He Brings The Increase!

Rockway is a family. We have our church parents -older crowd that takes care of us:)
We have our siblings. We even have some crazy cousins - you know who you are:)This is family...we love each other.

So when I was approached in January by a church in Hobart, OK about the possibility of becoming their Pastor, my initial thought was..."why would I, I've got a great family already". "Because it may be My plan" was what I then felt God say to me, "Do you trust Me". A test of faith. I responded to the church saying I was willing to let it play out and see what God does. I began to pray. Sarah began to pray. From January to May we prayed. We had a couple of conversations with the church over those months and each time it went well but I wasn't sure what God was doing. A test of faith.

In May I was at one of our prayer time's at Jose's. I was praying scripture. I was praying that God's will for Rockway be made clear. I was praying for you, "God, what does Rockway need". I was praying through I Corinthians and got to chapter 3. Verses 5-10 jumped off the page.

"Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds it."

I knew right then. My holdup to following God had been my pride filled idea that since I planted Rockway, it was up to me to hold it together. God assured me..."Keith, you planted..someone else will water and I (Jesus-not man) will bring the increase". Immediately I got excited...for Rockway...for your future! God's plans are always best. God will bring the increase!

We are moving to Hobart. We are pumped and sad at the same time. We will deeply miss you.

I don't know why this is the route God is choosing.
I do know it's right. It's good. It's by faith.

Faith is not responding to the Lord after He's laid out the plan. Faith simply responds to "Come, follow Me". (Hebrews 11:1)

I don't know why God would lead us away from family, friends...Rockway. But I know He can, He does...He said He would call for sacrifice. (Luke 14)
I do know...we can trust Him...totally.

God's plan is always the best...for EVERYONE! When we follow in obedience and sacrifice when called, He always replaces the thing we sacrificed with something better. I can't wait to hear the stories of how He is bringing new blessings to Rockway.

Sarah and I will always be grateful for our time with you at Rockway. Our children were born here. Family has been close. We have been part of a great group of people who seek the Lord.

As a church, we have seen some amazing things together...we've experienced the Lord together. At other times, we have been to the bottom of life together...and we discovered...Jesus was there with us.

We have sought Him together and He always rewards those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
He has rewarded Sarah and I...with Himself and with your friendships.

Rockway's future is bright...God honoring...Glory bringing. The head of this church is not leaving. He is still here, still active...still giving the orders. Jesus is still in charge.

I trust Kyle, Jonathan, and Stan as much as any men I have ever known and your Leadership Team is made up of some of God's best.

Kyle Walker is absolutely a blessing from God to Rockway. I trust him totally with the dearest thing in my life next to family...YOU! He's real. He loves the Lord big time. He's surrendered. I believe in the Jesus I see in him. Give him the same love, care, and patience you have shown me and God will do things in your midst you wouldn't believe!

This move is hard for us...we had planned on being here the rest of our life. (be careful of planning too far ahead if you follow Jesus...He loves to see your faith in action) Yet, as we grieve leaving you, He has placed within us a great excitement for the new task ahead. Hobart, OK is now on our heart. We are truly excited...a gift of God through faith.

_sidethought_ I say this in love...because I love you. Wake up! Life is short! Jesus demands, deserves, and desires your very best. Some of you are still on the fence, playing games with God. You follow out of convenience...attend sporadically, give only occasionally, grumble at any real call for commitment or sacrifice. Rockway is not yet all that God desires it to be because of....YOU! Give God and His church your very best. Anything less is unacceptable to our Lord. Don't waste your life.

Rockway, Sarah and I love you very much. Thanks for everything. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

See you at the cross,

Keith