Aug 11 2008
what God told me
Let me say that I’ve never heard God speak in an audible voice. For those who have it makes hearing God easier. But I have heard God speak to me through the years in various ways. But there have been a few times where God spoke in my mind and heart unmistakably. Friday at the Leadership Summit was one of those days.
For anyone who has met my wife Cassandra, you know what a special woman she is. We have a special relationship that I can’t explain. We are very connected spiritually and emotionally. She is a gifted person in so many ways. I would dare say that there are people at many of the churches we served that were more upset that she left than me.
Almost everywhere we have served we have served separately. We served in the same church but we would serve in different areas. We thought that was OK because we were passionate about jumping in where we were needed.
When I was on staff in Jacksonville, NC I was being stretched in many directions so, Cass jumped in to lead the preschool department. The personnel committee wanted to hire a full-time person but the pastor said why should we pay someone when we have Cassandra. I didn’t think it was very funny.
When God called us to plant a church I should have been listening to what God was telling us. We were assessed for church planting at the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and they told us that I scored well as a church planter but they gave us the highest rank you could get as a couple. But we have never served in the same area together.
Then we interviewed with a mega church in Greensboro, NC a few years ago and the Executive Pastor couldn’t get over how well we worked together. Later that summer we talked to another mega church in Austin, TX about starting a church with them. During one of the interviews the Lead Pastor couldn’t stop smiling as he watched Cassandra and me talk. He finally stopped and said you two are very connected. He said he had never seen such a connection. We laughed it off but have never served together in the same area.
Last year when we resigned our former church one of the reasons we decided to leave is that we wanted to serve as a family and not be divided on Sundays. But again, each Sunday, I go one way and Cassandra goes another.
Friday Cassandra was at home dealing with the AC people and I was telling our worship leader about it. I joked and said they don’t want to mess with Cassandra because the Social Worker comes out in her and she is a bulldog when it comes to advocating for others –now she is advocating for us. Susan made some comment about how talented Cassandra is and so did Lynn our other staff member. Our pastor made a comment last week about how gifted Cassandra was as he watched her greeting people at a church event. Yet again, we weren’t serving together.
A few years ago Cassandra was over working in her volunteering so I tried to rescue her. But I’ll never forget what she told me.
She said, “have you ever thought that God has called me too?”
Wow, she was right. Whenever she speaks she speaks with power. She has a gift to speak to women. She has them listening and before long they are in tears. I joke and tell her she is “Beth Moore.” She doesn’t like that. But she is that gifted.
So all of this is to tell you what God told me on Friday. But really He has been telling me this for at least 10 years. He told me while I was listening to Bill Hybels and then a video they showed at the Leadership Summit called “Here am I send me.” What did God tell me?
God said, “You and Cassandra are to be doing ministry together.”
Now I don’t know what this all means. It won’t happen today or tomorrow. It may be a few years away. But I heard God loud and clear. We are so much more effective (at least I am) when we work together. So I’m ready to see what God is going to do with all of this.
8 responses so far
I’ll certainly be praying for you and Cass as God opens the doors for this to happens–because as God calls, He’ll send the opportunities to match!
What a great calling for the two of you to have!
M. Steve Heartsill’s last blog post..Would You Like Seconds?
Steve,
Thanks. The doors may be right here. Or they may not happen until both of our children are on their own. But when I hear the same thing over and over for 10+ years I need to listen.
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..what God told me
Yeah Kevin. The last 10 years or so may be like the proverbial 2×4 to the head. Sounds like you all have a great relationship and will have a great ministry together in the future (as you already have now only more effective maybe?) If God grants, I hope I am here to hear what God is doing.
Bill(cycleguy)’s last blog post..Definition of Success
Kevin,
Funny enough? As I sat across Brother G yesterday in our college/career/singles group - I thought about you and Cass. Brother G and I consider it such a privilege to pray for you, your wife, and your family.
Just as a word here though: God said to you, “You and Cassandra are to be doing ministry together.” Notice the word “are” - He did not say, “will be”… Present tense not future tense… So that’s how we’re praying for you and Cass… The now… How can you and Cass minister together now? Today….. this moment….
Looking forward to how God is going to show you/Cass those opportunities and how you and your amazing wife grab ahold of them and shine for His glory alone. How lives are changed as a result of loving God and loving others. Outflow my brother… outflow. Jesus already paid the price in full. Whatever…..
Camey’s last blog post..Precious Resources
Bill,
Thanks.
Camey,
We do now at times. But in a new work we are stretched in all directions. Right now we are doing what we are suppose to be doing. I think God is telling me that We are more effective when we minister at the same time in the same area. That doesn’t mean 365 days a year. I don’t know what it means but we would love to work with young adults–always have had that passion. Right we serve on opposite ends of the church (doing God’s work) because of the needs that are there. It isn’t God’s timing yet. It took Mother Teresa years following God’s call for her to do what He called her to do.
Right now, we will continue to do what we are doing joyfully as long as God provides.
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..what God told me
Kevin,
Just asking, because it helps me pray for you guys…. when you say work together… just working at the church together for the mission of the church… that is not what you mean? You mean physically working in the same ministry at the church? Singles, etc… doing that particular ministry together?
Robert,
we are already working and have been working at the same church (she volunteers and works where ever she is needed). I believe that we are more effective when we work physically together. It is something I can’t explain. You would have to see how we work together to understand. So a particular ministry like young adults. She helps me with the youth now, but with a teenager in the group it is hard.
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..what God told me
What a great story Kevin. We will be praying for you as God clarifies the message.
Debbie Kaufman’s last blog post..Pray For China Bracelets