The Bratcher Bunch: May 2009

WOW!! Where do I begin today? I guess I should begin at the beginning. About a year ago at our spring revival, God clearly told Doug to "get ready." Immediately we began praying and talking about what that meant. It was obvious that it meant Doug going back to school. Last summer we began exploring the options of him going back to seminary or possibly attending Campbellsville. and if you've been keeping up with our blog at all you've already read about the job we thought we had at Campbellsville University last August (that didn't end up working out). But Doug quit his job and decided to go to Southern Seminary in Louisville. He has been Mr. Mom, staying home with the kids ALL year AND attending seminary on Monday's.

As we got closer and closer to the summer we also began realizing that although God has provided 1000-fold this year even in spite of the absence of Doug's teaching salary, we knew that we needed to look for a full time ministry position if he was going to continue with seminary. Assuming that that type of position would only be available in Elizabethtown or Louisville, we began to pray and seek God's guidance in where He'd have us apply.

We applied for a position at a church in Etown and even went through the entire interview process with one other candidate (a friend of ours as well). But that wasn't where God wanted us. And although we were broken hearted that it didn't work out, we still knew that God wanted us in a full-time position this next year.

So three weeks ago we resigned at Trammell Creek Baptist Church, not knowing where God was leading us, but knowing that it was toward a full time ministry position. As hard as it was we knew that was what God wanted. We told the youth first during Sunday School and then announced to the church after Doug preached that morning. Our last day was to be June 28th. Of course it was sad, but it was almost peaceful as people approached us with tears flowing, yet so supportive and understanding.

Then God threw us a curve ball!! Two days after we had resigned the personnel committee got together to discuss what would be next and low and behold they came up with something far beyond what Doug and I could have imagined. They decided to create a full-time Associate Pastor/Youth Minister position with full time pay and the use of the parsonage. Immediately Doug and I began praying about the possibility of staying where we love to serve so much!! And God's peace overwhelmed us!!

Today the church voted to create the position AND to hire Doug to fill it. =)

We are SOOOOO super excited about what is next. Culmination to a year in the desert relying on God to provide us with our promised land of full time ministry. And a new road in a VERY familiar place!! There is no way we could have dreamed up a more amazing plan. Isn't God good!!

I think this is a very appropriate time to quote our youth group theme verse...

"'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 a hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11

Well, so far May has been a busy, stressful month, but it's finally starting to slow down. I think I mentioned last month that we sold our house...which is great in this economy, but selling it a week after we put it up wasn't quite what we had planned. We thought we'd have a while to figure out what will come next. So, since we had to get out for the nice new owners, we've moved in with Doug's Memaw!! Thank God for Memaws!! Doug's been finishing his first semester back at seminary (he had 9 hours) and I've been finishing up my Master's Degree (6 hours). So I've had school (GCMS) and photography, we've both had church and finals plus our two kids and other odds and ends that just have seemed to come up during this busy time!! But Memaw has taken AMAZING care of us. I thought we just needed a few rooms to sleep at night and a bathroom, but she has provided us with a home, childcare, her vehicle (as we only had one that worked the beginning of the month), home-cooked meals, and an occasional basket full of folded clothes when Doug doesn't get them done (yes, I said Doug =)!! I don't know what we would have done without her!!

Anyway, here are a few photos of the kids here at Memaws....even though Memaw isn't IN any of them!!