God's Plans

In 2004, Rick was due for his first sabbatical after seven years of ministry in the United Church of Christ in the States.  He wanted to experience ministry in a different country and culture, but was limited by language and a wife who sought a familiar culture.  So he focused his energies on finding a suitable short-term ministry exchange in the British Isles.   

But God had other plans.  Off our family of four went on a wonderful 10-week exchange in Sydney, Australia, a place we had frankly never even considered visiting.   We loved the experience, but eagerly returned home to the States, settled nicely back into life there and added a child to the brood.

But then, in 2005, we were approached with a life-altering question: “Have you ever considered actually coming to live in Sydney?”  Quite frankly, the answer was “no”.  We had never envisioned raising our family outside of the United States.  Sure, as a ministry family, we recognized that we would likely not live the remainder of our lives in Connecticut, but early on in our young family’s life, I made clear to Rick that his next call needed to be east of the Mississippi, because I needed to be geographically close to my family.

But God had other plans.  It was an opportunity, an adventure, a calling that we couldn’t pass up.  So, in January 2007, we set sail for Sydney’s shores with a five-year call for Rick to serve as Ministry Team Leader at West Epping Uniting Church.  Over the past five and half years, we settled comfortably into our lives here in Sydney and grew in unimaginable ways in our faith, family and marriage.  We loved exploring the Australian culture and country and rejoiced in watching our children thrive in their school and our community.  Through his ministry at West Epping, Rick experienced enormous challenge, inspiration, blessing and growth.  We reunited with our families at least once a year in the northern summer months, and enjoyed visits from family members here in Sydney. 

We liked our life and work so much that we were tempted to explore remaining here for a bit longer, but we ultimately decided that West Epping was ready for new leadership and we were ready to return to the States to be closer to family.  At the beginning of 2011, we began the search for churches in the UCC and set our sights on a transition back to the States at the end of the year.

But God had other plans.  Most unexpectedly, Rick was approached to consider an amazing leadership opportunity within the Uniting Church in Sydney.  We were, as Australians like to say, gobsmacked by the fit of the opportunity with Rick’s gifts, vision and sense of call.  And I was incredibly torn between the desire to be closer to family and the knowledge deep in my heart that God’s calling for Rick was so evident in this turn of events.  After much conversation, deliberation and prayer, we pulled Rick’s name out of some very promising positions in the States to open him up to the possibility of this placement.

And so we find ourselves, after an excruciatingly long period of uncertainty and upheaval in our lives, finally able to share that Rick has been called to serve as the new Senior Minister of Wesley Mission here in Sydney. 

Wesley Mission is the largest Uniting Church in Australia with 12 services every week (in five languages) at the Wesley Centre downtown (along with more than 40 other services at its centres caring for the homeless, the disabled, the aged and others needing special care).  In his new role, Rick will be providing leadership, support and encouragement to Wesley Mission’s worship communities, ministers, pastors and chaplains.  He will also be sharing in the leadership of the 6pm Praise, Prayer and Preaching service with the Superintendent, Rev Dr Keith Garner and nurturing the growth of the Mission’s Chapel in the City. 

What’s really remarkable about Wesley Mission though is not the number of worshipers “in the pews;” it’s the way the church’s worship life is interwoven with its service life. The reach of this church’s ministry of care is phenomenal, including suicide prevention, homeless services, mental health services, youth mentoring and foster care programs, a wide range of counselling services, child and family services, employment services, outdoor ministry, addiction treatment and aged care services throughout New South Wales and beyond.  With nearly 2,000 staff and 3,000 volunteers, it’s really not like any church we’ve ever encountered. 

Rick’s new position is going to be an enormous challenge for him and a big adjustment for our family.  But it seems to me that this is exactly the kind of ministry God has prepared Rick for and called him to.  It’s almost like God had it planned or something.

We will continue to live close to the kids’ school and travel home every year to be with our families.  Along with us, the kids also share a desire to return to America on some levels (particularly when it comes to living closer to cousins and grandparents, and of course, the land of Disney), but they are happy to remain in Australia living a pretty great life.

But what about the future further down the track?  Erin is almost 12 and will head to high school next year- what happens when she’s ready to move off to college?  Will the kids want to stay here for university, or head off to American schools?  Will they identify more with Australia than America?  What if someday, Rick and I would like to return to the States, but our children want to remain here?  What will become of us?

No worries, we’re learning. 

God’s got the plans.