The Haircut

One of the things I failed to do this weekend was to ask Tracy to cut my hair before I went to the conference office to record my three minute message for annual conference.  So this morning, I took it upon myself to drive up to Wylie to find a new place to get a haircut.  I knew that "barber shops" are a good place to talk to people and I wanted to use this moment to talk about the new church start and also just to get to know more people in the Wylie area.


I pulled up to the Great Clips at FM 544 and 78 and walked into an empty store wondering where the employees were.  From the back room in the store, a short middle aged Asian woman walks in and invites me to sit in her barber chair and she quickly went to work with her razor with the number 2 guard on it.


The conversation was slow at first, just some pleasantries, talking about the massive amount of rain, hail, thunder and lightening that just went through the area. To how long have you been cutting hair, etc., etc. 


Then the question came. She asked, "What do you do?" I took the opportunity to share that I was moving into the area to start a new church either in south Wylie or north Rowlett, starting in July of this year. She talked about attending First Baptist Garland and was genuinely excited about a new church coming to the area.  I asked questions about what she liked about church and listened as she finished up the hair cut and took the apron off of me.


We walked over to the cash register and I put down my credit card for her to swipe. When the receipt was handed to me, I scribbled down a $5.00 tip for her as a thank you for the wonderful job and great conversation we had.  She looked at me and told me to ignore the $5.00 tip because she wanted me to place that $5.00 in the offering plate when I held the first worship service at the new church.


I know that every conversation I will have about the new church start won't end as positive as this one, however, it was nice to have a moment where I was encouraged by a stranger as I started this journey of faith.


I'm looking forward to that Sunday, where I can take the five dollars I received today and use that gift to help grow a church that will connect people to the living Christ so they can share Christ's love with others.

Video Recording for Annual Conference

Bishop Bledsoe and members of the North Texas Annual Conference, it is a blessing to be standing here today as I prepare to be ordained as an Elder in full connection in this Annual Conference. Eleven years ago, I started on this journey toward ordained ministry at Perkins School of Theology with the hope and dream of this moment. Over those eleven years, the congregations of First United Methodist Church in Gainesville and Grace United Methodist Church in Sherman have helped me develop as a student, candidate and provisional member of the Annual Conference. With their participation and the strong leadership of colleagues like Joe Pool, Roy Spore, Mary Beth Hardesty-Crouch, Mike Haynes, Keith Head and Tommy Brumett, I have learned valuable lessons in ministry, some of which include how to present a creative and clear presentation of the Gospel, how to live out a ministry with integrity, and how to partner with laity to reach out to the local community and the world. Each lesson built and solidified my hope and dream of becoming an elder.

Of course, I am extremely thankful for the love and support I have received from my family, especially my wife Tracy and our children Deborah, Timothy and Jacob. You have stood beside me in both joyous and difficult times and you have always game me daily encouragement. I love you all.

As I complete this chapter in my journey, I know that the work God has before me and this annual conference is far from over.  With the dream of ordination coming to fruition, more hopes and dreams take its place as I continue on this journey of faith.

First, as we continue to figure out how we can best equip clergy and laity for the task of Making Disciples for the transformation of the world, my hope is that we don’t surrender our devotion to our First Love, Jesus Christ. While we continue to seek to be an effective witness to the Gospel, we must continue to seek the will and way of Jesus Christ even when that way is difficult and filled with trials.  We must always seek the guidance of Christ.

Second, I hope that as we continue to align ourselves to the four areas of focus set out by our Bishops, let us grasp hold of the promise that God gave Joshua shortly after he took leadership of the nation of Israel as they prepared to march into the promise land. Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” As Joshua was called to lead the Israelites into an unfamiliar land, God called on him to be strong and courageous and to know that God was before God’s people as they moved into this new land.

Members of the North Texas conference, God is calling us as Christ’s church to move forward, with strength and courage as we continue to explore new ministries, developing new leaders, while ministering to the poor, sick and marginalized.  When we do this, we have that same assurance from God, that God will be with us, wherever we go. May we move ahead in faith, knowing that God moves before us as we reach out to share a living Christ with a hurt and broken world. Thank you.

