MADMINISTER.COM

Last night, I announced that I would be making a move from Rittenhouse Baptist Church (the Northside of Houston) to Willow Meadows Baptist Church, located in Southwest Houston.

It has been a decision that has been the subject of much prayer and thought over the past few months (I actually first met with Gary Long about it in late-October of 2005) and though I will greatly miss the friends and family at Rittenhouse, I am looking forward and am greatly excited about this new opportunity at Willow Meadows.

I was first made aware of the need for a Next Generation Pastor at Willow Meadows Baptist Church by a good friend of mine, Karen Campbell, at the Union Baptist Association. She told me that I needed to connect with a pastor friend of hers named Gary Long. She said that his church was searching for a youth guy and that she would be interested in seeing how a meeting of the minds between he and I played out.

We met and hung out, very informally, and we had opportunity to connect. It went well and the process continued. Now, before I continue, there is something I must let you know. When I first came to Rittenhouse Baptist Church, God very clearly and very smoothly moved me from a place of initial unwillingness into a place of peaceful acceptance. In much the same way now, I have gone from initially not wanting to leave the church I was currently in to accepting that sometimes, much like in the game of chess, the "Grand Master" must move pieces around the board in order to accomplish his longer-term strategy. Sometimes, the Grand Master leaves a piece in a certain spot for a long time. Sometimes, He has to move a piece only a couple of spots away and sometimes, He has to move a piece all the way across the board.

As the process continued, I began to realize that there was a good chance that God was providing for me a new opportunity and that this was something I needed to pursue. As with every other decision at a Baptist church, it was a lengthy process and, as always, was - near the end - something that I feel God has His hand on.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Rittenhouse and will look back on my time there with a heart-felt fondness. At the same time, I look towards my time at Willow Meadows Baptist Church with a mixture of genuine excitement and anticipation (and hey, a little bit of nervousness mixed in for seasoning).

I firmly believe in the vision of Willow Meadows Baptist Church, which is to be an "other-directed," covenantal community of Christians that dares to aid God in transforming Southwest Houston into a place more like the Kingdom of God. I am and have been someone deeply interested and invested in seeing God transform Houston into a place that looks more like His kingdom. I am and continue to be a follower of Christ who is passionate about partnering with churches that are serious about impacting and reaching out to their communities. Additionally, I am passionate about a church that desires to support and uplift its student ministry in the ways in which Willow Meadows has committed to do.

I am excited about the future and appreciative of the past as I transition into a new season of ministry. For those prayer warriors who may be reading this entry, please be in prayer for me as I move through this transition. Please keep Rittenhouse in your prayers as they begin seeking God's providence in bringing a new youth worker and then continue to pray for the church family at Willow Meadows as preparations continue for the arrival of their new Next Generation Pastor.

Blessings,

C-Los