Our life is like a book, made up of many chapters, and now my family and I begin a new chapter.  This past Sunday, I accepted the call to become pastor of First Baptist Church Denham Springs, Louisiana.  When I received a call in late June from the pastor search committee I had never heard of Denham Springs.  I even thought it was spelled “denim.”  I quickly learned it was Denham and it is located in the Baton Rouge Metro area.  It is located in the fastest growing parish in Louisiana.

We’ve had the joy of building relationships and partnering with the incredible people of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Dothan, AL, for the past eight years.  When I joined the staff at Ridgecrest I was only engaged.  I now leave being married almost eight years and with three children.  The people of Ridgecrest have been so instrumental in our lives as God allowed us to labor and serve together for the Kingdom and His glory.  Hope and I became aware more than three years ago that God was moving us to pastor.  We did not know where, we did not know when, and we did not know how.  And the amazing thing is that He did it in a way that only He can receive the glory and honor.  We really feel that First Denham is poised for something incredible to happen.  We feel inadequate to the task but that makes us all the more confident knowing that this will be something that only God can do.

I will never be able to express enough gratitude and appreciation to my pastor and friend, Ray Jones.  He took what was in my eyes an incredible chance by bringing me on his staff to be his associate.  He believed in me, equipped me, and released me to lead and serve.  The people of First Denham will be beneficiaries of the influence and impact Ray Jones has made on my life.  I often find myself in meetings and various settings sounding just like him.  Ray, thank you for your investment and belief in me, I will be a better man and pastor because of it.

Transitions for the most part are bittersweet and this one is no exception.  While we find ourselves extremely excited about the future at First Denham we are deeply saddened to leave Dothan (which has always been our home), our family, and the incredible staff and family of Ridgecrest.  Ridgecrest family, you all are truly a special people.  I believe you are on the cusp of doing things that will impact the globe with the precious and powerful gospel.  Stick true to His mission and His calling to make disciples of all nations.

Know that we leave you with our hearts full from all the love and appreciation that you have shown us through the past eight years.  You will always hold a very special place in our hearts and lives.

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