Our call to plant a church in Davenport, IA

 I feel extremely blessed to have had the privilege (and still get another year of it) to be the youth pastor at First Baptist in Geneseo. It was a dream come true for me to be able to work along side my dad, and minister together. These eight years that my wife and I have been in Geneseo, have been nothing but a blessing, and a joy. God has allowed us to serve some of the greatest people I have ever met. It has been a blessing to be able to see family after family reached and changed with the Gospel. Many of the families that have been saved here at First Baptist have become some of our dearest friends. It's exciting to see the numerical growth, and the spiritual growth of our church.

The church has been so kind, and generous to me and my family. It has been above and beyond any expectations that I had. We have seen God do many miraculous things, and we give him the glory for them all.

Many probably are wondering why we would leave such a wonderful place where God is working, and where the church is growing. I honestly believe that this is the most exciting time in our church since my family has been here! We are consistently seeing people saved and baptized, and families are being added. God has miraculously led us to build a brand new church on the edge of town. We will have many more classrooms, and a huge auditorium providing the space to grow even more. The building will have a gym; for those that know me, know that is music to my ears, as coaching basketball is a huge passion of mine! As I look at all of the excitement that is in store for First Baptist, it makes the decision very difficult. However, I know that God has called us to plant a church. I would be miserable if I didn't listen to God's calling, and follow Him. We have been burdened for the last three years to plant a church, but didn't know where or when. At one point, I thought God was leading to plant a church in Los Angeles. To be honest, after the winter we have had, that sounds better all the time! It was the fall of 2012, that God really put Davenport, and the Quad City Area on my heart. Although there are some good Gospel witnesses there, we also see a great need there. It's an area that we know, and that I grew up around, and God just opened my eyes to see the need of another church in an area of over 350,000 people. It will be hard to leave my greatest friends, but I want to encourage all at First Baptist to see this, not as a subtraction from our church, but as a multiplication of our church. I trust that God has great things in store for Geneseo, as well as Davenport. Please pray for my me and my family, as well as First Baptist church during this time of transition. 

Here is our general timeline of the church plant:

  

 February 23^rd – announce to church the vision to plant a church in Davenport, Iowa.

  March 2014 – begin to contact churches and Pastors to raise prayer and financial support. I will try to stay local, and travel on some Wednesday nights/Sunday nights.

  June 2015- make the transition where I would no longer be employed at First Baptist.  At   this time, my family would look to move to the city of Davenport.

 July/August 2015- begin Bible studies, witnessing, and outreach events in the city. Find a location for church to meet on Sundays.

 September 2015- launch Sunday services for Cross Point Baptist Church.

 

What will I be remembered for?

I was awakened this last Monday morning by a a very sad text message that Pastor Marc Dalton had passed away of a heart-attack. I did not know Pastor Dalton very well; we talked in person maybe 2 or 3 times, and emailed and text messaged some...mostly about basketball. From what I knew about him from others, and from the times speaking to him, I could tell he was a wonderful Pastor. He also was a very good basketball coach. Many called him a "basketball genius." On several occasions, I asked him for advice on different strategies, or on how teach something better.
As I received the news of his death, my heart was very grieved for his family, his church, and my mutual friends, the Espositos (who were very close to him.). The thing that came to my my mind immediately though, was not how successful of a Pastor he was, which he was; it was not how much success he had as a basketball coach, which he was very successful at. The thing that came to my mind immediately, was how he always took time to speak with me, and help me. On the two occasions that I was able to talk with him in person, it was during a basketball tournament in Indiana. He was very popular, and always had people around him wanting to talk to him, but he always made time to talk with me, and show genuine interest in me.Although, he had a very small part in my life, it made a lasting impression that I will always remember. When our life is over, what will matter the most, is not our success, or accomplishments, but what impact we made on the lives of others for Christ. All of us, who know Jesus personally, will one day make the transition from life on earth, to life in heaven. I hope when I make that transition, someone will be able to look back with the memory that I helped impact their life for God's glory.