Today, January 25th, 2013, marks the fifth
anniversary of the day I was hired at Philippi Baptist Church. I wanted to take
a quick minute to reflect back over how my life has changed in these few short
years.
For starters, I’m obviously older and about 65 pounds
heavier than that skinny kid who arrived here on his 23rd birthday.
I’ve become more country, buying my first camo, gun, chainsaw, goat, truck, and
“building,” and frequently burning our trash in the fire pit.
My family has grown by over 1,000 as the people of Philippi
have welcomed us into their large home and hearts. They have fed us (usually
too much, with an emphasis on dessert), loved us, prayed for us, and trusted
our leadership with their most precious members—their children.
My biological family has also increased. I moved here with
Alicia; today it is Alicia and Reagan. That is amazing considering the stark reality that having
children was thought to be unlikely.
While here my wife was diagnosed with a degenerative kidney
disease, but it was also here that a member of our Philippi family chose to
give her one of his kidneys.
I’ve also had the privilege of working for and with the man
who I consider to be the best pastor in America, and working with two other
pastors who are the best at what they do.
While Alicia and I have both missed being away from our
families and where we grew up, Union has become the city we call home. We thank
the Lord for where He has brought us, and while we don’t know what all is in
store for our future, we are very happy in the present. So thank you to
everyone who has been a part of these last 5 years with us, and we hope that
the next five years will bring more blessings.
And just for the record, South Carolina has changed me in
many ways, but it will always be “great to be a Florida Gator!”
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