Intercessory Prayer Team

I just finished reading a book by Jim Griffith and Bill Easum titled Ten Most Common Mistakes made by New Church Starts. This book was given to me by Jim Ozier who is the Director of the North Texas Conference's New Church Development Center.


As I read through this book, I took a lot of great notes and have already started to implement some of the suggestions supplied by Griffith and Easum.  One of the most important implementations had to do with prayer.  When I first met with Jim, I started to do prayer drives. Almost every morning on my way to Sherman, I drive through the mission field praying for the community. This is what the community looks like.

As of right now, the target area is located at 544 and Alanis Dr. in Wylie, Tx. (top marker). First Rowlett has also identified a place that is in the Waterview area. (bottom marker). I have been driving, praying and talking to people in this area and I'm already feeling a connection to this location.

The second implementation started to take shape today.  Griffith and Easum talked about Spiritual Warfare. Because this is a church plant that will connect people with Jesus Christ, Satan will be working hard against it. They write, "You'll find yourself confronted on every level -- culturally, spiritually, theologically, and politically." Then they make this distinction. " The opposition isn't about you the planter -- it's about the Kingdom. you must never blink! Remember, 'Perfect love drives out fear' (1 John 4:18). Your role is to prepare for it so it doesn't take you by surprise." (Griffith and Easum page 18-19 italics mine)

Their recommendation is to set up an intercessory prayer team. I am already impressed that First Rowlett takes prayer seriously and I am doing my part to make sure prayer is an important aspect of this plant.  They stress that the intercessory prayer team shouldn't be connected to the church plant so I can share my heart and concerns openly with this team.  I have identified four people (for now) for this prayer team and I have had confirmation from three of them.  Here is the story.

I had a woman from Grace UMC already in mind when I went to church this morning. I tried to talk to her between services and was interrupted by another member and told her I would talk to her following late service.  After the late service I walked up to her and she was standing next to another woman who I knew believed in the power of prayer.  I asked both of them if they would like to be a part of my intercessory prayer team.  They both said yes and I asked them to go ahead and start praying, their answer... We already have been praying for you.  As we were wrapping up our conversation, I saw another woman who is a prayer warrior and I asked her if she would be on my prayer team.  Without hesitation, she said yes with tears running down her cheeks because I asked her to be a part of this special ministry.  Once again I asked her to start praying for me... her answer... I already have been praying for you.  I don't think I could have asked for more perfect people to be a part of this special ministry. 

I have absolutely felt God's hand as I drive around the mission area and as I set up this prayer team. I know that God has great things in store for this church plant and I'm looking forward to this great adventure.

Thanks be to God!

New Appointment... New Church

It's been over a month since I passed my P&Q interview. In this past month a lot has happened. I have had the blessing to celebrate my passing with my Lay Teaching Committee, I have baptized two infants, and I have received my new appointment.


I've been relatively silent about the new appointment because it has taken a few weeks for the appointment to become official (as official as it can until the Bishop reads the appointments on the last day of Annual Conference on June 7). Officially, the new appointment won't take place until July 1.


My new appointment... I will be an Associate Pastor/Church Planter at FUMC Rowlett. My task will be to start a new United Methodist Church in the North Rowlett/South East Wylie, Texas area. My family is excited about this new opportunity and I'm excited to move into a new area and share Christ with new people.


As I think about the church plant. I wanted to set down some preliminary (vision points) for the new church. (In future post, I will elaborate on these "vision points")

1. I want those involved in the new church to live out "The Great Commandment"
“You must love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole being, and with your whole mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” Matthew 22:37-40 CEB


2. I want the new church to be serious and intentional about prayer.


3. I want the new church to see "The Great Commission" as our primary task.
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” Matthew 28: 19-20 CEB


This is my first stab at what I would like my church to be. I know that the most important aspect about this new church is that I know the community. I am looking forward to getting to know the community of North Rowlett/Southeast Wylie and seeing where Christ is already at work in peoples lives and help develop relationships with Jesus Christ.