written by James:
"Are you insane?" That's the response I get from most people when I tell them we've sold nearly everything and we're moving to Wales. Before you think I've gone crazy, let me share this new journey with you and how I heard from God to pack up everything we have, including our five children, and move to the country of WALES!!!
This new journey started in early 2011. I had been offered the family and children's pastor position at the Waverly FWO campus. I wanted to go away to pray and seek God about this position I had just been offered. Around that same time, FWO was taking a team on a missions trip to Ireland and Wales. Needless to say, I ventured out on my first missions trip and I've never been the same. I had never felt the presence of God and heard his voice quite like I did during that week. It almost felt surreal and wrong to leave there at the end of the trip. Shortly after, Melissa and I accepted the position I was offered with FWO thinking this is what we would continue to do forever.
Later that same year in October 2011, during staff meeting worship, I felt God tell me that one day I'm supposed to go to the country of Wales with my family and begin an FWO Wales campus. "Are you insane?" I told God. That sounded like the craziest thing that I had ever heard! I mean, I had a wife and four kids. Besides, I'm just a regular guy who had never done anything like that before. I was such a mix of emotions- excited, confused, excited, scared. I immediately shared with Melissa and Pastor Josh what God had told me. I knew I was called to go to Wales, but also knew it wasn't the right time.
Melissa and I continued in our position at the Waverly campus. We watched God do some awesome things in the Kidz Town ministry! We loved working with the amazing volunteers each week as we worked together to serve all the children and their families in FWO and within our community. We walked away each week feeling blessed and honored to be part of such a growing ministry. However, at the close of 2013 God began transitioning us away from this ministry and towards the people and country of Wales.
Earlier this year, we knew it was time to prepare for our move to Wales. We began dreaming and talking about what we needed to do to make the move happen. Since then we've sold over 75% of our belongings and moved into a temporary house. I've taken several trips over to pray, continue to seek God, and work out logistics such as housing and transportation.
We will begin our journey by joining Church on the Move in Neath Wales and assisting them in their ministries and serving the people of Wales in any way that we can. Wales is a beautiful country with wonderful people. It has a rich history of religion and once hosted the Welsh Revival. The country of Wales is now less than 3% Christian and many other religions are growing in popularity. We love the people there and look forward to partnering with Church on the Move and eventually starting an FWO Wales campus. We'd love to begin offering some of the ministries that FWO stands for such as life groups, feeding the homeless, and planting a Wales Hope Center. Alcholism and drug addiction are real issues facing the people of this country.
In saying this, we would love for you to partner with us in this exciting journey God is taking us on called COMPASSION WALES.
We are looking for prayer partners as well as financial partners. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Come join us as we do the unimaginable and "Go into all the ....Wales." We love you and thank you for taking the time to hear our story :)
Be sure to follow our journey on Facebook @Compassion Wales
This new journey started in early 2011. I had been offered the family and children's pastor position at the Waverly FWO campus. I wanted to go away to pray and seek God about this position I had just been offered. Around that same time, FWO was taking a team on a missions trip to Ireland and Wales. Needless to say, I ventured out on my first missions trip and I've never been the same. I had never felt the presence of God and heard his voice quite like I did during that week. It almost felt surreal and wrong to leave there at the end of the trip. Shortly after, Melissa and I accepted the position I was offered with FWO thinking this is what we would continue to do forever.
Later that same year in October 2011, during staff meeting worship, I felt God tell me that one day I'm supposed to go to the country of Wales with my family and begin an FWO Wales campus. "Are you insane?" I told God. That sounded like the craziest thing that I had ever heard! I mean, I had a wife and four kids. Besides, I'm just a regular guy who had never done anything like that before. I was such a mix of emotions- excited, confused, excited, scared. I immediately shared with Melissa and Pastor Josh what God had told me. I knew I was called to go to Wales, but also knew it wasn't the right time.
Melissa and I continued in our position at the Waverly campus. We watched God do some awesome things in the Kidz Town ministry! We loved working with the amazing volunteers each week as we worked together to serve all the children and their families in FWO and within our community. We walked away each week feeling blessed and honored to be part of such a growing ministry. However, at the close of 2013 God began transitioning us away from this ministry and towards the people and country of Wales.
Earlier this year, we knew it was time to prepare for our move to Wales. We began dreaming and talking about what we needed to do to make the move happen. Since then we've sold over 75% of our belongings and moved into a temporary house. I've taken several trips over to pray, continue to seek God, and work out logistics such as housing and transportation.
We will begin our journey by joining Church on the Move in Neath Wales and assisting them in their ministries and serving the people of Wales in any way that we can. Wales is a beautiful country with wonderful people. It has a rich history of religion and once hosted the Welsh Revival. The country of Wales is now less than 3% Christian and many other religions are growing in popularity. We love the people there and look forward to partnering with Church on the Move and eventually starting an FWO Wales campus. We'd love to begin offering some of the ministries that FWO stands for such as life groups, feeding the homeless, and planting a Wales Hope Center. Alcholism and drug addiction are real issues facing the people of this country.
In saying this, we would love for you to partner with us in this exciting journey God is taking us on called COMPASSION WALES.
We are looking for prayer partners as well as financial partners. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Come join us as we do the unimaginable and "Go into all the ....Wales." We love you and thank you for taking the time to hear our story :)
Be sure to follow our journey on Facebook @Compassion Wales
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