Randomness, Reflections & Introspection
My Family – Gateway Shelbyville
Words cannot express how much I will miss these people. We have had so many hangouts, laughs, deep talks and food! Simply want to say THANK YOU! #family #friends #kingdomconnections
Andrea Key, Brothers and Sisters, Chase Capley, church, Corey Voss, family, friends, Gateway Church, Gateway Church Shelbyville, Gateway Shelbyville, Johnathan Key, kingdom connections, Shelbyville TN
No Goodbyes, Just See You Later
I want to start at the very beginning. Not the very very beginning, of course. But the beginning of this now ending season. The origins of my time in Tennessee, as I’ve slowly been shaped and molded into the man I’m sure God is desiring to create me to be. I hope it brings hope to someone, anyone, who is feeling this way or who will feel this way.
Over the past 11 months, I have stepped in as the Associate Pastor at the church here in Shelbyville, TN because of the need we had while we were growing and becoming who we are now. After several conversations and prayers, I felt (along with my Pastor) that the Lord was positioning me at least in that season to partner with my Pastor, Jason Daughdrill to take on this new Associate Pastor role. Boy has this been a wonderful ride leading at this new level and ministering in ways I didn’t think I was able to do. I always knew a part of me would still long to work with students and young adults. It was a passion that the Lord place intricately inside of me and a gifting I couldn’t just 100% forsake. Both my pastor and I were aware of this desire and so, with his blessing, I was given the opportunity (late May) to begin the process of searching for a Student Pastor position that would fit.
I am both happy and extremly sad to announce that I will be soon transitioning out of Gateway Church (as announced August 31st). Happy because I get to enter back into student ministry which I love so much and sad because I am leaving behind some dear and lifelong relationship I have fostered here over the last year and half along with a church I love. Relationships that has kept me going through tough times… friendships who have celebrated life with me, together.
I am tremendously thankful to my current Pastor, Jason Daughdrill (& Sylvia) and all that he has poured into me and preparing me for great success wherever I am leading at next. I know that without his mentorship in this season, I would not be the pastor and leader I am today. Such a tremendous preacher and co-laborer with Christ. I have personally seen him love and handle tough decision with grace and mercy… a rare quality in today’s time. I am also thankful for Corey Voss, a great friend and roommate who believed in me and encouraged me since day one. This man is a prayer warrior and gifted worship leader for the Body of Christ. Can’t wait to see all the Lord does in him and through him. Would like to also honor Johnathan and Andrea Key for being able to step in as Student Pastors here and lead with such grace. Our friendship has developed into a brother/brother-sister relationship. Excited about the Lord doing marvelous thing in their life and through Rhythm Student Ministry. Though my time with Gateway was short, I am grateful for families such as the Buckner’s, the Bynum’s, the Haughton’s, the Martin’s, the Milkuka’s, the Spence’s and the Throneberry’s. These families have taken me into their homes, loved me as one of their own and been such amazing prayer warriors for me and I am better because of their care, love, and prophetic encouragement/wisdom.
Following Jesus is hard. But it’s the most beautiful adventure. To fully know that the Creator of the universe, the God-man Jesus Christ, the One who makes dead things live… to know that He is for you is unlike anything else. He has made this whole thing – this entire journey – worth it. And He will make this next season of my life, though unknown to me and filled with uncertainty, even more worth it.
I’m eager to see what the Lord has next for me and I am just taking in all he has for me in this journey/transition. (sometime, He calls us into this journey or desert place just to Allure Us Towards Love)
I am currently sitting here thanking God (in streaming tears) for all the wonderful things that has happened these past 18 mos and I am constantly reminded of how faithful Jesus truly is. Through all of the ups and downs, the good and bad, the laughter and pain – he remains Faithful. My passion for young people has grown stronger and the desire to be a part of what God is doing with them is burning within me. Don’t know what the future holds. But I DO know that it’s ALL in God’s hands. And I’m perfectly okay with that. Truly Blessed 🙂
To my Gateway Family and Friends — This is not a Goodbye… simply See You Later!!! Shelbyville will be known by your love and marked by Jesus because you cared. The BEST is yet to come!
To all who’s reading this… I covet your prayers for me and what’s next but also for Gateway Church – Shelbyville.
