One Year at Pathway

If you would have asked me a year ago what this season of life would look like, I would have had an answer—but it wouldn’t have looked like this. Not even close. And that’s not because our expectations were low… it’s because what God has done has gone far beyond anything we could have planned or imagined.

It’s hard to believe we’ve officially crossed the one-year mark at Pathway Church. In some ways, it feels like we just arrived. In other ways, it feels like this has been home for much longer. There’s something about stepping into what God has for you that accelerates connection, deepens roots, and makes time feel different.

When we first felt God leading our family here, there was both excitement and uncertainty. We knew He was opening a door, but we didn’t fully know what was on the other side. There were questions we couldn’t answer and details we couldn’t see. Like so many steps of faith, all we really had to hold onto was obedience.

So we said yes.

We came with open hands, trusting that if God was calling us here, He would meet us here. And looking back now, I can say with full confidence—He has. In fact, He’s done far more than we ever could have expected. If we had tried to sit down and map out the “ideal” version of this past year, we wouldn’t have come close to what it’s actually been.

God has been incredibly kind to us.

One of the greatest gifts of this year has been the people. What started as quick introductions and casual conversations has grown into deep, meaningful friendships. Not the kind that stay within the walls of a Sunday morning, but the kind that carry into real life—sharing meals, walking through challenges, celebrating wins, praying together, and showing up when it matters most. Those relationships have become one of the most meaningful parts of this journey for our family.

And it hasn’t just been true for us—it’s been just as real for our girls. Watching them build friendships, seeing their excitement when we pull into the church parking lot, hearing them talk about people they love during the week… those are moments that hit me deeply as a dad. There is something powerful about knowing your children are growing up in a community where they are genuinely known, deeply loved, and consistently pointed toward Jesus. That’s not something we take lightly.

The love that has been shown to our family this year has been overwhelming in the best way. So many of you have encouraged us, prayed for us, supported us, and cared for us in ways that go far beyond what we expected. You didn’t just welcome us into a church—you welcomed us into your lives. You’ve loved our girls like they were your own, and you’ve made this place feel like home in a way that only the body of Christ can. It hasn’t been surface-level kindness. It’s been intentional. It’s been sacrificial. It’s been Christ-like. And we have felt it every step of the way.

Another part of this year that has meant more to me than I can fully put into words is the opportunity to serve under Dan’s leadership. To step into a church that carries 25 years of faithfulness, prayer, and steady leadership is not something I take lightly. I’ve had a front-row seat to the way he leads—with consistency, humility, and a deep trust in God through every season—and it’s shaped me in more ways than I probably even realize yet.

What has impacted me most isn’t just what he’s built, but how he’s led while building it. And for me personally, I’m incredibly grateful for the trust he’s extended—creating space for me to step in, to grow, and to lead in meaningful ways. That kind of trust is a gift, and it’s not something I take for granted. Dan, thank you for the way you’ve led this church so faithfully for so many years, and thank you for allowing me to be a small part of what God is continuing to do here. It truly means more than I can say.

This year has also been one of significant personal growth for me. Being in this season has stretched me in ways I didn’t fully anticipate. It’s one thing to talk about surrender—it’s another thing to actually live it out daily. There have been moments where God has challenged me, refined me, and reminded me that following Him isn’t about comfort, but about continual surrender.

Luke 9:23 has taken on a deeper meaning this year: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Not occasionally. Not when it’s easy. Daily.

There have been days where that surrender has meant laying down my own plans, trusting Him without clarity, and choosing obedience even when it required more faith than I felt like I had in the moment. But every single time, I’ve found that what God builds on the other side of surrender is always better than what I was trying to hold onto. A deeper joy. A clearer purpose. A stronger dependence on Him.

And a big part of that growth has come through something I didn’t even fully realize I needed as much as I did—a mentor and ministry coach. Having someone like Dean Trune speak into my life this year has been incredibly impactful. He has challenged me in ways that have stretched my thinking, sharpened my leadership, and deepened my faith. Not always in ways that were easy—but always in ways that were necessary.

There have been conversations that pushed me, moments that exposed areas I needed to grow, and encouragement at just the right times that reminded me to keep going. That kind of intentional investment is rare, and I don’t take it for granted. God has used that relationship to produce growth in me that I genuinely don’t think would have happened otherwise. I’m incredibly grateful for that.

At the same time, this year has continued to deepen my love for my wife in a way that still catches me off guard. Every year, I think to myself, “There’s no way I could love her more than I do right now.” And every year, I’m proven wrong.

Walking through this season together—stepping into something new, raising our girls, navigating life and ministry side by side—has only strengthened what we have. I’ve watched her love our family so well. I’ve watched her serve and care for people in quiet, faithful ways. I’ve watched her trust God in moments that don’t always get seen, but matter more than most things that do.

She is an incredible wife, an amazing mom, and my greatest partner in everything God has called us into. I thank God for her daily.

More than anything, this year has reminded me of God’s faithfulness. Psalm 37:23 says, “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him.” That verse feels like a summary of this entire season. We didn’t have every detail figured out when we came here, but we took a step in faith—and God has been faithful to establish every step since.

Not always in the way we expected, but always in the way we needed. And always with His goodness all over it.

As we reflect on this first year, our hearts are full. Grateful for the friendships that have been built. Grateful for the love that has been shown. Grateful for the growth that has taken place in our lives. Grateful to be part of a church that is hungry for more of God and willing to follow where He leads.

And the truth is—we’re only halfway through what we originally committed to.

But if I’m being honest… it’s starting to feel like this might be a little more than just a two-year stop for our family. 😉 But that is out of my control. But as Dan says, I know "God's Got This."

We don’t know exactly what the future holds, but we do know this—if God has been this faithful in year one, we have every reason to trust Him with whatever comes next.