Humbled

Dear reader,
A couple weeks ago, I posted regarding friends of mine who had been considering relocating to this area in order to partner with me to start the new church. Their names are Matt and Laurie Boyer. They currently live not far from Messiah College. Matt was a roomate of mine at Valley Forge. It was interesting to me because We had grown up only 20 minutes apart, but never actually met. He's originally from Bowie, MD, and I had seen him perform in Fine Arts Festival and he actually inspired me to get involved.
But we grew to be good friends at VFCC. I spoke at retreats for his youth ministry and he spoke for some for PAG.
It was at a retreat about a year ago in Gettysburg that I started talking to this couple about the church plant. Spsecifically, Matt was looking at some options of moving into a full-time position in youth ministry, and after telling me some of his options asked what I thought he should do.
I replied, "I think you should come and help me start a church outside of Annapolis." It was probably more of a joke at that point, but something resinated in me when I said it. And I found out a couple weeks later that it had resinated in him too. Thus began discussions that unfolded over 2005 and into 06.
Agonizing over the decision between the church they currently serve and the church plant, they eventually said no to SRC just as I posted.

Somehow I knew that wasn't the end. I prayed diligently for Matt and Laurie that God would bless them in their decision, but if they at any point felt drawn back to SRC that he would give them courage to call me.
Last Tuesday, Matt called me. They had found regret after their decision. Matt said, "When I talk about [my church], I say it's a good opportunity and we're happy here. When I talked about SRC I was excited because of the step of faith that it is."
Doors they expected to open after thier initial decision, closed instead. Matt called to ask if I would still like to have them come. I prayed about it all week and sought some counsel. It suddenly became very humbling that this promising young couple would come and serve, yet I have nothing to compensate them with.
We discussed it yesterday. I told him again, "Matt, I don't have any money for me, and I don't have any money for you. This is about faith." I just wanted to make sure he understood. His response was that they clearly understood that. And we made the agreement right then that they would come.

The first major twist in the story of SRC. How exciting! How Humling!

--Ben