One Year Ago...

Right before school started in August of 2008, Trena and I had a startling and unexpected experience.  We felt like God was calling us to plant a church in Colorado!  We were awe-struck.  We were scared.  We were unsure.  So we prayed...ALOT!  We prayed that if God wanted us to do this, that he would make it clear, that he would provide the way, and that he would sustain us along the way.

After a month of prayer we believed even stronger that God was calling us to plant in Colorado.  At Trena's suggestion I had spent hours researching church planting online.  I found a conference for prospective church planters in...get this...Colorado Springs on September 23-24, 2009.  I booked it and, when I stepped on the plane one year ago today, I had no idea what was about to happen. 

The conference was encouraging and exciting, and some of it was absolutely scary. But at the end of the two days I had what I have only been able to describe as an upwelling from within.  I had no choice but to follow the Lord's call.  I was a church planter!  That is when I sent the following text to my wife and 3 trusted friends who knew what we were wrestling with:

"Today Elevation Church of Colorado has been conceived.  I don't know the gestation period but I am looking forward expectantly and excitedly to the birth.  More to come soon!"

I would not have guessed the gestation would be as long as it has been.  I still don't know when the vision will become reality, but I know who does and that gives me great confidence and comfort as we continue to stay the course.  The past year has been an amazing journey.  I could never have dreamed that God had all this in store.  I want to share the journey and all its meant to us so far.  So over the next couple of weeks I'll be opening my journal and blogging some of the highs and lows, sharing what I've learned and am learning about church planting and life.  I will look back on what has happened, report on what is happening now, and project forward as we dream about the future of Elevation Church of Colorado.