Update

I just got back yesterday afternoon from a two day all-staff retreat with the people I serve alongside at my church. Good fellowship, bad karaoke, and an embarrassing attempt on my part to play ultimate frisbee. Because of that, this blog has been more quiet than usual this week, and might be a bit quiet next week as well as I’m taking a week-long seminary class at Reformed Theological Seminary’s Washington D.C. campus.

I thought it might be helpful to give you a brief update on what’s going on in my life these days.

Starting seminary
I have felt a strong call over the last few years to pursue theological training, and so starting next week I’ll begin a Master of Arts in Religion degree from RTS. I plan on remaining in full-time ministry at The Falls Church (or as close to full-time as I can realistically manage) while taking one or two classes on the side per semester. I’m really excited.

My prayer is that through my studies over these next few years I’ll be more equipped to serve the Church and that my heart will be more and more a heart after God’s. I’d be grateful for your prayers!

Ministry
Next month will be my six year anniversary at The Falls Church. Time has flown by. God has been incredibly gracious in giving me the chance to make mistakes, grow and mature, work with incredibly humble people, serve under a godly pastor, encounter various “trials of many kinds”, and have a lot of fun at the same time. There have been incredibly difficult moments, but over all it has been a wonderful season. I’m thrilled to see what God has in store in the coming years.

A couple of things I’m looking forward to are:

• Partnering in ministry with Simon Dixon. Simon has been on staff at Holy Trinity Brompton for 21 years, where he has been instrumental in developing a culture of Christ-centered, Spirit-filled corporate worship, a member of the worship team, an organist, choir director, a leader in prayer ministry, and lately a participant in leading some Worship Central events. In September, he will be joining the staff of TFC as our Director of Worship and Music. He is a godly, humble man, and I’m incredibly grateful to God for bringing him to TFC. You’ll meet him through this blog in the coming months.
• This blog. I started this blog about a year ago out of a response to the Lord’s leading. My goal has been to “help worship leaders lead better”, and it’s been a joy to “meet” many godly, humble, and gracious worship leaders who have found the blog helpful. Every post I write is just as much for me as it is for anyone else, so if no one has benefited from the blog other than me, it’s been worth it. I’m excited to keep writing, sharing resources, expanding the types of resources, re-tooling the layout, and learning.

Family
God has blessed me with two wonderfully beautiful ladies in my life. My wife, Catherine, is a precious gift and support to me, and Megan is a daily source of smiles, squeals, snuggles, and joy. She’s 8 1/2 months old now and we love her more every day.

And as you can tell from the picture to the right – loving her is not hard at all. This was her first time in a swimming pool and the cold water didn’t bother her one bit.

Our heavenly Father loves us infinitely more. What a joy to be his child and worship him. And what a privilege to lead others in doing the same.