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Planting a new church is not easy. It takes people of great faith who are willing to take on such a venture.  In my last post (By The Way) I spoke of the big dreams and big hearts of the people who are on our team.  I said,  “Soon you will be introduced to these people who actually said yes and are part of team that pays nothing but has huge expectations.” Today I want  you meet someone who said yes.  His name is Jon and I’m excited that he will be part of the team.  He and his wife Jen will be wonderful additions to the new church we are starting in Richmond.

My name is Jon, and my story is not one of eye-popping surprise. But it is a story of great adventure! I was raised in a Christian family and decided at an early age to follow Jesus. And, though the path didn’t go where I thought it would, God has led me through adventure to exactly where He wants me to be.

I have served as a youth pastor, a senior pastor, a worship pastor and an administrator. I currently serve as a hospital chaplain. There is a thread that runs through each of those positions. People. I LOVE people. I love to see people become what God has created them to be. Why? What’s the attraction? Because God’s plan for us is the best life we can have. I love seeing people living out their best life!

My wife, Jen, and I have 3 sons. Our oldest son, Drew, is a missionary in Brasil. Our 2 younger sons, Aaron & Sam, are students at Milligan College, preparing to study medicine. We have raised them to seek the life God wants for them.

For the past 5 years, I have been praying for the opportunity to help people who are far from God find that life that God wants for them. I am way more than excited to be working with Matt, Carrie & Michael and all our launch team to reach out into Richmond with Great news of the amazing life God wants for each person He has created. This is just another part of the adventure that is my life with God. Please join us in praying for God’s direction and His power!

Hiring staff for this new church has been interesting to say the least.  It’s weird because anyone who has committed their life to the mission of Jesus should salivate at the opportunity to serve in a church whose main focus, really is on reaching people who are far from God no matter the cost.  I really believe that what we are going to do in Richmond will be mind blowing for our community.

When I interview potential candidates the discussion usually contains several parts. At first we just talk about life, passions and experiences.  Then, at some point I ask the candidate to share their story.  I ALWAYS, ALWAYS comment on their story because I believe our story (as it includes God) is one of the most important things we should be able to articulate.  I share what this church will be doing and how it will impact the community.  The candidate usually says, “man, that sounds perfect”!  And I always say, “by the way.”

Now, let me stop for a moment and prepare you for something that I believe you have to really listen to.  If you want to know the heart of these people who are on the team you have to know the story of their committing to this team.

So I say, “by the way…I am not going to pay you anything”.  Stop and soak it in.  You read correctly.  Everyone who joins our staff at this new church has to provide their own source of income.

I have a friend in Florida who is starting a new church and he asked me how I ask people to commit to something so big and then tell them I am not going to pay them anything.  I told him that if your dreams weren’t big enough that you think others would buy into it and raise their own financial support to be a part of it than your dreams are too small.

Soon you will be introduced to these people who actually said yes and are part of team that pays nothing but has huge expectations.  Our dreams for our community are huge and “by the way”, so are the hearts of our staff team.