Diary of a Church Planter's Wife

Before I begin this series of posts I am going to be doing over the next few years, I want to just pause and recognize how we have felt the past few days.  We knew that once we were "out", things would change.  We knew it would be emotional and bittersweet.  We had no idea how humbled, honored, loved and overwhelmed we would feel on the other side, though.  The comments, hugs, texts, emails, and conversations we have had since Friday have been so encouraging.  It has made us even more excited about our new adventure.
My plan for this series is to give this side of church planting.  There aren't a ton of resources out there about being a wife of a church planter.  So, I thought I would document my side of our journey.  I am going to back track quite a bit to start our tale.  Spencer and I went to seminary (as in he attended classes and got a degree while I worked and paid bills, so yes I went too) thinking we would head overseas.  Through a series of events, Spence became the Small Groups Guy which turned into Small Groups Pastor and then eventually Spiritual Formations Pastor.
We never went to seminary or even initially took the job thinking we would be here forever and ever.  We always knew that Spence had a gift of teaching and preaching.  A few years ago, Spence began to really feel a desire to do more of both of those.  He began praying about the possibility of us planting and asked me to do the same.
For me the biggest thing that I really had to pray about was if I truly was ready to follow where the Lord was leading Spencer and our family.  Some verses that were really big for me during that time of prayer and seeking God's will were:

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.  Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Genesis 28:15 "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land.  For I will not leave you until I have done with I have promised you."
Deuteronomy 7:6-8, 9 "For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.  The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the people's who are on the face of the earth.  It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you... Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments.
Psalm 56:3-4 "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.  What can flesh do to me?"

As I prayed, I realized that yes I was ready and willing to follow Spence's leadership of our family no matter where that took us.  Even if it meant leaving a church we love, our friends, and the place we have lived for 15 years.  As we have settled into our decision over the past few months, I have gotten more and more excited.  I can't wait to watch Spencer as he shares his vision over the next few months.  This man.  Ya'll his heart for people who are lost to know Jesus and his desire for those that already to do know Him to grow is crazy awesome.
I will continue this with more about how I am processing everything.  How we were led to Charlotte specifically.  How we are planning.  What you can be praying for for our church and our family.  Things may get messy as I really get into the nitty gritty of all the change.  I'm a crazy emotional hot mess and this may be the place where I work out all those thoughts.  So, thank you for reading and especially thank you for supporting us.