It turns out turning thirty is completely INSANE! My life has completely changed in both good and bad ways, depending on whom you ask. :-) I have a new job, new roommates, all new friends, a new, amazing best friend, ten pounds added to my body :-( and the list goes on..!
Allow me to begin with the catalyst for all of this change. Approximately one month before my 30th birthday, as many of you know, I lost my job of 4 1/2 years as the Female Student Ministry Director at Orangewood Church. I had been doing full time student ministry since I graduated from college in 1999, EIGHT years ago. (ugh, I'm seriously starting to feel old) Prior to that I was involved in part time and volunteer student ministry for almost my entire four years in college. My point being my entire life has been based on and around student ministry in some form or another for the last 11 to 12 years of my life.
Just as I turned thirty all of this changed. I contemplated several career/ job options upon finishing my time at orangewood, but none of those options had anything to do with "career" ministry. As it turns out my losing my job at Orangewood was the exact catalyst I needed to spur me on to the new places and challenges that God had drawn out for me. I suddenly realized that most of my life has been spent attempting to take care of everyone around me - to love them, teach them and guide them in the right direction for their lives. Until I woke up one morning and realized I wasn't even sure where I was guiding myself. It has become very clear, though I miss it terribly, that I needed a break from ministry - a break from being the person people look to as their role model, a break from being the person who has the right answers re: God and his people and the things he requires of us...and mostly a break from the intense scrutiny that comes with being in full time ministry. I needed a break from it all. I needed time to be free to think and question my own thoughts, feelings and beliefs and frankly to do a bit of my own wrestling with God.
The downfall of this time period is that several of my "friends" and "Christian community" have chosen to walk away from me and our friendship, in essence to "ban" me from my "community". I absolutely know these particular people believe in their hearts that they are doing the "right" thing, what God would want them to do. Bu if one thing has become clear to me over the last four months, it's that so many Christians are the WORST reflections of Christ. I truly believe that he is far more gracious and merciful than evangelical Christians make him out to be. According to the Bible, He is the God of love and hope and peace. He is full of compassion, slow to anger, and abounding in love; and even in the midst of my wrestling with him and my own sadness and loss he has not abandoned me and continues to fill me with peace, joy, love and unending hope. Hope that there will come a day when loving and compassionate and gracious will be the words used by the world to describe his followers instead of hate, condemnation and hypocrisy.
The main difference in m life post "career" ministry is that I have stepped outside of my little Christian bubble and frankly, I LOVE it out here! I love the conversations I've had and continue to have and the way my faith has been challenged and re-ignited!
I have a full time job at Sprint as a Retention Specialist now, which has me interacting with so many different types of people than I ever would have before. I've learned so much about so many different races and the levels of racism and discrimination that are still very prevalent in our world. I have two male roommates, who both make no claims to be Christians and in fact while, at least one of them would say he believes and loves God, He can't stand Christians and would not want to be associated with them in any way, shape or form, me excluded, of course. :-) 
This is Big Mike, my Puerto Rican protector! He is a very funny, kind hearted young man, whom I am thankful to have met. The same goes for my other roommate Jessie, who's picture has somehow disappeared from my computer. BOOOO Iphoto! Last, but certainly not least, I leave you with some pictures from New Year's Eve with some of my new fabulous friends. The one closest to me in the pictures, being my best friend ever.
These are just a few of the amazing friends I have made on this four month journey. These beautiful people, along with a small few of my faithful friends here in Orlando and my family at home, have been, what I believe to be, the more accurate representation of Christ and His unwavering love and acceptance in the last four months and I am forever grateful for their presence in my life at such a crucial time.
Hey Jennifer!!!
It took my sister to find your blog. I am so excited to read about all the things happening in your life. Good or bad, intense or peaceful, fun or painful. All these things as we know build us to who we are. I am excited to hear about your journey as we all have one. You should remember that getting pregnant with Lexi was my "downfall" according to the church. However, as a mother of two I feel that God brought me through the fire to bring me the peace I now know! So remember that you can always call on me!!! Love Heather
Posted by: Heather (Woods) Cook | January 20, 2009 at 10:52 AM