When God Calls, You Should Answer

Working full-time in Ministry is a weird thing if you really think about it.

You devote your entire working existence into His Kingdom doing tasks, talking to people, creating programs and services and everything that revolves around them with the hope we might help people discover Christ. But perception is a big deal. We can’t control what people think and believe, but we can give them all of the tools and hope they make the right decisions.

I had a question from a young boy asked of me recently that kind of made me smile: “Where do you work during the week when you’re not at the church?”

I remember replying, “I work at the church as a full-time job.” Their eyes showed confusion as if to say, How much time and people can it really take to do all the things a large church requires? To their defense – I once asked that question, as well.

Full time ministry for me was never something I thought about as a kid or a teen or even after college. My mom swelled with pride and tears of joy when I told her I was going to “almost minor” in theology at my university because of all the core classes they required, “Tyler… You’re going to be a minister.” I rolled my eyes. “Uh, no Mom. Ew.”

Not because I didn’t think it was a noble profession or anything, but I just wasn’t wired for “pouring into people” or “help lead people to Christ”. I imagine God must have had a chuckle, then.

I remember coming back from my honeymoon to find I was fired from my IT job (that I was thinking could at least be a stepping stone into my passion: broadcasting). I wanted to be the next Walter Cronkite or Tom Brokaw. I just liked news and loved the idea of being able to infiltrate a practically Godless, overtly biased industry and try to change it for the better and deliver news to those who needed it. I had worked for FOX and thought it was an inevitability.

But the job hunts stretched on for months and no one (and I repeat, no one) wanted me. They thought I was a mediocre writer at best and would be better behind the camera. I was fine with that, even, but I just couldn’t get in.

Then I got: the phonecall.

Jason Deese, my worship leader and friend from my church in Vegas was now at a church in Michigan. I’ll never forget what he claimed when they said they were looking for a “video guy”: “I don’t know if Tyler’s good at what he does, but I know he’s a good guy and is worth giving a shot.” He saw something in me.

The process took a bit of time, but I distinctly remember signing the commitment contract on our anniversary and would start on my birthday. Everything seemed to be lining up and felt like it was God’s hand through it all.

These 7-and-a-half years after that are a whirlwind. I morphed from this task-doing, tech-loving, process maker into this people-focused, pastoral-driven Leader (that still did video) where I have now become more wired to “pour into people” and “help lead people to Christ”. I “blame” great leadership from Jason and the rest of Southpoint for that, mostly.

Then the early summer of 2019 happened and the bottom fell out. Our church experienced massive change and people were moved, people were let go, and those that remained were left to pick up the pieces and pivot.

I can’t fully explain what happened this last summer: the leadership that had been poured into me for years was suddenly put into action. Heart-felt conversations were had. Difficult decisions were made. Strides in creating a healthy ministry even healthier were made. I felt God had been building me up for this very moment and I was finally starting to settle.

Then on August 8 – I got: the text.

The same church from Vegas was looking for a “video guy” and asked if I knew anyone. This time, I immediately dismissed it.

But then I went home and was reminded by my better looking, bigger-brained, more-aware wife that we have always prayed for God (for years) to send us wherever He needed us (at His stirring) and to be at the center of His will. She said that if we were to immediately dismiss this without figuring out if this was from God – it would be… almost an act of disobedience. 😳 She loves to recount her sarcasm: “Oh. So we serve the God of the universe or do we serve our church?” I rolled my eyes, but her point was true: we serve the God of this universe, no matter what position or location or ministry or organization.

So I reached back out and found that there was some definite movement of God at the church in Vegas and that this stirring might be from Him.

So I prayed and fasted and sought wise counsel and felt that we would be disobedient not to see if there were any dealbreakers for God to move us. We visited Vegas for a weekend and just felt like we were so welcomed.

Despite what Southpoint has done for me, the culture that’s been created in Creative Arts, the families that have touched us, the growth of my leadership and influence — all of that should pale in comparison to my highest allegiance to the God I serve for His “big K Kingdom”.

