Two weeks ago I was informed that Manhattan Church of Christ wanted and needed Christ’s Church for Brooklyn to be self-supporting. (You see, MCOC has paid my salary for the past six years. Yes, CCFB folks tithe but that money goes to pay for everything else – rental of worship space, office space, any/everything else…) We were told that we needed to be fully self-supportive by December. In the meantime, MCOC would start reducing their contribution to my salary 10% each month. In other words, in March CCFB would be responsible for 10% of my salary, by April 20%, by May 30%, etc.
The problem with this is that CCFB just isn’t big enough to support a full-time minister. And so when we got this news, Laura and I started to run every possible scenario through our minds. Could we beg CCFB to give more? Could I become bi-vocational? Could I find another stream of funding? When I teased those options out, none of them seemed feasible. None seemed practical. With much prayer and through conversations with mentors, Laura and I decided that we should leave Brooklyn in early June and move to St. Louis. It’s not that there’s a great professional opportunity waiting for me there but Laura’s parents are there and they have three bedrooms and a bath that we can use. They graciously offered us that space as a transition place. We accepted.
We’re sad about leaving Brooklyn. In some ways, it felt like we were just getting started here with the church. For so long, CCFB was in a holding pattern as my family did what was necessary to care for Ira but for the past 18 months, we’ve had a good run at CCFB. And we were hoping for another big turn as we worked toward the dream of a tutoring center. However, it just wasn’t feasible for MCOC to continue with their support.
I’m so thankful for the way MCOC has stood by us the past six years. The church family there saw us through one of hardest times in our lives. So please don’t read into this post some sort of bitterness because, in the end, there isn’t. More than anything I’m moved by a spirit of gratitude.
And now my family, along with the family at CCFB, will work on the transition.
You are in my prayers, my good brother. It sucks that you can’t stay there but something great awaits.
We will miss you guys so much and of course we wish you all the best of EVERYTHING!!!
Love,
Carrie, Scott & Sam
Hey man I just found your blog via Adam Holland and now I hear the news about you moving. Good luck with the move and selfishly I can say I’m glad since you’ll be closer to home. I have a cousin that lives in St Louis and so I make a trip there at least once a year, we’ll definetly have to get together. Be safe and take care!
I’ll be praying for your family as you make this transition. May God bring about great things through this!
Wow! Big news! I haven’t really taken it in yet.
WOW! That’s big news! I know how much you love your church; but God does know what He’s doing. BTW: think you’ll become a Cardinal fan?
Wow, that’s rough. I’m terrible with change so I don’t envy you. Someday it will be cool to see God’s hand in all of this–I hope you continue to blog so I can be a witness to it. Best wishes!
Joe- I’ve followed your blog for a while now and I just wanted you to know that you guys are in my thoughts a prayers in a big way right now. There have been so many times when your blog has inspired me or really made me think. One blog in particular that touched me greatly was the video you shared when you and Laura told the kids about the new baby. I was so amazed when you asked Sophia to pray and she DID- so spur of the moment- and so sweetly. I really want my own kids to be like that. There’s a lot more that I wish I had commented on. But, I’m hoping that through this transition you will keep blogging. Your blog really challenges me. Also- my husband and I lived with my parents for a while several years ago while we transitioned. It turned out to be a huge blessing and my parents still feel very close to our children because of it.
God is with you whereever you go, I know what it is like to transition, the challenges will come, but you know that God walks before you in them and will lead you! Please keep in touch!
We are praying for you daily!!
“This too shall pass”…..
Stan
praying for an easy transition and for great things in St. Louis. I know you will miss NY and it will miss you.
Wow. Huge news. I wish for your whole family…
FULL SUPPORT. Just from somewhere else. Love you guys.
Joe, I hope you will keep up the blogging–you have a talent for it.
I know that the move will be stressful and this is a difficult time to be making such a move, in your family and in the economy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
The next chapter will have its joys and challenges too, hope this time of transition will be a very positive experience for you all.
need you to think about this some more. don’t think the new men’s b-ball league is going to meet your expectations….and we had another trophy coming our way in the spring…..and really are you going to be able to pull up short on a fast break..you know where i’m going with this. let’s get together soon before you take off. we need some more kid pics to liven the place up.
Hey Joe…I’ve ‘transitioned’ all my life and it’s led to the most ‘wow’ God things. In one case, first week of the change someone we’d never seen or heard of said, “God sent you…I’ve been waiting.” You can imagine what came of THAT transition…what a way to go. God has plans for you and yours waaaay beyond anything imaginable…HE does the greatest things at what we think are and really seem to be almost catastrophic. Keep up the blog, please. You reach so many and there’s nothing like reaching out and touching. I’m praying, praying for all of you! Get ready for another ‘ride of your life.’
“In His time, God makes all things beautiful in His time.” I am alittle sad for you, your family and the Brooklyn church family. I will miss your tales of life in the city. May God’s spirit work in a powerful way in these months of transition for you and the people you will leave behind in Brooklyn. May the seeds you have sown as you labored with Christ’s Church continue to grow. Remember your work has not been in vain. I pray that you find wonderful medical and education teams to continue Ira’s progress. May Laura have great energy levels as she prepares to move during her pregnancy. I am sure your family in St. Louis is eagerly awaiting your arrival in June. I know God is waiting there too.
Sometimes it seems that God has to force our hand to get us to play.
Just remember in Whose Hands you place your trust. It will be OK. He has a plan for you. Not to harm you. But to give you hope, and a future. It may make you weep in anxiety. I weep because I know that God has a plan for you, and you aren’t getting in His way. How great is that?!?
I just moved to STL 3 months ago, and am excited for you to come here. Are you going to start a new church? BTW I have been a lurker since a few months after Ira was born!
I just read that you are moving. We are in a similar situation and are looking for work as well. I am in a teacher certification program and James is working in a bank and interviewing for preaching positions. If you have a chance to interview in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area, you are very welcome to come stay with us! You’re in our prayers.