On The Move
By Ashley
We have some exciting news! Before I spill the news, and to fully appreciate HOW exciting this news is, bear with me as I quickly recap the past year of our lives:
June 2018- Begin working with a realtor to sell our home in Ohio.
November 8, 2018- Close on the sale of our home in Ohio. Move into the basement of an extremely generous couple.
December 31, 2018- Finish our time working at Grace Crossing Church after 6 wonderful years.
January 3, 2019- Autumn is born.
January 16, 2019- Move our family from Ohio to Virginia. Move into the basement of another extremely generous couple, 45 minutes from Short Pump.
February 2019- Josh begins church plant training and fundraising and we see God’s provision continue. We wait and pray for God’s timing to move to the Short Pump area.
March 2019- Same as February.
April 2019- Same as March.
Josh at a Church leaders training, April 2019.
May 2019- Same as April.
June 2019- Same as May.
July 2019- Same as June.
August 2019- After six months of working and waiting, God speaks to Josh that he is getting ready to move our family to the area where he has called us. Josh begins fasting and praying for God to work on our behalf. We ask our support team to pray and fast with us for God’s guidance and favor (see our August update, “Getting Ready”).
September 8, 2019- With our board members visiting from Ohio, Josh is legally ordained by Short Pump Community Church. Redemption Church Charlottesville (pastored by Josh’s brother, Jon) hosted us for the ceremony. Over the weekend, the board prayed with us and approved the funds for us to begin our home search.
Josh’s Ordination Ceremony, September 2019
September 14, 2019- We have our first Vision Gathering in Short Pump, sharing the mission God has laid on our hearts. We ask several families to pray with us about the possibility of joining us to launch Short Pump Community Church.
8 adults and 8 children attended our first ever Vision Gathering for Short Pump Community Church.
September 15, 2019- Josh talks to an acquaintance at church who is a loan officer. He is excited to work with us to get a loan for a house. Josh works all day combing the internet for potential houses near Short Pump.
September 16, 2019- The final day of Josh’s fast. We are pre-approved for a loan thanks to the ministry-minded loan officer.
September 17, 2019- We meet with our realtor at 9:30am. We find the right house at 12:00pm. Our offer is accepted at 8:00pm. We’re under contract by 10:00pm.
October 17, 2019- Closing Day for our home! (No, below is not a stock photo, that is THE home!)
Our home in Glen Allen, VA.
I have been waiting for the day that I would be able to share this exciting update, and it’s finally here! I cannot thank you all enough for storming heaven on our behalf. God has worked through your support and many prayers.
If you’ve stuck with me reading this update thus far, then you are a faithful friend and supporter and I know you will continue to pray with us for:
God’s continued favor as we enter into the process of inspections and financing.
Malachi’s heart as he says goodbye to a great teacher, friends, and school he has come to love, and that he would quickly make new friends, get the RIGHT teacher, and adjust to his new school.
All of our kids (and their mama!) as we move to our FOURTH living space in the span of just one year.
Our realtor and his family to come to faith in Jesus through our relationship.
At the risk of this post being WAAAYY too long, I will save the rest for another time. There are so many other exciting connections and works that God is doing for us and through us; I can’t wait to share more about them soon! But for now, I’m off to pack some boxes!