Sovereign - part 1

This blog entry was written as a testimony to God's sovereign, specific, and gracious hand of direction and blessing, “...to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6). To God (and Him alone) be the glory.

The details I'm about to share with you did not initially seem to fit together, thus forming a "big picture" reality. But as we prayed, sought the face of God, read the Scriptures, recounted and recorded God's hand of blessing in our lives, and waited, eventually God began to help us step back from the tapestry...a tapestry that He was weaving...to see the mastery of His artistry. One warning...this is a long blog entry. You might want to grab a cup of coffee to enjoy as you read.

Fall of 2005 - I discovered Sovereign Grace Music and began incorporating much of their music into worship at IBC. It is the most theologically rich and spiritually uplifting source for worship music that I have ever found.

May, 2006 - On the way home from a trip I stopped in at Crossway books in Wheaton, IL to visit their facility and check out their bookstore. The main reason I was there was to look at various bindings for their line of ESV Bibles (which I've used since 2003). Geoffrey Dennis, a VP for Crossway, met me in the entryway and we spent a few minutes getting to know one another. After discussing our lives and ministries, he asked me if I had ever heard of "Together for the Gospel" (a pastor’s conference that began in 2006 and is scheduled to take place every other year). I had not. So, having recently attended the first conference, he proceeded to share conference highlights and then he insisted that I go home and pay to download all of the conference messages...especially one by John Piper. Geoffrey kindly gifted me with a copy of their Children's ESV Bible (which we now use with our girls on a daily basis). This visit would prove to be a pivotal detail in God's sovereign plan to redirect my path.

May 2006 - I take Geoffrey Dennis' suggestion and listen to John Piper's message entitled, "Why Expository Preaching is Particularly Glorifying to God". As I listened to that message, I felt as if God were grabbing me by the collar and summoning me to preach the Word of God. Due to current family and church circumstances, it was obvious that transitioning into such a role would not be immediate. However, during the next two years, I was given several opportunities to preach.

June through December 2007 - With the help of IBC's leadership team, we evaluated my role on staff at IBC (examining my gifts, strengths, weaknesses, calling, etc.)

August 2007 - I was flown to the Washington D.C. area to take wedding pictures for some friends who used to attend IBC in Wausau. After the wedding on Saturday, I looked for a church to attend in the area. The wedding (and hotel booked for us) was in Maryland, so I decided to visit Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, MD (just a few miles away). This is the church where Sovereign Grace Ministries was started by C.J. Mahaney. Their new senior pastor Josh Harris preached that day. It’s not often that a pastor gets to participate in worship without providing leadership. During the church meeting I wept like a baby and found it to be the most powerfully moving Sunday morning I could remember experiencing. That morning I also purchased the four booklets in their "Perspectives" series and began reading them, feeling like I needed to be more deliberate about discovering what God was doing within Sovereign Grace.

Fall 2007 - Pastor Dan Sterken (our Youth/Christian Education pastor) and I registered for the “Together for the Gospel” conference (to be held in April 2008).

December 18, 2007 - Having received much godly counsel, I made the decision to begin pursuit of other ministry options with a view to preach.

December 19, 2007 – The day after making that decision, the front page of our local newspaper reported that the University across the street from our house was developing plans to potentially expand their campus Eastward, necessitating the purchase of all homes on our block. It was as if God were saying, “I’m going to move you, but before you even begin to worry about selling your house, I’ll take care of that for you.”

January 2008 - I prepared a resume with a view to pursue a preaching position in a church. Later in the month I revised the resume with a view to pursuing another worship leader position, doubting my readiness to serve as a preaching pastor. This was partly due to one of the Sovereign Grace "Perspectives" booklets regarding God's call to a preaching ministry. God was making it clear to me that I needed to shore up some weaknesses, acquire additional pastoral training, and receive clear affirmation from a body of believers regarding His call upon my life. About this time I came across a blog by Tony Reinke who provided a link to a podcast featuring the teaching of Pastor Rick Gamache. I subscribed and began listening to a series he was team-teaching on Hebrews.

February 24, 2008 - I interviewed for a worship leader position at a church plant in St. Louis, MO. The weekend was very positive, and we received much affirmation regarding that role. However, the Sr. Pastor indicated that he was hesitant to hire me for that position because he sensed within me a stronger giftedness, passion, and "anointing" from God for becoming a preaching pastor. He said that he didn't want to discourage me from worship, but encourage me towards preaching. This, he said, was based on numerous observations he made of me from the moment he received my cover letter through the time I gave leadership in their church service. We thanked God for such a sweet and positive experience there. Should I have been surprised that their church office is located on a road named "Sovereign Court". Interesting!

