During these lasts weeks of much prayer and much seeking the Lord I have tried to be sensitive to where God is leading in my life.  I have gone through phone interviews with churches some very larger churches, some small churches, and some in between.  I have had personal interviews with churches as well.  However I kept struggling with what I should do in the meantime.  In addition I have struggled with the question of what should I be looking for in a church.  Many times churches know what they are looking for in a Youth Pastor but what do I want in a church that hires me.  Sadly there are many churches that I have submitted too that once I have gone further into the process with I have realized I would not want to work there and there are some churches I have turned down.  

During this time I was asked to consider being a chaplain for hospice.  To be honest this kind of scared me.  I mean I am a Youth Pastor I love dealing with teens I love hanging out with teens and just being with them.  Currently I am involved in the Youth Ministry at FBC Macon and am enjoying it greatly.  I love interacting with the teens and just hanging out with them in addition I have had the opportunity to speak on a few different occasions and have enjoyed that as well.  It has been cool to have students come up to me after a message and ask me about what I spoke on or to get an email of encouragement.  So how would any of this lead me into being a chaplain for Hospice.  In addition to this when I left my last church there were things said to me that would certainly make me think that I was far from being qualified to be Hospice Chaplain but fortunately God is bigger.

In my search I have had conversation after conversation with pastor lay people and staff.  Many times when I have completed my time with these people they have thanked me but they have usually gone beyond just saying thank you.  They have taken the time to specifically speak to my integrity, or to speak to my caring, or to speak to many other qualities that indeed I was beating myself up for because I was told to be lacking in many areas.  I had some of the most vile things said to me whether it be in letter form or in word from other Christians that no one should have to sit through.  Many times I could have returned with vile conversation myself but I did not.  All this to say why would God call me to deal with people that are terminal?  To deal with people that may be dead in a month.  This I do not know?

I do know this that in my course of interviews for the position those that interviewed me wanted me to come on board and they made it clear.  They felt I was qualified for the job and everyone told me how much they enjoyed there time with me.  God was beginning to make it clear that he was leading me in this direction.  However once I looked at the pay which was not bad at all I did not know whether it would work.  So I shot back an offer and it was accepted.  I do not know what God has in store but this I know I praise Him that even “In Dark Valley’s” there is always light.  Praise be to Him.  I am officially a Hospice Chaplain.