Across the Pond: Penneys in Liverpool Blog

Follow us as the next step our ministry journey begins!

View from the Wirral

This picture of the Liverpool skyline has been the background picture on my laptop for almost a year now. Of course it's not a view from across a pond (or the pond), but the view from across the end of the River Mersey as it flows into Liverpool Bay. This strip of land is called the Wirral. The reality is that it is not far across this river. You can clearly see the city. But what I love about this picture is how it has captured my view of the city since we left after our February visit. At times it feels distant and a bit foggy, with the cold muddy water seeming like a insurmountable obstacle.

For many years, I have had vision of going to the UK. It started as simply a fascination with my family tree that wasn't far removed from British and Irish soil. This vision evolved in parallel with my calling as well as our knowledge of church in the UK. As God called Shelby and I into vocational ministry, our burden for the lost people of the UK increased. By God's grace, he has brought great clarity to our calling and the context in which he wants us to serve.

Like the foggy picture of Liverpool, our desire to serve in the UK felt very far off at times. The distance between us and what we thought was our calling felt too great. However, the picture doesn't tell the whole story. What seemed so unclear and so distant has been brought near. What seemed nearly impossible or at least extremely improbable, is now a near reality. Isn't that how our Lord works? God doesn't leave us in the dark. He doesn't leave us on the shore wondering what could be. God has taken us by the hand and led us each step of the way to where we are now, on the cusp of moving our family over 3,800 miles from home to the exact place we need to be.

So he we are: our church is joyfully sending us, our families are fully backing us, our visa sponsor is approved, and there's an avenue for the support money to get to the UK. The next step is support raising.

Please pray for us as we take a step of faith, asking for God's people to catch this vision for our family and join our team. Pray that over the next 6 months, the $7,000/month is met and our moving costs are fully covered. Only our God can do this. Only he can get us across the pond.