God has a plan!

Well, you may have already seen this from our Christmas letter post, but we have had some exciting opportunities placed before us. Throughout a process spanning several months (or actually since he was in high school and felt the calling), Travis has been called to serve as the new Associate Youth Director at our church, Bannockburn Baptist Church here in Austin. Though we couldn't share any details of this adventure along the way, we are so excited to share it with you now and ask for prayer as we begin this new journey in youth ministry full-time.

If you know Travis or me at all, you know that we have always been linked to youth ministry, since 7th grade. It was through the youth ministry at our childhood church, Crestwood, that we both developed a spiritual foundation and growth. We were blessed to be mentored by selfless adult volunteers and have great examples in Christian love, faith and discipleship in our youth ministers, Steve and Cary. In fact, if you asked each of us separately, we would both say that the faith and fight that our first youth minister, Steve, had for life was the thing that most shaped us as leaders and disciples. Though Steve lost his battle to brain cancer when we were in 9th grade (Meagan) and 8th grade (Travis), his ministry and simple love for the Lord increased our faith and intensified our love for Christ and his people. Though our youth ministry endured a tough time after his passing, a core group of youth remained active and it was through that time that God shaped us into the leaders that we are in our church, families, friends and professional careers today. Travis and my friendship grew as we spent many hours together in fellowship, praise and worship and prayer. Later, we would learn the awesome plan that God had for us in the romance department and look where we are now! :)

After graduating from high school, we remained active in serving as youth camp counselors, small group leaders, retreat guest leaders and disciple-now team members in college and after college. While in high school, Travis felt an unquestionable calling to ministry in some respect, and through college and beyond, God led him to this opportunity at BBC. I can vividly remember a night at youth camp at Alto Frio the summer following my senior year in high school, where God gently spoke that I needed to be ready to serve as a minister's wife if the opportunity arose. Well, as I reflect on that night, I am reminded of how God began preparing each of us separately for this new journey and I am excited to embark! Though I know that we have both been on spiritual mountaintops and valleys since that time, God has continued to show his love and provision in our lives. Please pray for us as we begin this journey, though we don't know what it will look like or what God has in store for us, we are definitely excited.

God confirmed this step as we learned last Thursday that Travis' current employer would be closing by the end of the year, so Travis would be without a job if not for God's plan. Please also pray for those losing their jobs and those involved in this less-than-happy situation. Travis starts the new role at BBC on January 1.