An End and a New Beginning

My time in the office of Pastor at Evergreen Church - Gurdon, Arkansas is quickly drawing to an end. This Sunday, May 22, 2011 will be my last Sunday. We loved our time at the Gurdon church. We developed many strong, lasting friendships. I consider most of the people attending there to be like family. I got the word and confirmation that it was time to go from God. I had many concerns about Evergreen. But God has been faithful. He provided a pastor with the skill-set necessary to lead the congregation into future ministry. God is good.

There was always the nagging thought in the back of my mind: What am I going to do next? I mean I have a great job at Ouachita Baptist University, I love this area, and I love the local people so I wasn't eager to move off. I also know (at least at this point) God does not want me to take an office in a church anytime soon. Not because I was burned by a church or have a bad feeling about church in general, but because I have a new calling, a new beginning.

I have always been concerned with the lack of growth in the followers of Jesus. In the church we call them Disciples and what they do we call discipleship. I have been researching the current state of discipleship and it is lousy. There does not appear to be ANY difference between those claiming to follow Jesus and those who the bible says are "enemies of God". I am going to set about to change that.

Among the personal changes I am making is:
o I am ending this blog. Most everyone who reads it can get the same personal stuff by friending up with me on facebook. Plus I almost never write here anymore because i didn't want to duplicate the stuff I was putting on facebook.
o I have started a new blog at wordpress to publish some of my research, writings, and news: Evergreen Life .

So if you are interested in the personal stuff that used to go here, friend-up with me on facebook. If you are interested in how to better connect with God and make a difference in your church check out the new blog. Or do both! I hope you will stay connected with me.
I appreciate you and pray for God to move in your life.
To God Be The Glory,
David Owens