At the age of 8 I told my Sunday school teacher (who happened to be my grandmother) that I wanted to be a preacher when I grew up. I would actually walk around my house with a large dictionary acting like I was preaching like Martin Luther King Jr. This was my boyhood dream but I had no idea how it would become my reality.

This past Sunday I watched about 175 people fill into a room to worship God. Many came to support me on my first Sunday and I was overwhelmed by the support. I loved watching the diversity of the people (yes!), the new relationships, and the sincere worship.

This morning I was reading through the Psalms and came across a verse that described my journey. 

Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the Lord tested him.

-Psalm 105:19

It took more than 20 years to see a boyhood dream become a current reality. During this time I was definitely tested and my character was formed. There have been many seasons of hardship, doubts, and discouragement. I have learned perseverance. Now I find myself learning how to accept the season where the word has finally come to pass. I know that every church plant doesn’t begin with the overwhelming support I’ve received from dear friends. I am thankful for everyone’s prayers, donations, and encouragement. 

I keep asking “Why Me?”. Why am I benefiting from the prayers and labor of those who have gone before me? The response that comes to mind is a quote by Arthur Ashe after he faced his greatest hardship. The question is flipped for me in this season but the same principle applies. I rarely asked “Why Me?” in all the hardships. I grew to expect obstacles. So why should I ask that question now?

“If I were to say, “God, why me?” about the bad things,

then I should have said, “God, why me?”

about the good things that happened in my life.”

-Arthur Ashe