Journey

Today marks the beginning of the end of the Ramsey 5 in OKC.

Ben leaves Thursday to embark on this new and exciting journey of the Ramsey 5 in Denver, and while we are thrilled at whats in store for us, our hearts are a little sad to leave this life behind.

"What is she talking about? She flipping griped for 18 months about a new job and now shes sad?"

I know, I'm a complex thing. Just ask my husband.

One of the hardest things to leave behind is our church home.

For the past year, we have been faithfully attending Journey Church in Norman, OK. Here we have heard some of the most influential teaching either of us have heard in our entire lives.

When we first stepped foot inside this church, it was exactly one week after leaving our ministry position, and it happened to be the first week in which Ben and I were attending church together as a married couple. Ben has served in full time ministry since a year before we tied the knot, and his Sunday mornings were packed full of everything from setting up chairs, preaching a sermon, keeping unruly teenagers out of the parking lot, and discussing life matters with concerned parents in the lobby. We had spent the past 5 year doing these things and so much more, and frankly, we were tired.

We were tired and dry. Dry spiritually, dry emotionally, and dry physically. We longed for days when Ben could drive with us to church, help drop his OWN kids off in the preschool, worship alongside me, and discuss the sermon in the noisy car-ride home.

When we walked into Journey that Sunday morning, those cushioned chairs never felt better. We sat, looked at each other, wondering what to do next, only to realize that all our duties included for the day was to worship and listen.

And it was awesome. I will never forget that first Sunday. The youth led worship. The youth did the announcements, and the sermon was all about- yep, you guessed it - youth. It is one of the most life-changing sermons I have ever heard. Clark, our pastor, was doing a series on devoting your life to changing the next generation. I mean, it was as if the heavens parted and the angels were singing the Hallelujah chorus over our two individuals cushioned chairs. In the sermon, Clark encouraged all members of the church to "Get in the sandbox" and make a difference in the lives of the next generation. (you can listen to the full version on Itunes by searching NT40 under podcast. The sermon is entitled NT40-The Sandbox.)

We were hooked. And we had to go back.

Needless to say, we never left. We since have gotten involved in the youth ministry, serving 9th grade students. We have formed some of the most incredible ministry friendships, and we have learned so much about how to do effective ministry. And most importantly, we were reminded of the importance of church as a family.

Ben and I, and the kids for that matter, had become so accustom to sewing into the lives of others, we forgot the importance of being fed ourselves. Journey Church gave us rest, they gave us encouragement, they gave us support, and they gave us the nourishment we needed to get back out there and till the soil.

Journey Church and all who became a part of our family there:

Thank you for taking care of this family and being just what the church should be to a family in emotional upheaval. You came alongside us amidst a difficult time and encouraged us to keep our heads up, reminding us that God's ways are the best ways. You showed us what church can be like when its leaders are focused on serving God and serving others, and you gave us hope in what was to come. You reignited our passion for students, and helped show us our shortcomings and our desire to do it better in the future. Thank you JourneyKids for loving on our kids, and creating a safe place for them to learn to love God and learn to love others. Thank you StudentJourney for giving us the privilege to work alongside some of the most incredible students leaders I have ever known. And thank you Journey staff for leading a church that truly is a beacon on a hill. We are now ready to go forth and spread the good news to all nations - or at least Denver. The seeds you planted will only grow in our new ministry, and we can't wait to see what God does for His Kingdom. Love to you all.

-Ben & Meredith