The Young Elder...

Things were moving pretty fast at Northfold New Testament Church. We were growing and it was obvious that this little recording studio was not going to hold all the people that were coming. We met in home groups all over the North Hills. It seemed very much like a church on a mission. It was very mobile and not impaired by a huge building complex. There was a conquering kind of attitude going on and that suited me well because I loved victories in sports and so conquering for the Kingdom of God was an awesome experience.

My role expanded from worship leader to once a month Sunday morning preaching and so I was experiencing church for the first time in my life as a "pulpiteer" and not a pew sitter. My time was consumed with spiritual responsibilities as well as my secular work in the insurance business. Things progressed very fast at Northfold for me. Before I knew it, I was on staff full time with Pastor Ron and I was appointed an Elder at the ripe old age of 29. I remember staying up until 3:00 am at Elders meetings that we had in a trailer adjacent to the building. We would wrestle with spiritual battles and pray in earnest for the people that God put on our heart. The business of church was creeping in as well because we were starting to grow financially.

I still felt a bit intimidated by a lot of this. It wasn't much like what I had experienced early on in West Virginia but it was leaps and bounds better than anything I experienced at Carlo's church. Dar and I had our second son Nathan and so our immediate family was growing as well. In hindsight, the church planting phase of growing Northfold was much more organized than my little band of Indians down in Follansbee. There were just too many people and therefore a lot more responsibility. It was exciting though. There was a real love for Jesus and many moments that we experienced life giving touches from the Holy Spirit.

I was a 29 year old elder and so I rode that pony the best I could. HI HO! Silver Away!

Next up......

The Dome