āFaith sees things not as they are, but as they will be.ā This is the quote that has been on the sign at a church which is on my way home along Fenton Rd.
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In addition to where she got her red hair, people regularly ask me how we chose Faith's name. Well, it's pretty easy. Faith is Annette's middle name, but it is also the name of the church I attended for most of my life, Faith Reformed Presbyterian in Quarryville, PA, and of the church we loved so much in Lincoln, NE, Faith Orthodox Presbyterian. Both Faith and Sophia were born in Nebraska. Before moving there for Annette's job offer after Christmas of 2008, Nebraska was nowhere near being on my radar! Why did God move us there? Many reasons, of course (many of which have yet to be fully revealed, I'm sure), but one certainly seemed to be the ability to become established and comfortable starting a family. It was also where my music ministry began to grow.
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Moving halfway across the country from a small farming town in southeast Pennsylvania to a small city south of Lincoln, NE also meant not only packing up my long time music studio (and saying goodbye to many disappointed students), but the even more difficult part of leaving my entire family. We've come to understand that it was a necessary cleaving, though we are always so thankful to visit or have them come to visit.
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We lived in Nebraska for 5 and 1ā2 years. Leaving the comfort of a good paying job with the state, a lovely home, a good situation with my work, and the place where we welcomed Faith and Sophia into this world was difficult. One of the very hardest parts of moving was leaving our wonderful church.
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The move from Nebraska to Michigan was a leap of complete and total faith. Annette's father's health was rapidly failing. Her parents needed someone to help watch over their home and acreage just south of Fenton. So, we moved here with no immediate job prospect, and our lifesavings to get us by. In God's providence, James passed away the day we arrived, and the truck was unloaded by the pastor and a handful of helpful members of Tyrone Covenant Presbyterian Church and family in the middle of a drenching rain. I eventually found work in insurance, only to be injured in an auto accident a few months later. God provided through all of that. And, as I regularly mention to others and remind myself, God made His call to ministry very clear during that time. My disability recovery ended in October, just over a year and a half after the accident. Right around Christmas is when I got the phone call asking me if I would be interested in sending my resume. That of course led to this incredible experience as your Worship Director.
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During these past nine months, I have learned so much. I have grown and been stretched in ways I never thought possible. Growing pains are a necessary part of life, but the key is to know that we always come out stronger. The pain develops character. Any struggles are quickly replaced by triumph.
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Recently, the staff at HUMC took the Strengths Finder test. My two highest categories are Learner (#1) and Context (#2). I've always said āYou know it's a good day when you've learned something new.ā Talk about hitting the nail on the head! I say this to myself and to the hundreds of students I've been blessed to teach over the years all the time. And, I believe it was in the description for Context where it was stated that I try to leave something or a place in a better place than when I arrived. I do believe that HUMC is in a better position to move forward now than back in January. These many changes that have taken place were necessary. Change is inevitable. It was (and is still) time.
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So, why did I rather suddenly choose to leave? Was it because I was unhappy or frustrated, either with someone or something? No. It's because I have known for a little while that God placed me here to be the person to help this church transition. For so many years, particularly following my college training, I avoided contemporary music and worship. God, in His infinite wisdom, has broken down some of my walls, some of my pretenses and misgivings about certain styles of music. I've learned that one of the best ways in which God will not only help us to grow but also enable us to serve in a stronger capacity, is to place us outside our comfort zone. I'm sure it was fairly obvious to many, particularly those first 6 weeks or so, that I was well outside my comfort zone. I was surprised and very blessed to hear that my last week there was what one long-time member knew the worship could become. There were many factors that impacted the challenges I (and the church as a whole) faced, but I realize that since I did not grow up with contemporary music and since it's not my strength musically, there would soon come a time that, by myself, I would begin to peak; and I simply could not let that happen. God revealed to me that HUMC could hire a young, part-time Worship Leader to hopefully bring in some of their own musicians. This would also make room in the budget to update and upgrade the equipment at the church. After I had begun to understand all that, the Lord opened a door at a church which is a better fit musically for myself. My training was in classical music, and included choral and orchestral conducting. I toured and recorded albums with a classical guitar duo for 8 years, (though I still love to play all kinds of styles of music, and was in bands during college, much to my professors' chagrin). Granted, even though there will be other, different, but somewhat substantial challenges, I am excited for the possibilities. I'm even more excited to see what He has in store for our church at Highland UMC.
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This verse arrived in my inbox on Monday:
Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
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I hope that sums it up. I also hope and pray that the Lord will continue to provide for you as you continue to follow His will. Remember to encourage each other. Do not complain. God commands us not to. He knows each hair on our head, and He is good, all the time.
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The song says, āBy faith we see the hand of God.ā I can see it clearly, looking back over these 9 months. I also see it in His provision for the future of this church. Do not worry, for worrying accomplishes nothing good. Instead, read Hebrews 11:1
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Faith in Action
11. Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
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And thank you. God bless. In Christ Alone, Jeremy Hutson
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