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” – John 3v8
PS… enjoy this song I am currently listening from the defunct worship band, Livingston (Victory World Church) – MY ALL
Associate Pastor, COREY GIBSON, Gateway Church, Gateway Shelbyville, No Goodbyes Just See You Later, Pastor Corey Gibson, stumin, youthmin
Leadership, Reflections & Introspection, That'll Preach Sayings
Degree of Your Victory
“The degree of your victory isn’t found in our own hands but in our sincere surrender to God!” – @jordansharrett // such a good word from one of my favorite & dear friend! (at gateway church suwanee)
Degree of Your Victory, Gateway Church, Gateway Church in Suwanee, God, Jesus, Jordan Sharrett, surrender
Instagram Post, Leadership, Randomness
New Building
We are finalizing plans this week.. Can’t wait till we move in this Fall! #movingforward #gatewayshelbyville @mygatewaychurch #RevivalIsOurReality
Gateway Church, Gateway Church Shelbyville, Gateway Shelbyville, moving forward, New Building, Old Walmart, Old Walmart Building, revival is our reality
Ministry Update
It has been a little over a month since I moved to Shelbyville, Tennessee to accept the call (with much prayer & a step of faith) to serve as Student Ministries Pastor at Gateway Church. Everything here has been so surreal as to be welcomed with open arms, and the genuine love and support from the parents, leaders, students and church. I am completely overwhelmed at what the Lord has done so far since being here a month. We have seen students saved, set free and filled with the Holy Spirit. My second week here, we prayed for our entire congregation and saw over 20 people received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
We are in a shifting as a church to go to the Next Level in what God want to do in us and through us. And I couldn’t have come at a better time as we move forward together as a church. I am thankful for the Student Ministry team the Lord is building here and for the vision that we have. As I sit here typing this blog, I am excited and expectant to see this vision and dream become reality in these wonderful young peoples lives. I cannot shake the scripture in Luke 8:40 and Habakkuk 3:2 (our vision/heart); that in our expectancy for Jesus, He would renew/revive the great deeds & his fame in our day… in our generation remembering mercy.
Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. + Luke 8:40
Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.+ Habakkuk 3:2
Here’s how you can pray:
- That God will continue to build our SM team as we leaders surrender to the Holy Spirit and give our all to Jesus. Pray for our SM vision, identity and leaders/parents.
- That God would continue to provide the resources to be able to do ministry.
- That these young people would be completely marked by Jesus and in total abandonment live generously for Him. Pray that we would be unapologetic about growth… spiritual growth and numerical growth.
COREY GIBSON, Gateway Church, God, Habakkuk 3:2, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Luke 8:40, Pastor Corey Gibson, Prayer, Shelbyville, Shelbyville Tennessee, Student Ministries Pastor, student ministry, Student Pastor, Tennessee, vision
Hey Champ!
Hebrews 10:19-25 (NIV)
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Every single person in your life needs encouragement!! I do not know anyone that would ever turn down some encouragement, whether they work in the ministry or not, whether they know Jesus or not, whether they are talented or not, everyone needs encouraging! I have a friend that every time that I have the opportunity to spend some time with, I leave feeling like a new person. I leave SO encouraged, because he calls me “champion” all of the time. He constantly speaks life into me, he reminds me of the calling of God upon my life, he builds me up… and not for flattery but for encouragement! We need some more people like that, those are the kinds of people that we need in our churches, on our teams and in our world!!
I don’t believe that it takes a scholar or prophet to look around our world and see the vast amount of insecurity in people’s lives. There are preachers that don’t feel good enough, moms that don’t feel adequate, teens that don’t feel pretty enough, business men that don’t feel smart enough, and on and on it goes… because so many people are living their life completely driven by insecurity. We will never know the full extent of the impact encouragement will have on people, because they are in desperate need of it and as Christians we should be the foremost distributors of encouragement!
A man that rarely gets talked about in the scriptures, Barnabas, is one of the greatest examples of encouragement you will find. In fact, his name was Joseph but they changed his name to Barnabas which means “son of encouragement” (that is how much he encouraged). Although he slightly lived in Paul the Apostle’s shadow, I think people got just as excited about seeing Barnabas as they did Paul, especially if they had a bad day, week or year… but if they could just spend some time with Barnabas they would leave encouraged.
That’s what I want to be said of me, that when people leave they feel encouraged, lifted and pointed to Jesus… I hope that becomes your prayer, lets become people that live to encourage and point people to Jesus!
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[Pastor Jordan Sharrett is the associate pastor at Gateway Church in Suwanee, GA where he and his wife, Nikki leads theExchangeYA ministry. For more information, please visit www.gatewayatsuwanee.com]
Barnabas, Encourager, Gateway Church, Hebrew 10:19-25, Hebrews 10:23-25, Hello Champ, Hey Champ, Jesus, Jordan Sharrett, Nikki Sharrett, Pastor Jordan Sharrett, Suwanee, Suwanee GA, TheExchange, TheExchangeYA
