Top 10 Things We Learned In Jerseyville!

Christy and I have been doing a lot of reflecting while trying to keep our minds off the fact we do not currently have a place to live and have 3 weeks left on our notice period. We asked ourselves if we had been "happy" here at Jerseyville and concluded that we had been "happy" in a content sort of way. We likened these last two years to a long car trip that necessitated an overnight stay on the way to our destination. We are glad to stop at a motel and rest but there is still a need to continue the journey. Contentment comes from knowing when to get up the next morning, check out and continue the trip. So, we began to consider, is that all Jerseyville is to us? What was the purpose, point, benefit of being here. I know that we served as the pastoral family to this church, people were brought into the Body of Christ, and I did my best to counsel, serve, love and share from God's word. But in a truly selfish sense (sometimes you have to look at that), what was the point of sticking us here just to move us on in 18 months? We concluded that it was a recovery and resting period to restore us after a pretty bad experience at my first church. But then, as we thought further, we realized that being here at Jerseyville had taught us many things. Our conversation led us to list what we learned and we easily came up with the "Top 10 Things We Learned In Jerseyville!" And so, without further ado, here it is...


#10 JP learned that he had a supressed (and rather child-like) attraction for percussion instruments of African origin (woohoo! boom, boom, boom!)

#9 Christy learned that she had the gift and talents to be an exceptional stay-at-home-mom and homeschooler!

#8 JP learned that he was not a ministry-misfit, but that he could be "successful" as a traditional pastor (even though he now knows that this is not the kind of minister he is to be).

#7 Christy learned that worship was more than just music and first had the freedom to explore this concept at Jerseyville.

#6 JP learned that he could help lead singing with the guitar (having never before played for large groups) and even keep a steady rhythm (most of the time).

#5 Christy learned that she is a genius at budgeting (while JP learned he is an utter moron at budgeting).

#4 JP learned that (according to the NewStart assessment team, bless thier hearts) we have the gifts and graces to start a new church.

#3 Christy learned that she had more gifts than just leading music and practiced many forms of creative worship while at Jerseyville.

#2 JP learned that mowing a lawn for three hours is more fun if you aren't the only person on the mower list!

And the number one thing we learned during our time at Jerseyville Illinois...


#1 Christy learned that "IT'S NOBODYS BUSINESS BUT MY OWN IF I WANT TO WEAR PANTS TO CHURCH!!!"