WHERE IT ALL BEGAN August 2011 - March 2013

Where it all began? Don't worry! I'm not going to go as far back as February 18, 1964 back in Overlook Hospital in Summit, NJ where I was born. I also won't mention growing up in NJ, moving to Long Island when I was 9 years old, graduating High school in 1982, attending Northeastern Bible College or getting hired at Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle in 1991. It all began for me at Friend, Nebraska in 2011. Friend, Nebraska? Yes!!

In 1996, I developed a program to teach young preteen aged kids about missions I later called Kids in Missions. I was able to write a curriculum but also had the privilege of taking these kids with my to do ministry. They learned drama as well as puppet ministry. 15 years after starting this program, I had the privilege of taking 6 kids and 4 adults with me to Friend, Nebraska to help a church, Friend Christian Assembly to run a Vacation Bible School program. Nebraska is a beautiful state and very peaceful. There are a lot of cornfields and a lot of cornfields. Truthfully, there really isn't a lot to do. It's very flat and very hot. Most of the townspeople spend the afternoon at the pool. Farmers are seen out in their fields in the heat gathering corn and other veggies. 

Early one morning, I went for a walk. All around me were cornfields. I was feeling very peaceful and relaxed. It was that morning in August 2011 that I heard God's voice speak to me. It was of course not like the movie "Field of Dreams" but it was His still small voice that said to me "Dave, I have something big for you to do." At that point in my ministry, I was feeling like my time at Smithtown was coming to an end. I had been on staff 20 years and truthfully felt like I had accomplished a lot. I was getting bored. Hearing that from God gave me excitement and something to look forward to. Little did I know that my life would change just 2 years after that. It was not what I planned, but God wanted to do a work in me.

When I returned home I shared what God had said to me in Friend, NE with a few of the pastors including the senior pastor. My hope was that they would share in my excitement and maybe give me some direction. I inquired about a position that was available at SGT, the Young Adults Pastor, but was told my gifting's were with the children and to stay with that. Truthfully, during that season in my life I was frustrated. I was not given any opportunities to preach. I appreciated being asked to share at the Smithtown Christian School chapel services but I was longing to use my talents on a Sunday morning. It never happened. When my daughter graduated from the Christian school in 2012, I was hoping they would ask me to be the keynote speaker but again, I was ignored.

I felt like an outsider and began to question where I fit in. I seriously hated just going through the motions of ministry. I was dying to have a new challenge. I would many times daydream about having anew opportunity somewhere else and helping a church start a new children's ministry but it was not God's plan. When the calendar year changed from 2012 to 2013 I did not know it would be the most difficult year of my life. I'll save that for next time.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME