It is with sadness in my heart that my time at LaGrange Baptist Church is coming to an end. Last weekend, Oak Hill Baptist Church, in Humboldt (pronounced HUM-BOLT), Iowa, called me to be their Senior Pastor. After talking and praying with my wife, my kids, and close friends, we believe God is leading us to this new chapter in our lives. God has burdened my heart to preach the gospel, and I can’t not do what he’s called me to do. Though I feel a realsense of grief in leaving, I feel an equally strong sense of excitement and calling to be a part of what God is doing in Humboldt, Iowa, and beyond.
Eight years ago, I started serving at LBC. I was 27 years old with so much to learn. And the people of LBC taught me. They taught me way more than I could’ve taught them. They loved me. They prayed for me. They gave me patience to grow as a husband, father, and pastor. They supported me and sincerely cared for my wife and my kids. They celebrated with us and cried with us. They served alongside us and sacrificed their time to reach kids & families for Christ. They even let me spread my wings with new ideas and dreams. Some that worked and others that didn’t. Through it all, they have shown me what it means to be a church family.
We have loved serving at LaGrange. I never once thought of my position as a stepping stone. Pastoring the children and students and families has been a tremendous privilege … and I’m thankful that the vision to reach the next generation will continue when I’m gone.
My last day at LaGrange Baptist will be Sunday, November 6. We are hoping to move to Iowa and start at Oak Hill as soon as we can. Please pray for our house to sell and for our entire family during this emotional time of transition. God is at work, and we greatly appreciate your prayers as he turns the pages and begins this new chapter in our lives.
With you for the kingdom,
Doug and Jaime (Emie, Lily, & Luke)
This is a video my twin brother, Mark Wolter, made for our parents’ church in Iowa about his trip to help in the devastation area from March 31 to April 8.
The Little League baseball team from La Grange, Kentucky, participates in the opening ceremony of the 2011 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar). North Oldham is one of 16 teams — eight from the United States, eight from other countries — participating in the nationally televised double-elimination tournament. The games started Thursday and conclude with the title contest Aug. 28.
I got home late last night and my oldest daughter was still awake. She’s been having trouble sleeping at night and honestly, it’s been pretty frustrating. But she was waiting up for me and just had to tell me something. Thankfully, God gave me patience to listen. She said that her little brother couldn’t fall asleep and so she laid in bed with him for awhile. She told him that she understood how hard it is to go to sleep and what she does when she can’t sleep.
She said to her brother, “When I can’t sleep, I remember some verses from the Bible. I remember that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. … that he can help me do all things, even go to sleep.” Then she shared another verse, “Come to Me and I will give you rest.” She told him that we can ask Jesus for rest and he will give it to us. After that she prayed with her brother for God to give him rest. I was smiling as she looked up at me and said, “Daddy, in about one minute, he was already sleeping.”
Isn’t that sweet? I told my daughter how much I appreciated her and how I see God’s grace working in her. I was thrilled that she tried to understand her little brother’s situation by comparing it to her own and then went right to the Bible for help. It’s cool how God gave her a glimpse of His grace in using her to help her little brother go to sleep.
As I reflected a little more on this moment last night it made me deeply grateful for the gospel. It reminded me that everyday moments are gospel moments — moments where the simple message of Christ can be communicated by an 8 year old sister to a 3 year old brother who can’t get to sleep. Without knowing it, my daughter had lived out 2 Cor. 1:4. In her struggle to go to sleep, she found comfort in Christ’s words and wanted to share that comfort with her little brother. Now I know that not every moment will end like this one did. But either way I’m learning that every moment is a gospel moment. It’s an opportunity for us parents to point our kids to Christ so they can in turn do the same.
Two years ago I ran in the Buffalo Center (wife’s hometown in Iowa) Bison Firecracker 5K! I did okay (see here). It was fun to run it with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law. This year my wife is running it with me! We’ve been gearing up for it trying to get our 35 year old bodies ready for the big race! Any advice for us novices?
March Madness is madness indeed! But it reveals some things about us as human beings:
1. We are made for something big
Paul Tripp once said, “There is woven inside each of us a desire for something more–a craving to be part of something bigger, greater, and more profound than our relatively meaningless day-by-day existence.” It’s true. We love the feeling of transcendence, and March Madness gives us a glimpse of the glory we were made for.
2.We love rooting for the underdog
Why do we love the underdog? I think it’s because we see ourselves in the story of these cinderella teams. We identify with the “Davids” because we are weak in and of ourselves. Not many of us are naturally gifted to do great things. But all of us want to be a part of doing something great. Ironically, this is God’s pattern for showing His greatness(1 Cor. 1:26-28). His glory is seen most powerfully in humility–that’s why Jesus is so glorious, He’s the ultimate underdog.
3. We want to win and be on the winning team
There’s a longing in all of us to win. As the old Wide World of Sports intro used to say, “It’s the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat!” As followers of Christ we are on the winning team. Though we have failed, our humble champion has won. He reigns! And we will one day reign with him in everlasting glory as we celebrate his victory over sin, death and the devil.
By now all of you know about the devastating earthquake in Japan. Many of you also know that my twin brother is a missionary there in Kyoto. He and his family are doing fine as they live about 450 miles from the epicenter. They did feel the tremors, but their big concern now is praying for and helping the people of Japan. Go to his blog and read more about what he had to say.
I was interviewed today by WHAS. Here’s the brief article. There may be a couple more interviews coming. Pray for the right words to speak that would honor God in this time.
