What motivated you to plant your church in Melbourne?

This area always has had a special place in our hearts. It’s been our home no matter where we have lived. When we felt the calling to plant a church, we knew Melbourne was the best place.

What do you love about your church and community?

Every Sunday there are people who gladly give of their time and talents so that others can  experience the power and presence of God for the first time. We love that we do life together—we learn together, grow together, serve together, and make a difference together. We are grateful that ours is a generous church. And because of that generosity, we have been able to love our community well and lead people to Christ.

What has been one of your greatest moments since planting your church?

Our greatest moments have been watching God work miracles in the people in our church and on our behalf. From day one, when we planted the church almost 10 years ago, we wanted the process to be all about Him, and we believed for miracles every step of the way. He has done many miracles, and He isn’t finished yet. In 2016 we were able to purchase 8.7 acres of land in the middle of our city with cash! And now we are getting ready to break ground and build our first permanent location.

What has been one of the toughest moments you’ve experienced in ministry?

Our toughest moments are when we walk through difficulty with people and point them to the truth of God’s word for their lives, and they choose another path. When people are at the crossroad of life or death, and you watch them choose death … these are the hardest moments we face in ministry.

What is the biggest change you’ve seen in yourself since you planted?

We’ve learned that our approval comes from God. It’s not about what we do for Him; we don’t have to do anything to gain His approval because we already are loved and approved by Him! God has shown us that He cares more about us than about what we are doing to lead and grow the Church. It has taken us years to fully embrace this understanding, but it has been life changing for us both and has brought us so much peace.

What do you want to share with someone thinking about becoming a church planter?

Get ready for a crazy ride! It is the most rewarding, yet most challenging thing you will ever do. Pray, pray, and pray some more! This isn’t about you; it’s about leading people to a life-giving God. You cannot plant your church with your own strength—it will take complete dependence on God. Be real and authentic, and allow God to continually do a work in you so He can do a work through you. Things don’t always go the way we plan, but at the end of the journey it is our hope that we can look back and know that we remained faithful.

How has being a part of ARC impacted your life and family?

We would not have made it this far without ARC. Relationships have been key for us in this journey. We found best friends that have become like family through ARC, and they have been a lifeline for us.