Why I’m planting a church with Pastor Barry & Pastor Roger

From our first days together, Cyndi and I felt like God has always called us to something far greater than ourselves.  Even back when we were just friends we started writing children’s musicals and directing children’s choir together; we were just starting to see that God was knitting us together to something greater than we could imagine.  God’s call on our life was ultimately to plant a church.  As we now see this dream becoming a reality, we are filled with excitement and awe at this God-sized task and journey before us.  We know that this is not an easy path but we are confident that we are exactly where God wants us to be and are doing exactly what His has purposed us to do.

For the past nine years we’ve had the privilege of being in full time ministry.  During this time God has stretched and developed us in so many great ways.  We’ve also learned to believe in the hope that the local church can offer.  These past nine years have prepared and equipped us for this time in our life.  We are thankful for that time of learning and growing and will always look back with fondness on our years during that time.

One of the greatest friends, mentors, and partners in our lives are Pastor Barry and Treche Phipps.  They have helped us grow in every area of our lives and have poured into us like no one else ever has.  We consider them family and even our kids call them “Uncle Barry” and “Auntie Treche.”  Back in 1994 God began to forge a partnership in our lives with the Phipps family.  Serving as a volunteer in youth ministry, I had the privilege of seeing God use Pastor Barry to grow one of the largest youth groups on the east coast.  Lives were touched, families were saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit, and teens were called and commissioned into full time ministry.  That God would again knit our hearts together in a common purpose shows His kingdom view for our lives.

I consider it a high privilege to once again be called to serve under the leadership of Pastor Barry Phipps.  That God has also called our lifelong friends Pastor Roger and Lisa Coles to this work continues to show God’s wisdom and long term view for this ministry.  Cyndi and I have seen that a church can truly change lives and redeem a community.  We are inspired by our past to look ahead to God’s future plans for our lives.

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~ by Marc Romero on September 13, 2009.