February 27, 2008 – I read a recently delivered issue of Discipleship Journal. It’s cover story: “Invitation to Adventure: What Happens When We Say ‘Yes’ to God”. This article was very encouraging, challenging, and quite applicable to my situation.

February 29, 2008 - In my quiet time that morning I was yearning for a definitive confirmation regarding God’s direction for my future ministry. After reading some Scriptures, I felt God prompting me to write out, on paper, some of the significant ways He had blessed and directed my life…beginning with the day I believed the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

On that day, July 24, 1986, I recognized that Jesus Christ died on a cross to pay the penalty for my sins, took my place on that cross, willingly shed his own flesh and blood on my behalf, and satisfied God the Father’s righteous demand for a blood sacrifice to pay the penalty for my sin. At that moment I confessed and repented of my sins, transferred my trust to Jesus Christ alone, and prayed to thank God for His gracious gift of eternal life. This was the summer between 9th and 10th grade and I was about to begin high school.

Up to that day, I had been virtually the worst trumpet player in my grade and was a socially awkward, unpopular kid to boot. One month after trusting Christ for eternal life, I joined the high school band in which they combined all of the high school musicians into one group. After chair tests (where the director determines your skill level) I was awarded the 1st chair position and was given the title "trumpet section leader". I had never led anything in my life. Interesting! That same fall I joined the speech team and won my first several speech meets. Interesting!

My musical achievements earned me a one-year scholarship to Bible College. During my freshman year of college I met my future wife (Heather), sensed God calling me into full-time ministry, preached my first sermon, and traveled as a representative for the school, singing and preaching. Prior to February 29, 2008 I had never discerned the significance of these two paths of blessing…music and speaking/preaching. As I continued to grow in Christ, He opened up more and more doors to serve him in both of these areas.

In 2006 a new pattern began to emerge…rapidly growing passion and opportunities for preaching the Word of God, song-writing, and boldly sharing the gospel with all those I met. Another pattern began to emerge...an ever-increasing exposure to Sovereign Grace Ministries. In fact, sensing something very special about SGM, I drew a circle around that name on my paper, then put my pen down. I then decided to go on the SGM website and look into how I might attend their Pastor's College (a 9-month program designed to equip pastors and laypeople). In my e-mail to SGM I shared my story and what God had been impressing upon me. After sending the e-mail, the SGM website encouraged me to reach out to a SG church and pastor to begin dialog. Looking at the map of SG churches, I noticed that the two closest to me were in Minnesota. I'm not sure why I chose the second church listed, but I did. It was Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Bloomington, MN.

So, I called the church and was directed to leave a voicemail for the Senior Pastor. It was then that I realized that this was the church whose podcast I had begun listening to back in January. Interesting! That afternoon I received an e-mail from Senior Pastor Rick Gamache indicating that not only had he received my voicemail, but he had also received an e-mail message from me which was forwarded to him by Sovereign Grace Ministries in Maryland. As it turns out, he is the appointed pastor to follow up with inquiries from Wisconsin. Interesting! Through e-mail correspondence we scheduled a phone appointment for March 5, 2008.

March 2, 2008 - On the way to church early that morning, I had a strong sense that God was asking me, "Well Roger, are you going to obey me or take the easy route? Will you trust me to lead you to the place and role of my choosing?" I remember saying, out loud to God, "Yes God, I will obey. I will do whatever you want me to do and go wherever you want me to go. I will do it. I promise that I will do it." Later that afternoon I was driving with my wife Heather to a pastoral "installation service" for my good friend, Jon Payne. On the way there I told her about my conversation with God earlier that morning. During the installation service the visiting speaker introduced his message by saying "My challenge to you, from God's Word, can be summarized in just three words...PREACH THE WORD." Although the message was directed at "Brother Jon", God was powerfully speaking to me. It wasn’t until later that Heather and I connected the “God conversation” that morning with the “Preach the Word” message heard that afternoon. Interesting!

