The Hand Off

From Jay McKenney

About four years ago I sat at a table at Stanford’s across from Bryce Schroeder and Julie Reid and accepted the invitation to come and join the community of Sunset. I was wide eyed, eager and excited. It was one of the clearest calls I had ever heard from God in my life.

I noticed a lot of things pretty quickly. I noticed that Sunset was truly special. There is something about this place, something about what happens here, that can only be explained by the Holy Spirit. He is just here, and you get this hunger, this unquenchable desire to access more of “Him” in community. You get this sense constantly that He is always up to something, and you can’t wait to see what it is going to be. It is my experience that there is never a dull moment in the life of Sunset.

I also noticed that the people here are AMAZING. Committed, passionate, giving, intelligent people, who accepted me and loved me. Very soon I also realized that this role is very hard, that it requires more energy, wisdom, skill, patience, love and effort than I could possibly muster on my own. I learned that my only chance of keeping my head above water was going to depend on two things, the power of God and the help of people.

I can honestly say I wouldn’t have made it this far without having Julie Reid as my boss. She has been an incredible leader for this ministry. She is a Godly woman, with a quiet strength and wisdom that has blown me away consistently year after year. Most people have no idea how much she has given, served, and bled for this community; but I have had a front row seat day in and day out. In so many ways she has sacrificed so that I could learn the ropes around here, and still have the opportunity to worship lead from the platform on a regular basis.

Now that she is stepping down, it is time for me to step up. That is intimidating, because she has shepherded and served and loved this ministry, and this church, so well that sometimes I feel like no matter what I will be a downgrade for the health of all of us. But then my heart goes back to what I have already learned, the power of God and the help of people.

As I write this I’m overlooking the Columbia Gorge. It’s my Mt. Sinai day, as I have come just to pour out my heart before God as I step into this role. I’m asking Him for wisdom, I’m asking Him for direction, I’m asking Him to guide me.

And if I ever needed you, your prayers and your support, your love for God and this community to pour out, I need it now. I simply can’t and have no desire to do this alone. I want to do it together, as family… and families take work.

I am searching and praying to see what God has in mind for us next in the fall, and how we can lock arms with Ron and the entire church at Sunset to be who God would have us uniquely be for our community.