Four Pathways

Back in January, I started an intentional process of discernment about what my next steps in life would look like.  It has been two years since I left full time paid ministry, I have completed culinary school, and it is time to figure out what the next season will look like.

As I prayed about it, I felt like there were four possible pathways to pursue:

1. FULL TIME CULINARY CAREER

2. “MISSIONAL” CULINARY WORK (such as using culinary to teach job training skills, working with at-risk youth, etc)

3. CHURCH PLANTING OR PASTORING AN EXISTING CHURCH

4. PARACHURCH MINISTRY   

What God made really clear in the process was that this is not four different pathways, but more like a puzzle — I believe that at some level all four of these are going to be at work in my life… and the discernment process is mostly about figuring out HOW and WHEN they fit together.  God also made clear to me that church planting/the local church will always be central to my ministry and life.

So during February and March I really focused on listening to God’s voice and whisper… and to sense how the puzzle woud fit together. More on that tomorrow…