My day job

I have to admit I am so blessed in so many ways. Sure, Tara and I have had times where we couldn't pay our bills, went through a dark period of foreclosure and almost lost everything but that was just a small storm that made us stronger and more appreciative of what we do have. When I left Ancient City Baptist Church it was a tough transition. We were looking for a way to serve, the Florida Baptist Convention took us out to lunch and talked with us about a church plant. In hindsight that would have been a better route because the local churches all want to help out a plant, as we found out NO ONE in town wants to help out an already established church. We prayed hard about it and thought about it until we were approached by someone about Freedom Baptist Church, they were down to single digit membership and really struggling to stay alive. I went and preached there one Sunday and then returned a few weeks later. They voted us in and so here we are several years later still serving God and being used by God in St. Johns COunty which is where my heart beat really is. God has given me a fire and a passion for this county and I continue to strive to be a part of waking this town up to God and all that He has for us. When I started at Freedom there was very little opportunity for income. I think we started out making $400 a month. So, I went to work for the Harden family at the Homeless Coalition. While I did enjoy my work there ti was not the perfect fit. I needed a little more freedom, a little more on campus time with students and so I began to pray for a better fit. About a week after I started praying for a better fit teh Homeless Coalition sent me to a training done by the Betty Griffin House. The Betty Griffin House is our local shelter for abused and battered women and their children. I knew a little bit about domestic violence from my schooling, but not as much as I wanted to so I went to the training and learned a lot. I sponged it up day after day and on the final day I asked the program director if there was any opportunity for me to better serve them to please let me know. A few weeks later they called and told me about the new grant they had and how I was the perfect fit. I went by, filled out some paperwork and boom I was in a job that fit me. My job title is Community Educator, the grant is primary prevention. They whole idea behind it is to teach and educate people of all ages about the dangers of domestic violence and help change attitudes as a whole before they are exposed to these dangerous behaviors. So basically, I go into high schools and speak in their freshman health classes about unhealthy relationships, the warning signs and the dangers. I go into elementary schools and talk to them about bullying and the dangers of it, and how the women who are abused and forced to find shelter inside the Betty Griffin House shelter are put there by adult bullies. So isn't God great? I was put in a job that gave me the freedoms to make campus appearances, I am paid by a federal grant to do outreach on campus in classrooms all accross our county. Today I will be starting an 8 week stay at Ponte Vedra High School. Every Wednesday for the next 8 weeks I will be speaking to all of the freshman class at P.V. about the various aspects, dangers and warning signs of dating violenece and hopefully get to them before they are in an unhealthy or controlling relationship. This job has freed me up to still be able to coach high school softball, enjoy my family and do church outreach all without demanding a huge salary from the church. People asked me all the time how we were able to operate at Freedom with so many young people and so few adults for so long, it is because God put me in a job that freed me up and allowed me to need so little from the church. It is also because of the loving support of First Baptist Calahan who gives financially, serves us whole heartedly and prays for us daily. FBC you guys are our second family and we are so blessed by you and your loving commitment not just to Freedom but also to my family as well. Now, I will admit there are times(very few now) that it is a little bit hectic but for the most part it is awesome and I thank God for the opportunity to serve our community in such a unique way. I mean how many pastors get a green light and are even requested to come and speak to students over an 8 week period? Not many at all. So that's what I do, that's why I do it and how I got here. Have a great day and GOd Bless!