Similar Story, 24 Years Later

It’s truly not a secret to just about anybody who might possibly read this that I have an emotional side. I mean, I may or may not have cried recently watching episodes of Home Town. Sometimes it feels like a character flaw, an emotional hot mess express, but most of the time I try to remind myself that the emotion comes from my deep care and love for {my} people…

Gather ‘round, it’s time for a story… one that has/still does include tears, but also one that is full of the sweetest moments that have been orchestrated by our sweet Savior!

This, this is 7th Grade Katelyn, courtesy of photos of photos taken straight out of my middle school scrapbook. You’re welcome.
And yes, I know… she hasn’t changed a whole lot, please don’t remind me. ;)

Standing beside me… two people who have meant the WORLD to me over the course of my growing up years. I’ll never forget being a kid at FBCPG and hearing that we were getting a new Youth Minister just before I would be entering the Youth Group. It made me a little nervous, I was much more shy and timid in those days. ;) Would this “new guy” be any fun. Would he connect with us. Would I be able to feel at ease and open up? So many questions for a quiet girl in small town USA…

But, upon our first meeting with Eric and Sonja, we made a connection. They were coming from my grandparents church in Hoover to FBCPG, and they knew them... What?!? No way! An instant connection that gave my nervous heart some peace about meeting and getting to know new people. A God wink, for sure. I mean, after all, getting to know new people was not something I was super well versed in at that time in my life. HA! I did get “somewhat” better at it, but I am still no expert, that introverted side still has a home in my world.

That 7th Grade year started and entering the Youth Group was SO MUCH FUN! We had worship on Wednesday nights, at 6:33 pm, to be exact. Outings. Trips. Bible Studies. You name it, we probably doing it as an early 2000’s Youth Group. It was the best…

…until that dreadful day at Student Life Camp. The day Eric likes to act like it didn’t happen, or likes to think that our story is exaggerated… but it’s not. You left us, high and with anything by dry eyes. Hehehe… Talk about a broken heart of an emotionally unstable middle school girl (and allll of her friends). It was a rough one. One that I’ve given him a hard time about to this very day. We were devastated that our beloved Youth Minister was on the road to a new ministry opportunity. Back then, I for sure wasn’t super well versed in understanding how the Lord’s plans are higher than ours, and sometimes that means that He moves people on from their current location to a new ministry opportunity. But alas, I started learning that very day… after I regained my composure, which I think took more time than I’d like to admit.

We all moved on - learning new routines for church, meeting and growing to love new people, and drawing ever closer to our Savior during the process of it all. The days felt bittersweet, covered by the sweet assurance that our Father was right there with us.

Now… fast forward 20+ years.
Same people. Well, mostly.
Same friendship.
Same Jesus.
New church.
New callings.

In February of 2022, Drew and I had just gotten engaged and he was looking for a full-time ministry position. We’d talked a LOT about what that would look like for us in the coming weeks and months as we were preparing to begin our new life together as husband and wife. We did not have a lot of answers, just a lot of prayers being prayed for the Lord to guide us in His will…

One our way back to mom’s house one night I casually mentioned that Bethel was looking for a Student Minister and that I knew the pastor (and well, most of the congregation, haha). Drew said “oh, cool” and we left it at that. I didn’t say anything else for a while because I didn’t want to be pushy or insist on him applying for a job, literally in my backyard. Would that be amazing, of course, but I wanted the Lord to lead us in that direction, not my personal wants and desires…

So I waited, and prayed, and one afternoon Drew asked me what all I knew about the position. At that time I said “Not much, but I can find out”. I immediately sent Eric a message, had a phone chat with him, and the rest is history… Of course, there were lots of meetings and church stuff that happened between those phone calls and history, but you get the point.

In June of 2022, my Drew began his ministry as the Student Pastor at Bethel, serving alongside Eric. 7th Grade Katelyn would have never believed you if you’d told her that she would experience a full-circle moment like that one. For my beloved middle school student pastor to now by our Pastor. And for my husband to be mentored in ministry by one of the greatest. And for me to learn the role of a minister’s wife from Sonja, another one of the greatest…

Are you serious? That’s a gift that I never expected and one I will forever be grateful for. A gift that is straight from the Lord.

The last almost three years have been some of the sweetest getting to serve and learn alongside Eric and Sonja.
They’ve been with us for Drew’s move to PG and beginning of full-time ministry.
For our marriage.
The birth and dedication of our girl.
Youth events and trips.
Staff outings.
The ups and downs….
So, so much.

But, here we are again.
A similar story, with a slightly more emotionally stable adult, who is feeling really sad about her friends leaving.
The difference? This time I have a MUCH better understanding of how the Lord leads and works. I have a CONFIDENCE in Him that I can trust His plans, even when they leave my eyes full of tears and my heart a little (ok, a lot) achy. I can know that what feels like being abandoned is not that at all. It’s Him guiding us, preparing us, and opening doors for us that we couldn’t have experienced without the shift.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I still salty. And sad. And will miss my Eric and Sonja something fierce, but I am able to rest in His provision better than I did some 20+ years ago… (that’s still hard for me to type, how has it been that long?!?!). It’s hard to think about “the best days being ahead” and them not including some of your best people, but I do truly believe that it’s true.

Eric and Sonja - Thank you. Thank you for loving 7th Grade Katelyn so well. Thank you for loving me from a distance for all of those years. And thank you most of all for loving Drew, Ava, and me SO WELL over the last three years as we have served together. These days have helped lay a foundation for our marriage, our life together, and our ministry that we will never be forgotten. Through the good days and the not so great ones, you both have been right there with us, every step of the way. We will forever be grateful for the things that we have learned alongside you. The way you’ve led, mentored, and discipled us will have eternal Kingdom impact. As you go, know that we are praying for you. The impact you will have in your new area of service to our Savior will be nothing short of incredible too. I would like to be stingy and keep you all to ourselves, but alas, I guess we can’t keep greatness to ourselves always… sometimes we have to share. We love you, and your family, with all of us. We will forever and always be grateful for you.

Friends - why I wrote all of this, I really don’t know. I think it was mostly for my heart. A little personal therapy session to remind myself of what I know to be true about my God. And maybe it will encourage you too, that even in seasons of uncertainty, we can find reason to be grateful and to look ahead with great expectation… even while being a little sad.

Marshall County, treat them well. Love them well. I can assure you they will do the same for you.