Eight years ago (July, 2008), my family and I felt God’s call to leave our beloved Main Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, KY to serve in the Campbellsville University School of Theology. I can’t believe it has been 8 years. I still dream about Cincinnati chili and wonder who has claimed my Red’s clergy pass.
During these 8 past years, I have been so honored to serve alongside 7 churches as transitional pastor: Parkway Baptist, Bethany Baptist, Living Grace Church (2xs), Lancaster Baptist, Hurstbourne Baptist, Stanford Baptist, and Monticello First Baptist. We also were invited to do short preaching stints at Pleasant Grove Baptist & Hodgenville Christian.
We had no idea that transitional ministry was going to be God’s plan for us to stay connected in local church ministry all the while teaching full-time in the classroom at CU.
For three years, I traveled the country on the LifeWay Kids VBS training tour and for the past 5 years been a content developer and camp pastor for LifeWay CentriKid Camps. These ministry opportunities still amaze me. I am so unqualified to represent such a top-quality national ministry.
In the School of Theology, I’ve been so blessed to teach amazing students, travel to Israel and Jordan (2xs), Greece, and Turkey, and work with some of the most encouraging people on the planet.
Then, starting in 2015, God opened the door for me to try my hand at academic administration as the Dean of Online Education. Again, I am humbled by the chance to stretch my leadership wings and explore what it means to lead & teach in the Christian university setting.
Over the past 5 years, Jennifer (my beautiful wife and ministry tag-team partner) started, finished and graduated with her Ph.D. in Family Ministry from Southern Seminary and began her teaching career also in the Campbellsville University School of Theology. When we left Main Street 8 years ago, this idea wasn’t even in our wildest dreams.
Most importantly, above all else, both of our handsome, strapping sons have trusted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior and have followed Him in believer’s baptism.
Isaac surrendered to Christ during a worship service at Hurstbourne BC saying during the invitation to his mother, “Momma, I need to be saved.” He was baptized a few weeks later.
Ethan prayed to trust Christ during VBS at Campbellsville BC while his Momma was explaining the Gospel to the children. He was baptized a year later in Monticello FBC.
We praise God for His work in the lives of our sons.
Eight years. 2008-2016. Wow, what a ride.
In a few weeks, we will finish transitional pastorate #8. And the question of “where next” is upon us. But we are holding fast to the GREAT 8:28 from Romans 8:28.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 ESV)
Wherever He leads, we will go knowing that God’s amazing purpose for our lives is for our good.
He has worked. He is working. He will continue to work all things together for our good.
shanegarrison 