"The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it]." John 1:6 (AMP)
This past weekend was the first weekend in several decades that The Highland Vineyard (THV) was not operating in any capacity, under any name. It was also the first weekend that The Rock Vineyard began operating in a new capacity. The stories of the past year culminate in those two statements, more or less. As there are many parts, I'll tell them one at a time, as best I can.
It's tough to know where exactly to start, but I'll start on July 8, 2019. I got a call from a colleague. She said, "Aaron, I just took a job in Sarasota, Florida. I want you to come with me." I was looking for a job change, and had been praying for relief at work for quite some time--several years, in fact. I enjoyed working with this friend of mine. I was sad to hear she would be leaving, however, I had very specific reasons for looking for a job change without a location change.
January 1, 2015 I officially took on the pastor role at THV. The first 6 months were perhaps the most difficult months of my life. In May, after only 5 months, I considered resigning due to a barage of criticism. I am eternally grateful for Duane, my mentor, pastor, and a father to me in many ways, and for the leading of the Spirit which Duane helped me discern. In the course of my ardent prayers in those first few months, I felt the Spirit of God impress on me a sense that there would be a difficult season ahead which would require steadfast commitment to seek wisdom from God and follow it without looking at outward signs of success.
This revelation came on the heels of a decision I had made to begin counting attendees at church, seeking feedback from visitors, etc. I just felt something very dark about that decision, which on the surface seemed so sensible. I felt very strongly that God was offering a revelation of the timeline. I told Mrs. O. that I believed we were in a season that would last five years. My job would be to seek wisdom from God and do my best to follow it, and there was a very distinct impression that I was not to complain about how it was going, and God would give me what I needed as I followed.
These revelatory thoughts and impressions came amidst words and prayers from family and friends who knew nothing of the thoughts inside my head. I got several words of encouragement that I needed to trust God and I would go through a season of "flying blind" and that we were "building roots." I got words during my prayer time about "plowing the ground" and removing the rocks--preparing the soil. I also remember a prayer time when God prompted me to remember and consider the experience we had at a previous church where we watched a transformation over the course of five years. I didn't hear any voices, but if I put words to the distinct impression I got as I prayed about resigning from this new position, those words would be,
"This is a five-year job."
So, on July 8, 2019 when I got the phone call about Sarasota, I politely thanked my friend for the call and told her I would talk to my wife. Mrs. O. responded, "how does this fit with your timeline?" referring to the five years.
"I know," I said, "it's just not the right time."
Knowing how life works out in unexpected ways, we prayed about it anyway, but after a short consideration, I declined to apply. I didn't ask about the timeline for Sarasota. . . didn't even think of it. I was sure one of the other opportunities currently in front of me would turn out to be the right one. In any case, I had an appointment with God at midnight on December 31, 2019. I was going to stay up until midnight and pray, telling Him how things had been going, and asking about the next season.
It would be the end of the five years.
This is one in a series of stories about the events of the last year. If you want, go to the next one: Broken Chains.
