Unknown Destination…. Wanna go?

Although I’m sitting on my comfortable couch in my climate controlled home, I can’t remember that last time I was this anxious and unsettled. Life is comfortable for me when someone is directing me. When executing a given task, I do well most of the time. That’s not where I am now. As the story goes, I left a great career in the fire service around this time last year under the assumption that I was moving in the direction that God wanted me to, which was into a full time church ministry position. I know without question I’m a pastor, so it only stands to reason I belong in a church, right? Not to mention, I LOVE the people and what God is doing at Liberty Church (Easter is coming, so if you live in Pensacola go there). Yet, the more time I spent away from air horns, sirens and the frustration of people who somehow have no idea what to do when emergency vehicles show up in their review mirror, the more I realized that I had walked away from my true purpose and calling. Recently, by God’s grace alone, I was given the opportunity to return to my role and position in my local fire department. I genuinely believe the purpose of this last portion of my journey was intended to clarify the people and place that God has called me to serve. Knowing that, I return with fresh heart and focus. Unfortunately, although I know the who and where I’m called to serve, the how is a line of question marks. I do know that a lot of Christian conversation within the fire service spins around how to stay holy among heathens, or some fear-based evangelism. I don’t claim to know exactly what ministry seeking and serving the fire service looks like, but it ain’t that. That’s essentially the opposite of the life Jesus modeled. So, somewhere in there lies the journey. How do I love and serve this community the way Jesus would have? I don’t think he’d be threatened by some swearing or foul jokes. He couldn’t have been. Look at his crew. It included fishermen and conmen, men who he walked alongside and taught about a Kingdom with upside down rules; rules like the greatest among you will be the servant and we’re to love not just our neighbor, but our enemies as well. So, as far as I can tell now, that is what Firehouse Mission is supposed to be. The word mission comes from the Latin word “missio”, which means sending or sent. Therefore, it’s simply sent-ness into the Firehouse with the intention of bringing the Kingdom of Heaven as you go.

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven

Matthew 6:10

My prayer is to build a community of people who gather together, pray together, pray for and serve the men and women of the fire service, as well as, grow together in our belief of who God is, what he’s done and who we are in light of that. I have no clue or really intention of where this road goes or what it looks like, but if you’re interested, I’d love to have you join with us. Consider this your formal invitation to simply pursue God and investigate His love for firefighters with people who want the same.

I’d love to hear or have conversation about any thoughts or ideas you have. However, if you want to just follow along with what we’re doing, you’ll find our social media links at the top of the page or you can sign up to follow future posts by entering your email address at the bottom of the page. Chat soon!

Love y’all

-jeff