By Craig Vickerman, Ministry Pastor of Students
Did you have a favorite outfit growing up, a favorite pair of jeans, or a sweater, or the most comfortable pair of shoes known to man? Chances are, you have outgrown those outfits, or walked through the soles of your favorite pair of shoes. Unfortunately for me, I miss some of my favorite outfits not only because I have grown up, but also because I have grown out! When I came to America I brought with me a brown sweater. That sweater has been with me on three continents, countless adventures, and numerous mission trips and youth events. It is as much a part of my life as the fond memories I have collected. Sadly, that sweater now sits in the bottom of a basket in the back of my closet, full of holes, rips, paint splatters, grease stains, and so much more.
Just like our favorite outfits, life has seasons. Seasons have a beginning as well as an end, and it is the adventures and memories that we experience within those seasons that fill us with hope and give us the strength to begin a new season.
God called me into ministry 20 years ago and for the last eight years I have had the honor and the privilege to serve God at COTHA. But like all seasons, and our favorite outfits, my time at COTHA is drawing to an end. The memories, the adventures, the people of COTHA will always be in my heart. But, friends don’t forget, we don’t stop growing just so that we can keep wearing our favorite outfits. Growing is far more important. God wants to continue to transform you and me into the fullness of Jesus. God has a most excellent plan for COTHA and for my family and me. I know this because God is good, and over the last 20 years of ministry He has shown His goodness time and time again.
So I invite you to end this season well with my family and me, let us celebrate God’s goodness. Let us laugh together and cry together as we remember all the great stories, memories and life experiences that we have shared. But, let us never take our eyes of Jesus, and never forget that the best is yet to come.
Did you have a favorite outfit growing up, a favorite pair of jeans, or a sweater, or the most comfortable pair of shoes known to man? Chances are, you have outgrown those outfits, or walked through the soles of your favorite pair of shoes. Unfortunately for me, I miss some of my favorite outfits not only because I have grown up, but also because I have grown out! When I came to America I brought with me a brown sweater. That sweater has been with me on three continents, countless adventures, and numerous mission trips and youth events. It is as much a part of my life as the fond memories I have collected. Sadly, that sweater now sits in the bottom of a basket in the back of my closet, full of holes, rips, paint splatters, grease stains, and so much more.
Just like our favorite outfits, life has seasons. Seasons have a beginning as well as an end, and it is the adventures and memories that we experience within those seasons that fill us with hope and give us the strength to begin a new season.
God called me into ministry 20 years ago and for the last eight years I have had the honor and the privilege to serve God at COTHA. But like all seasons, and our favorite outfits, my time at COTHA is drawing to an end. The memories, the adventures, the people of COTHA will always be in my heart. But, friends don’t forget, we don’t stop growing just so that we can keep wearing our favorite outfits. Growing is far more important. God wants to continue to transform you and me into the fullness of Jesus. God has a most excellent plan for COTHA and for my family and me. I know this because God is good, and over the last 20 years of ministry He has shown His goodness time and time again.
So I invite you to end this season well with my family and me, let us celebrate God’s goodness. Let us laugh together and cry together as we remember all the great stories, memories and life experiences that we have shared. But, let us never take our eyes of Jesus, and never forget that the best is yet to come.
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