I once heard that "your friends will determine the direction and quality of your life." That is true when your six, sixteen, sixty and every year in between. Moving from a church where we had developed a strong network of friends and ministry to a new area where we knew...let me count...ZERO people was/is one of the most challenging aspects of the call.
Sure, I could preach that God called Abram in Genesis 12 to leave everything behind, including his family and relationships and that that is what we were in some respect being led to do, but to live that out is a challenge--and we only moved 56 miles north. And, technology does make it easier to close the geographic gap but nothing can replace the day-to-day, face-to-face, seemingly insignificant conversations and run-intos of living in community with those you love. In the midst of the loss of closeness, we have been overwhelmed by the consistent support of our Crossroads Newnan friends and family. So many of you have taken a day to serve The Stone Church by serving in the Stone Quarry (Kid's Ministry) or taken the weekend and helped out with an outreach or a work day. Dozens and dozens of you have made the drive to worship with us on a Sunday morning, bringing energy, life and love to us from the south side. You have given thousands of dollars to help sustain the ministry, and words cannot even begin to capture our gratitude. Your text messages, social media posts, and notes of encouragement do just that, they encourage us. Do you know what I've come to know more deeply to be true? Your friends will determine the direction and quality of your life. And because of you, my family's life continues to point in a God-honoring direction and despite the "losses" we are richly blessed and lavishly loved. Don't forget us because we will never forget you!
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