chapter in our lives--the seminary years. We moved here in January 2003, just a few weeks after Nicole had turned 3. Now she's 8 and we have five years of memories. It's been fun!

Nevada

Some of you may know that Berean Baptist Church in Pioche, NV called a couple of weeks ago in response to the resume Mitch had sent. As requested shortly after that initial call, we sent a video of Mitch and have since been praying and waiting.

Today we received a call from the church! They have asked Mitch to preach on Sunday, February 24 in view of a call. To get better acquainted with us before they vote, they will fly us out on Wednesday, February 20. We'll spend time with church members, have a question-answer session on Saturday, and then Mitch will preach on Sunday with a church vote to follow. On Monday, February 25 we can further explore the area. We'll fly back on Tuesday afternoon.

This is very exciting for us! PRAY! Pray that the Lord will clearly reveal His will to us and to this body of believers. Pray for Mitch as he prepares his message.

We'll keep you posted!

Boxes

In anticipation of a move from "graduate-awaiting-a-call" to "pastor," we have begun collecting moving boxes. Whether this is a smart thing given that we started the collection in October and that we live in a small two-bedroom trailer is debatable. Where does a person store a bunch of boxes until "the call" comes? Well, we chose our garden tub!

Admitedly, this is an eyesore! The mountain of boxes is also a constant reminder that we have received no call to cause us to begin packing. This is part of the debate as to whether the collection was a wise idea.

Do you think Abraham and Sarah (or then "Abram" and "Sarai") began preparing the nursery and knitting booties when God first revealed His promise to make Abraham the father of many nations? Abraham waited nearly 25 years to learn just exactly how God planned to fulfill this promise. If he had been a box collector over those years, he would have needed a bigger tent.

Would you pray for us? We know the Lord has not promised to make Mitch the father of many nations and that our wait has been overwhelmingly short of Abraham's. Nonetheless, we find ourselves struggling. Mitch thought he'd be pastoring by now. However, he has once again needed to take a janitorial job as we wait.

Help us, Lord, to be reminded that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Help us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.