Prelude...

It's been nearly 2 years since we packed up the truck and left Kentucky to move to Traverse City MI. We had been in Wilmore Kentucky for four and a half years studying at Asbury Seminary preparing for a life of vocational ministry. There was just one problem. By the time we were finished the thought of taking a job in the church was more than we could bear. It wasn’t that we were no longer followers of Christ. It was the journey itself that made us think there had to be a better way to be disciples than attending church once, twice, three times a week. So we resolved to move north, me, my pregnant wife, and 2 year old daughter Ella. We bought a fixer upper close to my folks and set about starting our new life. We wanted to live outside the walls of the church. To work, live, and interact with “real” people. We no longer wanted to attend church. We wanted to be the church. We quickly found others that resonated with the desire to live out an active and missional faith. Our mission was not to build a building or start an organization, but to be Christ in and to our community. We said we would give it two years and see where we were.

Our journey has taken several turns but the Lord has been faithful in providing for our needs. Along the way we met (or re-met) Dan and Mary Carlson. We share weekly fellowship with them as a part of our church community. We call ourselves Sojourn to remind us that we will never fully “arrive”. It is a loose collection of folks who gather weekly to sing, learn through discussion and participation, and encourage each other to live missional lives. We’re not perfect by any means. If you’re interested in learning more about Sojourn we do have a website, http://www.sojourntc.org/

Though trained and ordained as a pastor I make my living as an insurance agent at a local agency. We have our third daughter due this Summer. (Time to drop man to man in favor of zone defense!) It's been two years and both Gretchen and I now feel that we are home and looking forward to what the future brings. We have a great support system and look forward to our daughters growing up in the beautiful (water filled) Grand Traverse region.