Our new pastor Joseph Dye …

Yesterday Julia and I had the pleasure of having lunch with our new Pastor, Joseph Dye.      He is going to be meeting with the PPR committee on June 4th and I will be unable to attend, so we decided a lunch ahead of time would be appropriate.
What a joyful time we had.  He spoke of his desires and the issues he’s had to deal with in his pastoral experience.  Julia and I sat and listened with great attention.  Our security TEAM Cookie and Oreo were on him like a duck on a June bug to make sure he didn’t carry any weapons or (which is far more likely) to see if he had a treat for them.  They liked him immediately.  We shared ideas and hopes and dreams for what Gateway has in store for us.
Julia and I spent a bit of time sharing with him some of our time at Gateway and some of our experiences.  We didn’t spend much time at all on the past, but the future.  Joseph has a heart of the things of Jesus.  He wants to reach those who so desperately need to hear of Jesus.  I told him the good folks of Gateway want the same things.
I told him I am the Lay Leader, but that I was resigning my position and recommending Missy as the new Lay Leader for Gateway.  Gateway needs new leadership and I am part of the old leadership.  He needs someone who has fresh ideas and lots of energy.  I told him Missy is the right person for the job.  She will be a great asset to him.  I explained that I am not leaving Gateway, only stepping aside to support new leadership.  Missy will do well in this role.
Julia and I are excited about the future.  We prayed as a church and asked God to send us the right man for the job.  The man God wanted here.  The man God was going to use to lead Gateway into the future and to be all we can be as a church.  God sent us Pastor Joseph Dye.  I am so thankful He did.                                   
Lord Jesus: We are on a new path Lord.  It’s exciting, it’s a bit un-nerving because it is new.  Help us to walk in faith.  Help us to support each other as we plow new ground together.  Help us support pastor Joseph and Becky as they too are taking steps of great faith.  They don’t have insurance and they don’t have pension benefits yet.  Please take care of them and help us to grow so we can support him and his family full time as soon as possible.  Help us to reach the Athens community with your love and good news.  Help us to be the expression of your body in Athens that you want us to be.  Thank you for our new pastor and his wonderful family.