Well, it's official now, so I can finally share some big stuff that's been in the works for the past several months. I guess I'll start with the news itself, and then give a little of the backstory...
This past Sunday, it was announced at all three campuses of River City Community Church that both the New Braunfels and Northwest campuses will both become their own independent congregations instead of multi-sites, with Aaron being the lead pastor at Northwest and Jason being the lead pastor in New Braunfels. We will of course still be maintaining a great relationship with River City, but we'll be on our own (with the Lord's help, of course).
Now let's back up a little. Where did this decision come from? Well, it's a long story, but here are the highlights... Things at the Northwest campus have been going quite well this year. We have an awesome (really, absolutely incredible) team whom we serve alongside, and our congregation has reached about 100 (sometimes more, sometimes less). God has been moving and we've definitely seen fruit since our launch. However, one thing we kept hearing consistently from guests and from members who brought friends was that a lot of people found it hard to connect with the video method of teaching. The teaching was great, of course, but they were missing the connection. And we had a lot of people
not come back.
Going back even farther, about a year ago, Aaron came home from Leadership Summit feeling like God was telling him to begin preparing for "the next thing"
(see photo above). We had no idea what this next thing looked like. Another place? Another role? We began praying then, but we spent the next number of months not knowing. Summer rolled around and the feeling became stronger. We still didn't know what God had in store, but began praying more fervently. Then one day in July, Sean called Aaron into his office and asked him if he'd consider "planting" the Northwest campus and being its lead pastor.
We (and
especially I) have always said we never had any interest in planting a church or being lead pastors.
But we told Sean we'd pray about it. And we did.
In a moment of complete honesty, I have to admit that this was an incredibly difficult decision. Everything in me resisted. There were tears. There were many long talks. There were lots of prayers.
Once I calmed myself, I realized that I couldn't imagine it any other way. God was doing amazing things at our campus. Not only that, but we have a
great team and support system around us. This was not going to be your ordinary church plant. We already had 100 people! Really, all that would change for us is that Aaron would now be speaking weekly and the church would be on it's own financially.
Please keep us in your prayers as we transition into this new phase of life (for our family and for our congregation). It scares us to death that anyone might be looking to us for leadership, guidance, and answers to life's questions. But God has been reminding me over and over again to lean on His strength, both now as we step into this new role, and every day going forward.
Proverbs 3:19-26
19By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20by his knowledge the deeps were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
21My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,
do not let them out of your sight;
22they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
23Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble;
24when you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared.
I am also encouraged to know that we're taking this step of faith with Jason and Natalie (though we'll be an hour apart). For their story, visit Natalie's blog (
Part 1 &
Part 2 of their journey)!
