You want me to do WHAT??

I am a Family Life Pastor (that title is new - I am a Children's Pastor who is also now over Life Groups so the name change better fits the responsibilities involved). I teach elementary aged children on Sunday mornings each week and administrate all things Children's Ministry for birth - 5th grade. This is where I have experience. This is where I am comfortable. Well - God didn't call us to be comfortable. He has made that abundantly clear. :)

About a year ago we felt called to more... We were living a life in ministry but it was time to grow - and to go. So we moved to San Antonio. We knew God was calling us out of our comfort zone and it was! (and still is) I thought He was done. I thought - OK God - this is REALLY uncomfortable! We moved away from our family and friends, our church home, and the city that we both grew up in. I figured - the move was the uncomfortable part... we would live here for a couple of years until it became too comfy and then God would call us somewhere else. That was good. That was enough growth... for me... but God has different plans!

Since we have been here God CONTINUALLY calls me out of my "zone". And this last one was a doozy! A couple of weeks ago I received an email from my senior pastor informing me that I would be filling in for him August 7th while he was out of town. Filling in. Hmmmm. Does he mean I need to pick up the donuts on my way to church?? Yes and no. While I was needed for donut duty that wasn't exactly what he meant. He was letting me know that I would be preaching in his place. Did I mention... I am a CHILDREN'S PASTOR?? I teach kiddos about God's love and living a life that follows Jesus. I am not a preacher. I am not a lead pastor/communicator. I have never done this. I haven't even taken classes about how to do this. However, this is all good news.

Although I tried ignoring the e-mail it didn't go away. It's hard to ignore/hide from your boss - especially when his office is next to yours AND he lives across the street! So there was no running from this. You see - God knows me. God knows that I need to be pushed. If I had the option I would have opted out. I would not have made this decision based on what God could do - but on what I couldn't do. But God - (nor Pastor Matt) - wouldn't let me. And for that I am SO thankful.