March 5, 2008 - Rick Gamache (of Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Bloomington) and I spent over an hour in great conversation about life, ministry, SGF's history, etc. During our time on the phone he shared details regarding his call to serve as Senior Pastor of Grace Church of Richfield (as it had been named since its beginning in 1985). Prior to pastoring this church he had worked for John Piper with Desiring God Ministries. Interesting! The more he spoke about Grace Church of Richfield, that church name sounded vaguely familiar. When I inquired about the first pastor who helped plant that church, he revealed that it was James F. Engle. When Rick said, "James Engle", I just started laughing. Rick asked me if I knew him and I said, "Yes. He's my Senior Pastor here in Wausau!" As it turns out, Jim was the pastor of that church from 1985 through 1991. Rick and I were both a bit taken back by this little "coincidence". Rick went on to tell me that Grace Church went through some struggles well after Jim had left the church before they contacted Bethlehem Baptist Church for help. In 2000 Rick left Desiring God to become the Senior Pastor and eventually helped transition the church into Sovereign Grace Fellowship in 2003. MORE than interesting!

At this point, the word "Interesting" started to sound far too inadequate to describe what God was doing. "Sovereign" seemed much more appropriate.

We then discussed the SG philosophy of recognizing and raising up pastors for ministry. They don't simply solicit applications and resume packets. They believe that their pastors should be individuals who have gotten to know SG, have spent time in a SG church evidencing God's calling, character, and competency. Eventually, if the church sees these qualities, it may choose to recommend that person to their Pastor's College located in Maryland where I attended the service (Covenant Life Church) back in August of 2007. I expressed to Rick my willingness to do just that. He responded by sharing that over the past couple of years the Lord had been bringing men (some of whom had been seasoned pastors) to SGF with a view to joining the SG family. This is especially interesting because all of these men left ministries (or significant jobs) to work secular jobs while getting to know SGF and SG Ministries. I “just happened” to be the third one to approach them (just like the previous two). Sovereign! In fact, Tony Reinke (whose blog directed me to Rick Gamache) was one of these men whom God uprooted and transplanted to Bloomington. It was clear that I needed to make a trip to Bloomington, and soon. We made plans to attend their Good Friday service (March 21) at 7pm.

March 10, 2008 - Looking for job possibilities in the Minneapolis area, I sent a letter to Desiring God Ministries.

March 11, 2008 - The Executive Director of Desiring God Ministries (Jon Bloom) returned my e-mail inquiry and kindly let me know that DG could only hire people who attended Bethlehem Baptist Church. He went on to explain that he was one of two BBC elders sent with Rick Gamache to help revive the struggling church in Richfield. He not only attends church there, but he leads worship on a regular basis. Sovereign!

March 14, 2008 - Dr. Engle and I met, and we discussed the timing of my departure and set an exit date of June 15, 2008.

March 21, 2008 - With my resignation letter complete, I gave a copy to Dr. Engle and the church leadership. After leading our noon Good Friday service at IBC, I drove our family to Bloomington where we enjoyed a very special evening with some dear brothers and sisters that we believed would be our new church family. After their Good Friday meeting, several of the leaders and members stuck around to chat with us. When asked by one of the leaders if we were still considering a move to Minneapolis to partner with SGF, it sort of just hit me...I had submitted my letter of resignation that morning. My response was, "this will be our new church home." When asked if we had any leads on a job or housing, we had to answer "No". When asked about our house in Wausau, we indicated that the vote to approve the school expansion and land purchase would take place in a few days. But with such clear evidences of His sovereign provision, we were in no way anxious or worried...just curious how God would provide.

March 25, 2008 - The Marathon County Board approved a 25-year plan to develop land (including the parcel of property we now call home) for the expansion of the UW Marathon County Campus. Sovereign! However, it appeared that our property might not be purchased for another year.

March 27, 2008 - A friend of ours indicated interest in the possibility of renting our house for the next year or so. Nothing definite, but there was interest. Sovereign!

April 9, 2008 – In a few days I will be flying to Louisville, KY to attend the 2nd “Together for the Gospel” conference. Pastor Rick Gamache has invited me to be his guest at two pre-conference meetings with other Sovereign Grace leaders.

May, 2008 – Our friends signed a lease to rent our house for the next year and possibly longer.

June 6, 2008 – I served my last day as a pastor in Wausau. Our Senior Pastor, who had never missed a Sunday in 30+ years of ministry, called me Sunday morning to let me know that I'd need to preach that morning. As God's sovereign provision would have it, I was ready with material that I had prepared for another Bible study just days before. I preached a message on Discipleship based on the Great Commission (Matt. 28) where Jesus indicated that we are to teach the whole world to observe (obey and do) all that He had commanded.

(see "Sovereign - part 2" for more of the story)