When I was newly married, my youth minister directed my wife and I to attend a small church in Monticello, IL. Although we got lost trying to find the church (before the invention of GPS), we immediately fell in love with the people. We spent about 7 years in that church body and watched it grow in number and in spirituality. We made many life long friendships. However, what I learned most was that God had a great plan in my life for ministry. Believe me, working in a church was never on my radar. With the many days, weeks, months, and years on this campus, I remember the summer of 2000 the most.
The summer of 2000 was the year I embarked on my journey in ministry beyond the church walls of a church in Monticello. I remember asking 3 young boys if the they wanted to take a journey with me and be in a band. All eagerly said yes. Even though I was much older than these boys, none of us really knew what we were doing. From this moment forward, I have made it a priority to pray for opportunities to be used. "One Name Band" and One Name Ministries was born and so was a passion to pursue Christ with all of my heart. For 6 years, God blessed the four of us with opportunities to lead and play music to churches across our area. I sure do miss those days of loading up the trailer and calling the guys about a gig.
Many years have passed since I had this time with these boys. They are all men now and have families. I continue to reflect on my time with each of them and the molding of Christ into our lives through the opportunities that we prayed for.
Today, as I sit here and type, I can't even scratch the surface about these experiences. I sit here entering into my 15th year of this ministry with the anticipation of what is coming next. With all of these experiences, God has been working new opportunities through the same ministry with a different name, Daring to Soar Ministries.
For several years, I longed to travel with a group of students like these four young boys. I have to admit that now those with whom I travel are my own two children, my wife, and a couple of adopted students who have decided to join in the journey. We call ourselves, Captain Keith and the Blue Potatoes.
I often think about what the next steps will be when these kids grow up, and I am left to reinvent what God placed on my heart years ago. I am an aging guy that continues to seek the same thing I did in the summer of 2000.
The greatest thing about this ministry is that God still allows me to load that trailer. I pray that He will continue to provide new and amazing opportunities where I can unload it.
I am beyond blessed to travel in this ministry created just for me by God.
