- Work - As most know my previous job ended on May 26...and I left that job without having another job lined up. With having almost 6 months of notice about the conclusion of this position this was not the place I wanted to be in...but it was where God wanted me to be. And while that was hard to understand or see...then - I can look back and praise him for this time. I was able to spend lots of time with family and lots of necessary time preparing for VBS at IBC...as I was the Director this year, and due to different circumstances - I found out this would be my official role in VBS on May 13th...and VBS was to start on June 27th. So needless to say my days weren't wasted...but rather very productive. However, on Tuesday, June 15th I was offered a position in the Credit Department of a large bank headquartered in Cbus. I was so excited...it was the position I was looking for - providing administrative support to two VP's and also using many of my event/meeting planning skills! On Wednesday - I will be with the bank one month and I LOVE IT!! I work in their downtown corporate office, so I've been taking public transportation (which I'm sure will provide the content of future posts!). The two gentlemen that I support are very appreciative of me being their and are very excited to have me join the team. When I took the position, I prayed that God would allow many many opportunities to share Christ with those around me. During my second week - I found out that one of the guys I support is Jewish...that was totally a God thing. So I've recently started reading and do a refresher on the Jewish religion their Holidays and how as a Christian I can demonstrate Christ's love in a non-offensive way. I really just want to be a light to my boss - and use the opportunities God provides...in HIS time. I'm just starting to build a relationship with my boss - so I don't want to do anything that will harm that initial foundation. I know that this isn't going to be a conversion that happens overnight - but I want to be used of God in this situation.
- VBS - VBS went very well this year! I praise the Lord for the wonderful staff, a great group of kids and beautiful weather. We had as many as 71 one night - with 80 total enrolled for the week...most having not connection to IBC!!! We raised $264.16 for our missions project to help children affected by the earthquakes in Haiti and Chili - our goal was $150...those kids amazed me with their generosity! And best part of the week - we had one boy who accepted Christ as his Savior! We are going to start the follow-up process soon...once we have a better understanding of how things are going to run this Fall in our Youth/AWANA programs!
- Pastor Search - As you know the Search Committee met with four candidates for face-to-face interviews in May. We narrowed our selection down to one candidate and we were very excited about the opportunity of having this man and his wife come lead IBC. Well last Sunday (July 18) the candidate and his wife came to IBC...well they actually came on Thursday and met with various groups of people on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Sunday involved him preaching, a Potluck (like any good Baptist church would do!!) and then a round of Q&A. I thought things went very well - but I was honestly concerned about how things would turn out. I had this person as my #1 candidate since I had read his resume in February...but I wasn't sure how the IBC membership would vote. But on Wednesday evening we held a special business meeting to vote. We voted to call the candidate (who's name I will still remain anonymous...as I'm not 100% sure his church is aware, and I would hate to have that news divulged without it coming directly from him), and he accepted our call!!! WOO-WHOOO!! We are so excited to have him join the IBC family and for the possibilities of how God is going to use IBC to reach the Westgate/Hilltop areas!! A confirmed date of his arrival has not yet been announced - but I know that they are hoping to be with us by the start of September...but there is much that needs to happen on their end, like selling a house. Being the "thinker" that I am - I couldn't help but reflect on how IBC had come full circle with process. The Search Committee met for the first time on Sunday, July 26 2009 and on Sunday, July 18 (almost one year later) we had a candidate preaching for us to consider. It's been a rough year - on so many levels and much has changed...but I praise the Lord that through all of that has happened in the last 52 weeks he faithful has remained!
- Family - My Dad's health has been kind of fair over the last several months. It's a big worry on all of us - especially my Mom. But we did receive some good news a couple of weeks ago...the lesion on his vocal cords continues to get smaller and it's not as red - so that was a blessing. We will take the smallest amount of good news we can get. Ashley is progressing along nicely, and is nearing the end of her third trimester...with one month and 10 days from her due date - tomorrow. We are all anticipating the arrival of this new addition and how she will change our lives forever. Hayden moves into the dorms one month from tomorrow - and just this weekend found out who is roommate will be...so that is exciting. He also found out that he has a religion class with another girl at our church who also attends Capital...so that will be good to have a familiar face in the crowd! Kari and the kids just returned from a week at family camp and they LOVED it!!! Everyone else is doing great and just keeping up with all the changes that are occurring in our family, at IBC and just everyday life stuff!
That's the most current news...it could change without notice, nothing seems to stay the same for too long around here...but for now that's the news!
