The More I Learn, The More I Realize I Don’t Know

Six months…. That’s how long it’s been since our family pulled into Grimes with a moving truck, a lot of anticipation, and more than a little uncertainty about what life would look like. I remember the mixture of excitement and nerves—stepping into the role of Associate Pastor here at Pathway Church was both an opportunity and a challenge.

Half a year later, as I look back, one truth rings louder than anything else: the more I learn, the more I realize I don’t know. And strangely enough, that realization has been one of the greatest gifts.

Nothing could have prepared me for just how much growth these few months would bring. Bible College courses and endless stacks of books were valuable. Experience on a church staff in a support role taught me a lot. But nothing quite prepares you for actual Pastoring. Being a Pastor is lived out in the hospital waiting room, in late-night phone calls, in staff meetings where difficult decisions have to be made, and in moments of prayer with people who are carrying burdens too heavy for words.

Each week, I discover new things I don’t know. Sometimes it’s practical—like the nuts and bolts of organizing ministries or balancing a busy church calendar. Other times, it’s deeply spiritual—like how much patience, gentleness, and wisdom are required to shepherd people well.  I came to Pathway with ample experience leading people, and even mentoring people, but shepherding is something new.

The more I experience, the more I realize just how much I still have to learn. And in that humbling awareness, I find myself clinging tighter to Christ. Paul said it well: “If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know” (1 Corinthians 8:2). That verse keeps me grounded.

One of the greatest blessings in this season has been working under my uncle, Pastor Dan Hudson. I’ve always respected him, but seeing him lead up close has been eye-opening. His steadiness, his ability to balance truth with grace, and his serve first mentality inspire me daily. There are moments I’ll catch myself thinking, How did he handle that situation with such calm and clarity?—and I know I’m watching a lifetime of faithfulness in action.

It’s humbling to be part of a team like the one that exists here at Pathway. When I look around the table, I’m reminded that leadership in the church isn’t about position or title—it’s about service, faithfulness, and ultimately it’s about pointing people to Jesus.

From the moment we arrived, Pathway has made us feel like family. That’s not just something we say—it’s been our real experience. Our kids have been loved and welcomed. My wife and I have been embraced with open arms. We’ve been invited into homes, prayed over in hallways, and supported in ways that go beyond words. It’s one thing to attend a church; it’s another to belong to one. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). I’ve seen that love lived out here, and it has changed us. Pathway hasn’t just been a place to serve—it has been a place where we’ve been deeply cared for.

When I think about everything that’s happened in these six months, it’s overwhelming in the best way. Moving back to a familiar yet unfamiliar city. Adjusting to a new role. Finishing and releasing my book. Meeting new people. Building new relationships. Even the constant sickness that it seems like my family has experienced. Each of these have stretched and shaped us.

There were moments I felt unsure, moments I wondered if I was equipped enough, moments I felt the weight of responsibility pressing in. But God has been faithful at every turn. Proverbs 3:5–6 has been my anchor: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Through every challenge and every victory, I’ve seen His hand at work. And in that, I’ve realized just how much of this journey isn’t about me at all—it’s about His strength working through my weakness.

I’ve learned that there’s no such thing as arriving. Ministry, discipleship, and faith itself aren’t about reaching a point where you’ve got it all figured out. They’re about daily, unending pursuit of Jesus.

That’s why I want to keep leaning in—to keep learning, keep growing, and keep following Christ wherever He leads. Because every time I think I’ve got a handle on things, God shows me another layer of His wisdom, another depth of His grace, another corner of my heart He wants to transform. And that’s the beauty of it: the journey with Christ never stops.

So here we are—six months into a journey that has already been more than we could have imagined. We are blessed. We are thankful. And we are eager to see what the Lord has ahead for us.

If the past months have taught me anything, it’s that the best is yet to come—not because of me, or even because of the wonderful people around me (though they’ve been incredible), but because of Christ Himself, who promises to finish the work He has begun.

So with joy, humility, and a grateful heart, I look forward to the next six months and beyond. May we never stop learning. May we never stop serving. And may we never stop pursuing Jesus, the One who makes all things possible.