End of Year 2012

Last year I started a new tradition of posting a recap of the previous year. I also like to write down what I expect to happen in the next year. I think its a good way to reflect and set goals. I want to say thank you to all those who have been there for me this year. I have great friends, family, and "extended" family all over the place!



School / Ordination
-Passed the Bible Content Ordination exam in February

-Finished 9 graduate classes: Early Church History, Speech, Exegetical Ephesians, Foundations of Youth Ministry, Theology and Culture, Islam, Modern Church History, Presbyterian History, Pastoral Counseling

-Went to 3 seminars: "Understanding Teenagers", "Leadership Essentials" and "Youth Evangelism"

-Became an official candidate for ordination with the PCUSA with the presbytery of Tampa Bay on September 27th

-Applied for 18 scholarships and received a little over $8,000


Field Education in New Church Development
-To finish my Masters of Divinity degree I have to do 35 hours a week of Field Education for 3 quarters. Over the next year I will be an intern in an exciting New Church Development that is happening in the Conejo Valley, CA. My boss/friend Rob Douglas has been called to plant a missional church in partnership with the San Fernando Presbytery and the church I work at (Westminster Presbyterian).

-Here is a video Rob and I created to help explain the new church.


Job Accomplishments / Developments
-This isn’t a huge accomplishment but it is one I am proud of. After several years of work I was able to help get our churches website updated. Check it out here. (www.wpcwestlake.org)

-Right now I am the Associate Director of Student Ministries at WPC. I will transition from Associate Director to the Director of Student Ministries in June 2013 (the current director is planting the new church I mentioned above). I plan to be ordained and finished with grad school by May 2014. At that point I hope to move from Director to Associate Pastor.

-Over the last 3 years I have been in conversation about the possibility of establishing Young Life in the Conejo Valley. (an outreach ministry for youth and college students that I worked with in Florida.) After a lot of prayer, emails, meetings, etc. we finally had a “friend-raiser” on Nov. 28th at a house in Lake Sherwood during the Tiger Woods golf event. There were several church leaders from the Conejo Valley, potential committee members, and supporters. We ate breakfast and heard the vision for YL in the Conejo Valley from the Los Angeles Regional Director. A generous donor bought tickets to the Tiger Woods tournament for any who were interested. We are planning another meeting in January. Our goal is to develop a committee, raise funds, and eventually hire an Area Director.  Contact me if you are interested in learning more about Young Life in the Conejo Valley. 


Sermons
-Westminster Presbyterian Church on May 29th - “Take The Road To Emmaus” -video
-Westminster Presbyterian Church on July 8th  -"Can These Dry Bones Live?"
-First Presbyterian Church of Dunedin on September 39 - “Wandering From The Truth”- audio only

Trips:
-Park City Utah Ski Trip with Florida friends in March
-Backpacking to Sespe Hot Springs in July
-Mission Trip to West Virginia working with New Vision Renewable Energy.
See the promotional video I made for their mission trips here.
-Jake and Ashley Higgins’ Wedding in August followed by 2 weeks with family in NC
-Florida in September for meeting with Presbytery (to become candidate for ordination).
-NC with family for last 2 weeks of 2012

2013
It was interesting to read my end of year blog from 2011 (below). I wrote “I have a feeling this year won’t be as eventful as 2011 in terms of job/school changes.” I was right about school going as planned but my job and ministry has changed significantly. I am always amazed at how God works. I’m especially humbled by the fact that God is using me to do things even though I make a lot of mistakes! I have discovered that it isn’t a question of whether God’s plan is going to happen but whether I am going to be a part of that plan.

This year I hope to help reach my community with the message of Jesus and gather meaningful experiences - with the New Church Development I mentioned above, by moving forward with establishing a Young Life area, and in the way I live. I hope to take at least 9 more graduate classes and finish my field education. I would like to go on another backpacking trip, learn to snowboard, and ride my mountain bike a lot more. More than anything, I want to be a better son, brother, friend, and neighbor to all those I meet.