There have been a lot of changes in our life over the last few months.  I've meant to update everyone, but there just hasn't been time and I've been completely overwhelmed with all that's been happening.  Some days have been good, while others have left me wondering how I'll go on. 

As many of you know, Mike was called to a little church 20 minutes from where we currently live.  After serving for almost 2 years there, the pastor there saw some things in us that he believed would make us good candidates for the assessment center, and ultimately, church planters.

From what we'd heard, the assessment center was designed to bring potential church planters into a place where they're evaluated upon their actions, answers and interactions with the other people being assessed, as well as with the assessors.  At the end of three days, the assessors have prayed and come up with an unanimous answer as to what direction they feel the potential church planter and wife should pursue. 

I was leery, at best, and had no idea what to expect exactly.  The outcome of the assessment center held our future... literally.  Mike had come to a place where he was going to be "starting over" one way or another as far as his "career" was concerned and the assessment center would determine the route we would be taking.  We prayed for God to reveal our next step through our step of faith.  We would be okay with whatever the outcome was to be.

So... the end of January, Mike and I went to the Assessment Center in Green Lake, Wisconsin to see where the Lord would direct our future.  It was an 8 hour drive (for a nine month pregnant woman needing many potty breaks) and it was wonderful.  Leading up to the assessment center, Mike had been busy (and stressed) and I'd seen very little of him.  It was also the first time since I was pregnant with our seventh (although I didn't know it at the time) that Mike and I had been completely alone.  We stopped to eat and we took our time just enjoying each other... it was wonderful (and I smile now as I think back to that dinner and looking into his eyes).

We got to the assessment center and it was beautiful.  There was anything for the first evening, as some people weren't there yet, but "festivities" began the next morning.  We'd taken some tests before hand (Myers Briggs, DISC, etc) to help the assessors learn more about us.  We were asked many personal questions about our past.  We were placed into groups with the others being assessed, and we were watched to see how we interacted and responded to different scenarios.  In some ways, it seemed like a reality show, but with this, the stakes were high in that, these people take what they do very seriously... church planting is a wonderful thing, but it's not for everyone.  A pastor is not necessarily great for church planting because there are so many other aspects involved in starting a church from "nothing".  The assessors (most church planters themselves) want to be sure of each church planter's success... both for them and the people involved.  The closing of a church is never easy on anyone involved.

Over the three days we were there, I was amazed at how much fun I was having, despite the fact we were constantly being evaluated.  It was so much fun to be surrounded with others having a passion for God and sharing it with others.  There were many denominations there, but we were there for one common purpose... and it was neat to share our ideas, thoughts, and lives with the 26 other people being assessed.

Before leaving, we sat down to hear what the assessors had agreed for our future.  We got a booklet that told of our strengths and growth areas.  We were completely humbled when we were told that the assessors had noticed us the first day we were there and were excited to see what God would do with us.  They had all agreed that we had "life experience" and passion, but were lacking ministry experience, and so their suggestion was to go and work in a church to receive the training and experience needed to take us to the next step.

The drive home was... quiet.  We had waited for a long time for our answer.  Mike said in some ways, he'd hoped that the assessors would tell him that church planting wasn't for him and to find something else.  It would have been easier.  But God doesn't promise "easy"... and so with the beginning stages of our path laid out, we drove home as "new people"... we were now "future church planters"... and the thought scared us to death... and drew us nearer to Him knowing we were in unfamiliar territory, unable to know what would be next on this new path chosen for us by Him...

...but willing to go where He leads...

...one way we travel... together...

...to tell others they are not "too far gone" to be forgiven... not too bad to be unloved... and that God wants THEM...

Still Seeking,
Amy