On January 13, 2003, I climbed into my pickup and drove away on one of the most challenging journeys of my life.

As a minister and pastor of more than 30 years, God was calling me to step out of my comfort zone into unfamiliar ground. At age 53, I found myself moving toward a dream God had placed within me.

My heart was in my throat as I watched my wife, Beth, waving from the sidewalk. For the first time in 30 years of marriage, we would be apart for more than a few days at a time. She was going to continue teaching until May and get our house ready to sell while I worked at a new job 400 miles away. For the first time in more than 30 years, I would be employed in a position that was not ministry-related.

As I drove, the story replayed in my mind. My experience in professional ministry had been mainly positive. In my current pastorate, I had a good compensation package along with all the perks, plus a good ministry budget. I had the freedom to lead. By all external appearances, I had it pretty good.

But Christ was calling me to follow in a new direction. An enthusiasm for church planting and starting simple, organic churches was increasing.

I was disturbed by the inability to impact the current North American culture through the system in which I worked. At first, I criticized this emerging way of life. It was becoming more difficult to reach people with the Gospel with my current methods. Retreating behind the walls of the church was still another option, but God began to show me another way of sharing His Good News. I was not to curse the culture or retreat from it. I was to use it.

I found myself hungrily reading anyone who was offering fresh ideas for ministry. I began to see the possibility of God’s people connected in simple, relational gatherings, supporting and encouraging one another. Although I hadn’t even heard the word missional, I was moving toward a way to reach those who would not attend our traditional churches. It wouldn’t be long before I would learn that living missionally was about more than church attendance.

I was facing a crisis of belief. Was I going to yield to the invitation to this new adventure or suppress it? I could wait until the picture became more clear, or I could cross the threshold and take a step of faith. I could not escape the call of Christ.

My seven-hour drive ended, but the journey was just beginning.

In His time, Christ brought together a group who would establish a simple, organic church in the north Dallas area. I will forever be indebted to those early adapters who shared this journey with me.

On this journey, the church, as Christ’s body, has become so precious to me. I understand more fully how the priesthood of believers works in practical and missional ways. I see disciples daily living as Christ-followers rather than merely having head knowledge. I have discovered that entangling people relationally in the net of God’s love is a dynamic form of spiritual transformation. People with little or no church background are responding to the Good News of Jesus.

Looking back, I realize that God had been preparing me for this journey all my life, from the simple rural church I belonged to in my childhood, through my years as a pastor, student minister, and even in an administrative position at a Baptist University.

By October of 2007, God had worked through me to start a network of simple, organic churches, and I was coaching people who desired to know about this missional journey.

God has given me awesome partners, like those at Freeman Heights Baptist Church, who make it possible for me to encourage, empower, and equip everyday Christ-followers, as well as pastors and others in vocational ministry.

Through this blog, I desire to help you engage in a missional lifestyle both individually and collectively.

If God is calling you on a journey towards this missional adventure, let’s travel together. Keep reading here. Make comments on the posts. Signup to receive periodic email updates with tips, ideas, and inspiration for missional living. Share the journey with others through social media. Pray for me as I continue as a practitioner of simple, organic church and encourage others on this journey.

Step across the threshold and let’s go together.