For the next week or so, you’re going to hear some reflections on 11 years of ministry at Bethel.  I asked Pastor Stephanie Dalton to start the week off.  I think you’ll enjoy hearing her memories.  Blessings!  Mark

Isn’t it funny how seasons of our life can seem so long at times, but at other times seem to flash before you like the blink of an eye?

I remember the summer day in 1998 that I was sitting in our maroon colored Acura Vigor, going through the Fifth Third Bank drive-through in Columbus, Ohio and heading out to get the day’s chores done.  Just as I was pulling out of the bank, my cell phone rang and it was Marion.  He called to tell me that all plans for moving to Lexington to plant a church had been approved by our Pastor and that the time line had been moved up by one year.  One year?!  Didn’t anyone care that I did not want the time line moved up one year?!

I sat in the sun-drenched car that day with overwhelming feelings of fear, excitement, and urgency. I feared because I had a plan that I was working and now the plan was changing. I knew what I needed and wanted to accomplish to prepare for our move to Lexington.  It only seemed fair to me that I should be able to prepare the way I felt most comfortable with since this was such a permanent move.

Excitement came over me.  This was the day we had prayed for and believed for.  There was an overwhelming sense of urgency to begin the work that God had spoken to our hearts.  The hours of planning, praying and dreaming were actually going to manifest in the natural.

Urgency also hit me.  With so many questions and so few answers, I had a sense of urgency that things needed to get done.  My year time-line had changed significantly and now things needed to get done quickly. I now had four months.  Questions needed to be answered.  When will we go?  How will we find a church meeting place?  Have we prepared enough financially?  What about my family – how do we tell them of the date change? Where will we live?  Who will come to our church?  God….ARE YOU SURE?

Twelve years have passed since that day at the drive-through.  Wow…take a moment with me and think about where you were twelve years ago (I would love to hear your comments!).  Twelve years filled with more emotions and experiences than I have time to share in this one blog!  (I had never even heard of a blog 12 years ago…I don’t think they even existed).

I think about the way God has crossed our paths.  It is amazing to me the wonderful people that God has brought across my path since the inception of Bethel. From the Ukraine to India to Haiti to Lexington to Nicholasville to next door, stories that bring richness to my life.  The individuals that I have watched God restore to a relationship with him is amazing – moms, dads, sons, and daughters that one by one changed their eternal destination at a place called Bethel.  This is a place where friendships have been made and people have begun to build life together.  One Bible study at a time, one wedding at a time, one funeral at a time, one birth of a child at a time, one softball game at a time, one meal at a time,  and one service at a time.  Many experiences have brought us and keep us together.

I think about the wonderful God that has showed me more mercy than I deserve. He has showed me more love than I could ever share and given me more faith than I ever thought was possible. Today, my walk with my Savior is surer; my passion for His mission stronger and my heart is full of expectation.

Today, I am thankful for Bethel’s 11^th year anniversary. I am also looking forward to many more years of stories that declare the awesomeness of our Savior.  To those who have called Bethel home at some point along this journey and to those who are among the family today, thank you for sharing the journey.  We’ve only just begun!

This blog brought to you by Pastor Stephanie Dalton.