Family and Ministry

The past month has been a whirlwind of activity and emotion in our lives. So much so that I am not sure I can recall everything that statement encompasses, but I will try to share as best I can.

Last night, Katie and I returned from Greenville, SC, where we mourned the loss of one of my cousins who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 27 last Wednesday evening. We want to thank you all for your prayers and financial support; without which that trip would not have been possible. 

I am thankful for my extended family and treasure the memories I have of visits characterized by laughter, stories, music, and love. Recently, our gatherings have been occasions of either great joy or great sorrow, and I miss those earlier gatherings that were sprinkled in between, but we still all do our best to protect that laughter, those stories, and our love for each other.

One of the tragic ironies in ministry is that you often end up being absent during times of trial and loss in your own family while attending to tragedy and loss in the lives of those you minister to. After unavoidably missing several family funerals and celebrations, Katie and I have both decided to do our absolute best to be present for our families, and we are both thankful we could be there this weekend. This is another aspect of why the message of the Father’s love is so important to us. It is, in our view, central to not only having a healthy identity in Christ, but a healthy family - immediate and extended. For those who have experienced the loss of a loved one, you know how empty words often sound, but how powerful simply being present can be. 

 God spoke to me this weekend not only about family and the brevity and fragility of life, but about the urgency and importance of what He has called us all to as ambassadors of His great love to the lost and hurting. This leads me to the last thing I will mention for now. For the past six months or so, we have been house-hunting,and for the past month we have been in the process of purchasing a home. If all proceeds well, our closing date is August 31st. We both see this as a step that will further propel our work with Shiloh Place and as worship leaders and songwriters. We will soon have a space to show hospitality and to express and develop creativity that we pray will be used to comfort, encourage, and give hope. This is exciting and has been a dream of ours ever since we began our journey together. We are thankful to have each of you along with us and covet your continued prayers and financial support as we press further into what we believe God has for us and for Shiloh Place.

 God bless!
Chip

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