Letting Go Of "The Dream Job"

I was talking with one of my fellow staff members here at MCC, and somehow the subject of our dream jobs, i.e. dream ministry positions came up. We both had good stories.

For him, in the early 90's he had the opportunity to be the student minister at a church in Huntington Beach, CA - which would have been a great ministry, I know the church and the town well - but he and his wife decided that since they had young kids, the beach wasn't the best place for their kids to grow up.

My dream opportunity happened when I was in Dallas as a student minister there. My wife and I knew that although we liked the church a lot and had some great times there, it just wasn't a good fit for us (or for them, really), and so I started putting out some feelers to see what was out there. And then I found it: an open youth ministry position at a church in Steamboat Springs, CO. This church had an incredible retreat facility that my home church, when I was youth minister there, took great advantage of. (the above picture is of a fall retreat at that retreat center) If you know me, you also know that growing up I wanted to become a ski instructor and as a matter of fact was able to do so for a couple of years before going to college.

This youth ministry position had everything I wanted: (1) it was in a ski town. (2) it had an incredible facility. (3) I would have hung out with ski bums like myself.

I applied for the position, went out there to interview, and waited (im)patiently for them to call me and tell me I was hired. The call came, but it was to tell me that I was #2, and they had hired the #1 guy. I was extremely upset, to say the least.

In my conversations with fellow ministers, I've noticed that it seems like most of us don't settle down in one place for long. Back in the day, a minister would stay at a church for a lifetime. Of course, back in the day as well, our fathers would stay at their job for forty years. It isn't that way any more. Even if we're happy at our position, we have an eye open for the next big opportunity, the next happening church, the "dream job".

I'm done with that. Experience has taught me well, and it hasn't been an easy lesson to take. God is calling His workers to grow roots and thrive where He has planted them. I love my church, and although I haven't been there long, I've decided that my dream job is where God has me now. I get to work with some incredible men and women of God, both on staff, and those who volunteer. Our eldership takes care of its staff and has our backs. I'm ready to develop roots and grow where God has planted me.