Ok. So, Nicky asked about the story in which we became the local pastors at Gateway Church Black Forest. I didn't create an outline before I started typing so, hopefully, this will all make sense and be in the right order.

When we first got married in 1994, Vance was the Associate and Youth Pastor at Elim Chapel in Ocean Beach, CA. Circumstances led us from there after two years to here in Colorado Springs where Vance became the Assoc/Youth Pastor at another church plant 30 minutes south of the Springs called Restoration Church. Neither of these ventures ended well - sad to say.

After a few months sabbatical we ended up at Mountain Springs Church; another young church plant and we got involved on the worship team. This was in 1999. We did lots of ministry: worship, youth, young adults, men and women's ministries. Our hope was that one day we would be invited on staff. We went from 2 children to 7 children at this church not including our loss of little Michal Noel, which the people of MSC were amazing in the support for us.

Through all of this, Vance's desire to be back in full-time ministry increased. Once, while Vance was painting the home of his daughter, Nicky Cruz spoke strongly to Vance about getting back into the ministry. About 5 years ago, we visited this little church at the end of our road. It wasn't for us, but we were still drawn to it. About two years ago people started speaking into Vance's life again about getting back into the ministry. He started a men's group on Thursday mornings that has been meeting at a coffee shop ever since.

Last summer we called the Rocky Mountain District Council for the Assemblies of God and started inquiring about open churches. There wasn't much selection, but there was a sudden need in Woodland Park, a little town about 45 minutes up the mountain. Vance and I ministered there for 5 weeks. The district decided to close the doors of that church. At this point we were still officially at Mountain Springs, but we had visited other churches so we were still praying about searching for more churches through A/G, pursuing MSC a little stronger since they were getting ready to plant 5 churches in the next five years...Oh, I forgot to mention that this little church at the end of our road had closed and we even went up there to look in the windows and daydreamed if it were even possible to buy it ourselves. At the same time our next door neighbors were thinking the same thing.

So, here were all these options. Then, I had a phone call from a friend. We're not real close, but we've known each other for a long time and she and her husband were just called into a ministry at a family camp. She said that while they were going through their decision making process, God lead her to the part in the Bible where Jesus is healing the blind man and at first he sees just shadows and then Jesus touches him again and everything is clear. We felt there there were many roads to take (a fuzzy picture), but there was only one that God had in mind (seeing clearly). As I was talking to here a little more and telling her about all these options, she said she got a chill when I mentioned the church at the end of our road. Both of us believed that was the Holy Spirit.

That little church reopened at Easter of 2010 and we visited just before we went up to Woodland Park. We liked it. There weren't any fireworks, but it was a far cry from what it had been before. After our time in Woodland Park our next door neighbors started talking to us about really giving this little church a chance. They felt this is where they needed to be and they so wanted us to be a part as well. This gave me such a good feeling - to be wanted :).

So, we started going and the first Sunday back, Vance was very bold with the pastor and told him what we wanted. We wanted to be back in full-time ministry and we felt like this was the time. We weren't sure how he was going to take that. The following week we invited the pastor and his wife over for dinner (the week before our next door neighbors, the Garcias, had had them over).

This was a great dinner. Our testimony had so much in common with theirs. It wasn't coincidence. It was a kindred spirit. At this dinner, Pastor Derek was bold as well and said that out of all the people that wanted the position of senior pastor at this church, he was most interested in Vance. This was about three months ago - I know, right?

I started leading worship every week the first week of November. Vance started speaking that month as well and the first week of January we were installed as the senior pastors. This past weekend was the first time I have ever spoken in front of a congregation. I enjoyed it. I spoke on God exalting worship. I never would have had an opportunity like that at Mountain Springs - even after 12 years of being a member. I am so thankful to God for His direction. I'm thankful for the 12 years of being developed and trained and for all the experiences that have led us to where we are now. Right where HE wants us.

Is that cool or what?