Archives For Family

Butterflies, Blood, and Katelyn

May 30, 2012 — Leave a comment

A few weeks ago Katelyn, our three-year-old girl, started having some health complications.  Nothing that seemed serious but we wanted to have the pediatrician check it out.  Amy took her in and by the time I joined the family at the hospital, the doctor had ordered some tests including an x-ray and blood work.  Now, Amy and I knew what that meant for Katelyn but she had no clue.  As we checked her in for the tests she was so happy.  She got some crayons to color with and strangely had fun taking her x-ray.

Amy and I were dreading the next part.  But Katelyn was still having a great time.  As we waited for our turn for the blood test I snapped a few photos of her dancing in the hospital hallways.  I couldn’t help but think that in some ways this must be what our heavenly Father feels like we He knows that pain is in our short-term future.  I don’t claim that my experience is an exact theological parallel, only that these are the thoughts that went through my mind before, during, and after the experience:

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Ministry and Family or Family or to Family?

February 22, 2011 — Leave a comment

David Messner and I were recently able to attend a service at the People’s Church down in Oklahoma City. That particular morning Herbert Cooper was sharing on how he quit “cheating” on his wife. He talked about the two seasons in his life where he spent so much time working on the ministry, specifically on two building campaigns, that he was in a sense cheating on his family. During the sermon he looked at 1 Timothy 3:4-5 – 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) Pastor Cooper pointed out that Paul indicates here that a pastor should first take care of his family and then take care of God’s family.

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A New Decade

January 19, 2011 — Leave a comment

A New Decade

2010 was a pretty crazy year for the Wakefields.  In April I turned 30 and celebrated 5 years of marriage on the same day.  In August I wrapped up my final class in pursuing my Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership at Evangel University.  In October I transitioned from my role as Director of Creative Services at James River Assembly and started in my new role as a Church Consultant at AG Financial.  In November, our daughter, Katelyn, turned two and in the same month I got a great 10 point white tail buck with my bow (just had to throw that in).  It’s crazy to look back at a year like that – a year of change and a year of excitement.

2011 is a start of something pretty exciting.  After pretty much spending the last decade of my life and ministry investing in a local church, I never would have imagined that I would now be working at AG Financial.  What’s amazing is how I get to interact with churches, pastors, and leaders each week.  One thing I love is to see the diversity of churches.  In just 90 days I’ve been blessed to work with a church of 160 in Larned, Kansas, a church of over 1,000 in Olive Branch, Mississippi, and a church of around 4,000 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  God is doing something really cool through each church, and it’s really incredible that I get to be a part of helping churches see their vision become a reality.  With each interaction I am personally learning so much and pick up so many ideas.  That’s the reason why I even started this blog.  I just wanted a central place where I could keep track of all that I am learning.  When I look back on last year I never could have imagined where God would take me.  I can’t wait to see what God has in store for 2011 – the people I’ll meet, the projects I work on, and the dreams I’ll see turn into reality.

 

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