In 1999 my husband Justin was a youth pastor in Kokomo Indiana. He set off to Atlanta to a conference called Catalyst. No one had ever heard of this conference. I thought he was crazy for going but he went anyway and I’m so glad he did. He came back forever changed by the vision and the encouragement that Andy and others gave. I NEVER imagine that 10 years later it would still be impacting our family.

In 2002, Justin and his good friend Pete Wilson dreamed of planting churches, Justin in Indiana and Pete in Tennessee. After weeks of dreaming together, we left to start Genesis Church in Noblesville, Indiana with just our two boys and one on the way. We had no insurance and no income but a vision, passion and belief that God wanted to do something great through the local church to change the Indianapolis area. By 2005 we had around 700 in attendance. It was amazing to see person after person and family after family find their way back to God.

In 2005 Justin and I along with a team of leaders from Genesis caught a plane bound for Atlanta to attend Catalyst but somehow I knew this trip would be different. It seemed that every speaker from Andy Stanley to Bill Hybels spoke on the importance of having godly character as a leader. In fact, there was so much talk about having character that matches your leadership that it became haunting. Then it happened….

Justin and Pete, (who was there with his team) walked in late to a main session. The look on Pete’s face said it all. The next 24 hours would be pure hell in ways I never imagined. The Sunday morning after Catalyst I lead worship and Justin spoke. After church he told me he was having an affair with a staff member who was also my best friend. I went from the high of Catalyst to loosing everything – my husband, my church family, friends and life as I had always known it. The next months ahead would bring more pain and revelation than I thought I could ever bear. You can read more of our story HERE.

We would spend the next two years restoring our marriage as we peeled backed the layers of dysfunction and hidden sin. I was all about restoring our marriage and forgiving my best friend but going back into ministry was NEVER a part of the equation…. or so I thought. In the summer of 2007 we decided to help out with the youth ministry at the church we attended. Our oldest was in 6th grade and it seemed like the right thing to do. What we didn’t know was that God would use these students to breakdown walls I had built towards the church. We found ourselves falling back in love with the calling God had placed on both of us for the local church. In 2009 after much counseling, conversation of reconciliation and LOTS OF PRAYER, God has led us back to serve on staff with our good friend Pete and his amazing staff at Cross Point Community Church in Nashville Tennessee!

Today Justin and I will walk back into the very place our painful journey began. Although I am SCARED to death I am humbled and stoked that God has redeemed this part of us. From 1999 now to 2009 I am ready more than ever to hear Jesus say “on your mark”!