Why Are We Moving

Excited to go, but sad to leave. That’s the best way I know how to describe our upcoming move to Detroit. I know what you’re thinking: you’re moving to Detroit on purpose? Actually yes, and we’re quite excited about the opportunity.

As of April 15th I will be the new associate pastor at Cornerstone Baptist Church. My primary responsibilities will be in overseeing leadership development, Biblical Counseling, and small groups. Discipleship is a passion of mine and being able to do it at the level that Cornerstone is asking me to is extremely exciting. The elders, staff, and people of Cornerstone have all been very inviting and warm. And in just the few visits with the church that we’ve had we’ve felt very welcomed. It was encouraging to see the affection that the church had for their leadership and vice versa. We know that it will not take long to get acclimated to the culture of Cornerstone and to feel like part of the family. We’re excited to go. But that does not mean that it will be easy to leave.

We love Portsmouth. This city has been home and we have a heart and a burden for the people in this community. In fact we prayed for years before we came here that God would send us back to this city. For the last five years we have labored and prayed for this place and its people. It has taken me a long time, but I have found myself at home here too. We are not leaving because we are mad at people here, or because we are unhappy with our church family, or because we just couldn’t take rural Southern Ohio anymore. In fact we see the move to Detroit as a missionary move on behalf of the people of Portsmouth.

Many know that Portsmouth’s drug problem, which is serious and culture shaping around here, has strong ties to the city of Detroit. The drug pipeline runs from Detroit straight down State Route 23 into our little town. Annually we have more arrests of visitors from Detroit than any one small city should have. This move, then, is, in some ways, an attempt to go to the heart our city’s problem and fight on the front end. We will fight on the front end there for the Kingdom of God as so many of our friends and family continue the fight here on this end. Our hearts are very much for the city of Portsmouth, and I do not think it random that God has called us to the city of Detroit.

We are sad to leave. Our greatest sorrow will be to leave the dear friends and family whom we have grown so much with over the last five years. Our families are here and we will deeply miss the time we’ve got to spend with them over the last five years. They are an important part of our lives. We will also miss the church family we have grown with, specifically the folks at Revolution whom we have poured into and allowed to pour into us. I will miss the guys that I have helped to disciple, the young lady who has become part of our family, the couples that we’ve spent countless hours doing life with. I will miss the elders I have labored alongside at Revolution, the other area pastors I have come to appreciate and seek advice from. I will miss my brothers from The Southern Ohio Pastor’s Coalition whose love for our region is a blessing to me. I will specifically miss my dear brother and best friend Justin Clark, who has grown to be one of the most important guys in my life. There are countless people in this community that are dear to our family. Leaving is hard.

As we prepare ourselves for our last week in town we have lots to get done. There are boxes to pack, small repairs to make, a sermon to preach, a yard sale to plan, and a billion other little things that come with moving out-of-state. But in the midst of all of that I wanted to take time to explain why we were moving, what is going on, and express how much we still love Portsmouth, Revolution, and our friends and family here. We are excited about what God is doing in our lives and with our ministry, and the trek up north is one I cannot wait to make! We are excited about starting at Cornerstone and developing friendships, and being used by God to serve alongside this great congregation. But we will never stop loving Portsmouth and all those who are dear to us here. We’re excited to go, but sad to leave.