It matters not where God sends us, only that you’re willing to be sent.

I wrestled with this decision. I cried countless times from the sheer weight of it. I made a literal Pro and Con list (complete with weighted formulas and sums) for the potential move. I fought with God through multiple bible studies, multiple video series devotionals, and prayers. But at the end of the day, it had to be a clear YES or NO.

I’d be lying if I told you that the fear factor of my leaving wasn’t in our mind. I have fear and guilt for our current church in my absence. I have fear and guilt for the leadership we’ve raised up and/or poured into as I don’t want them to lose sight on the mission. I even fear if I will meet the expectations that people have set. But I think what I fear the most is the perception and rumors that can and will probably spring forth from this:

• “Tyler and Stephanie have family out in Vegas. Of course they’d go.”

This bothers us to a degree that most may never know. It’s one of our triggers, right now. We have family in Michigan, too. They love us and support us and we have aunts and uncles and Mimi’s and Papa’s that (as far as we know – I checked) zero relation to us. Our family here would be a mess and so would we. It makes this decision way less black and white than you’d think. It isn’t unfathomable to believe that family would be a motive, but that’s just not the case, here.

• With the shakeup in the summer, Tyler was probably fired. Of course they’d go.

No. You’re wrong if you think that. We’ve been here. And we did not seek this. It sought us.

• With the shakeup, Tyler just wasn’t up for the new responsibilities. Of course they’d go.

Oi vey. No way. God has slowly been wiring me (and even Stephanie) differently, but I am still passionate about all things Creative Arts in ministry – whether it’s production or video or graphics or the people that help make it happen. I love it all.

• I’m so mad at/sad at/jealous of [insert name here]: Of course they’d go.

No offense to you or your [insert name here], but maybe God is bigger than all of us and any conflicts you should resolve. So yeah – not a factor here.

But the greatest fear I have through all is this: that people might not ever see this as an act of obedience. We keep asking ourselves these questions:

• Why isn’t the claim of following God enough?
• Why can’t people just accept that we are earnestly trying to seek out God’s will and be in the center of it?
• Why does there have to be a motive more than what we believe is being obedient to God?

It saddens me that there might not be enough room in people’s minds for the Holy Spirit to move in this situation; for those of us that claim to believe in a God of miracles and opportunities, it’s weird to me that we have to rationalize that God might be moving in this.

After all, it doesn’t make sense on paper to do this move; but neither did a lot of things in the Bible:

• Building a boat in a season of drought over the course of years and years? Doesn’t make sense.
• Attempting to kill a giant of a man armed with only a pebble and a sling? Doesn’t make sense.
• Climbing out of a perfectly fine boat to walk on water? Uh… doesn’t make sense.

To be perfectly clear – it would be a slam-dunk, way easier choice for us to stay in Michigan. But God’s not always interested in prioritizing our comfort or even our desires or even our peace or even the family that Southpoint has become or even the tears that will fall if we had to leave them.

It’s. All. About. Him.

So as I have written this over the course of four weeks, this is the hardest decision we have ever made: we feel like God wants us to go to Vegas.

And to tell you the truth, even though we have such a peace at this point about this decision that took weeks of sleepless nights and tears and agonizing over God’s will, we still know that we will not be able to convince everyone (or maybe anyone) that this is the right time to take a position even when my current position is working.

Some will be angry. Others confused. Others disheartened. And some of me empathizes with these emotions of grief. The other part of me hopes that all of these emotions are transformed into a peace or hope or joy for us and (even more importantly) God’s plans.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11

Someone very dear to me and Stephanie assured us, “If people can’t wrap their heads around the idea of this act of obedience, then they don’t know you and they didn’t learn the very most important thing you’ve taught most of us.”

The mission doesn’t change; just the mission field. We’re excited for this move. Hopefully others can be, too!