10 Year Anniversary — Stale Toast & Lukewarm Coffee

10 years. Not 2 years or 5 years. Double digits. Can it really have been 10 years? The google search results say I should get him something tin or aluminum. Besides a roll of foil or panel of siding, I’m not sure I’ve ever bought anything tin or aluminum. According to brides.com, “These metals reflect resilience and tougher-than-nails strength.”

It isn’t my 10-year wedding anniversary. My husband and I have been married for 21 years. However, on Oct 4, 2009 our family helped start Dan River Church. Definitely, a clinging to God for everyday strength—”resilience and tougher-than-nails strength”—has marked the journey of the last 10 years.

I have admitted to you in previous blogs that I have a problem with time. Many of us do. It doesn’t feel like it’s been 10 years. We’ve just been plugging along living life in our city, praying God would use this church to serve and impact our neighbors. But when I look back at pictures of 2009, the passage of time becomes clear.

My sons are now nearly a foot taller than me. At ages 5 and 7, they seem tiny in this picture. Of course Jane, my amazing mom-in-law, and I have not aged at all.

Josiah and Kaden enjoyed the bounce houses, popcorn, snow cones, and face painting, but we were even more thankful to meet so many new friends at the Block Party.

As many church plants do, we started on October 4, 2009 in a school. So many sacrificed sleep to set up the different areas of ministry.

The sacrifice was rewarded when three people gave their lives to Christ that day. On the way home, Josiah said he had done his part: “I told 10 kids about God before the class even started!”

God has grown our church over these 10 years, but He’s also grown our family. They will always be my favorite people to minister alongside.

In A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, Donald Miller said, “Fear isn’t only a guide to keep us safe; it’s also a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life.”

For so many years, my husband and I said we would never start a church. We committed to pray for our friends who had started churches and supported them in any way we could, but that just wasn’t for us. Then, through lifelong friends who we respected and admired, came the opportunity to help start Dan River Church.

Our fear said, “Absolutely not. No, thank you. Too hard.” But God put a burden on our hearts for the people of this city and the surrounding area. As we spent time in prayer, the burden deepened. Moving to a new city with young children was anything but boring. Starting a church has not been easy. Loneliness and discouragement were unwelcome companions along the way, but I wouldn’t trade the past 10 years for anything.

Happy Anniversary, Dan River Church! Let’s celebrate with a roll of aluminum foil!