I’ve been teasing you with the promise of a big announcement for several weeks. It’s a really big deal to me and to my wife Jenny.

Some of your guesses were pretty good.

No. We’re not pregnant. Neither of us.

The actual announcement:

I am now the Director of Student Ministries at The Well in Cartersville.

Let me explain why this is so killer:

1. I Love Cartersville. I love the people, I love the community, I love the schools. I went to Woodland High School and South Central Middle School in Cartersville. So I am already very familiar with the area, the people, and some of the leaders. I know how to get to the band room, the bathrooms, and the principal’s office- in all of the schools in the area. There are still pictures of me on the walls of the schools I’ll be ministering to.
2. I love The Well. We can stay here for a long time. I was very, very, very, extremely
   picky when we were reading through job descriptions and church websites while searching for a potential employer. It was important to me because wherever we ended up was also going to be where we get fed, where we learn, and where we develop a family of believers around us. I know The Well is the place for me and my family. This church has the kind of leadership and structure that I know I will thrive in. Plus:
3. I love the potential. The church and the area are both so ripe for student ministry. There is already a great student ministry there, but they haven’t yet had a full time student director. I am so ready to put what I’ve learned in leadership and student ministry over the last ten years to good use. The Well already has amazing volunteers and healthy church culture. I get to help further advance that Kingdom mindset in students, missions, in the community, etc.
4. I love what they love. Donuts. And missions. If you’ve kept up with the blog, you know Jenny and I have plans to get more and more involved with international missions. It is overly clear that folks at The Well really love loving on other people, locally and internationally. We will have tons of opportunities in Liberia, Andros Island (I’ve been there before!), and the gulf coast. Even better, we will be interacting with the same people in those locations every time we go back. So the relationships will be getting deeper over time.

So if you were one of those who have been praying for me and cheering for me, thank you. I am extremely excited to be joining The Well. If you live in or near Cartersville, Georgia, I’d love for you to come check us out.