In spring of 2006, God began to do his stuff again in the lives of the Calloways. He extended an invitation to my family and myself in a whole different direction from what we have been used to. It is the invitation to become church planters. The invitation came to us by way of Brad Graves, a friend who has been part of the Southern Baptist church launching initiative in Cleveland, Ohio. Julie, Brad, and myself were at lunch one day when Brad asks us to consider planting a church in the community that is adjacent to the one we live in. Talk about being unprepared for an invitation, we were totally unprepared for this one. I had been assessed as a church planter several years ago, but nothing transpired from that experience and I have always wondered why. Now I know. God was preparing us to launch this new church, Bridge Church at Perry (www.thebridge4u.net).
I believe that as we go through the seasons of our lives, our calling can and will change. What we were once passionate about will probably not be our passion in five or ten years from now. At this time in our life we are looking forward with excited anticipation of what lies in store for us as we accept God’s invitation to this new calling. Friend and mentor, T.D. Hooker of Norris, Tennessee, once told me, “When God opens a door, investigate it and see what he is doing.” I have learned to be sensitive to God and try to use what discernment I do have to distinguish between God’s invitation and my own desires, which originate from sinful flesh. My desires are always wrong and foolish when I compare them to God’s desires. In all matters of me versus God, God is right every time. I am a loser!
If Julie and I had not been open to God’s invitation to follow him in this new adventure of launching Bridge Church, would we have been disobedient? If God offers an invitation, I can only assume that he wants us to answer in the affirmative. It is my heart’s desire to please God and bring joy to him through my life. I realize that there are many times that I stumble in my relationship with Jesus that doesn’t being him joy. That is what makes a calling from God so special, I screw it up, but he still keeps inviting and it’s all because I am willing to say yes.
At this writing we have not yet launched Bridge Church and are in the pre-launch stages of the launch. This has been a step of faith for us. Through this new adventure I am learning to trust and rely on Christ more every day.
FYI – Perry is a small bedroom community in Lake County, which is referred to as part of the eastern suburbs of Cleveland.