Early Morning Phone Call

Shelly and I were heading to the 8 am worship at Berry's Chapel yesterday when my cell phone rang at 7:35 am. I answered it and Dewight Lanham had forgot to get a class teacher for the Hispanic congregation because their preacher is out of town. I was preaching for them last night due to that. He asked if I could do the class and I said sure. I knew we would be "winging it"...in Spanish. They are actually studying a book with many Scriptures so we built the class together around that.

I returned last night to preach for them and enjoyed that very much. With my new job, I need to sharpen up my Spanish so this was a great start. I am preaching all day for them next Sunday. At least I know I am teaching class beforehand.

I was impressed with the 4 individuals in worship last night. Out of the 4 of them, one had been baptized 2 years and the rest under a year. They were so young in their faith but so knowledgeable of God. What a credit to them for studying and knowing what is most important in life. I look forward to class with them on Wednesday night and worship all day next Sunday.

Chad

New Job

Many of you have been praying about my job search for the last 8 months and I greatly appreciate it. After many interviews with non-profits, churches and the business world, I have accepted a job with Metro Nashville Public Schools at Cole Elementary off Nolensville Road. The position is a No Child Left Behind Program Specialist (Title I Coordinator/Family School Coordinator). I will be keeping up with Federal money for the school and putting together a program to reach out to parents and get them involved in the school. Since the school's population is 40% Hispanic, it will give me an opportunity to put my experience from Honduras to action.

I have also been given a Memorial Fund Scholarship at Lipscomb to have my Master of Divinity fully paid for over the next few years. I started my Masters before we left for Honduras. I have 27 hours done of an 81 hour degree. This is a HUGE blessing! It is about a $50,000 gift. I will start classes again in late August.

I am looking forward to this opportunity and ask for your continued prayers in the transition to something I have never done before. I believe this will be really good for me right now and God has had a hand in putting me at Cole Elementary.

I just wanted to keep you informed since many of you ask me on a weekly basis what is going on in this front. I appreciate that more than you realize. God bless you.

Chad

One More Class

I have been in a Graduate Education class for the last 3 weeks which meets on Mondays and Wednesdays. This is to get my teacher's license renewed. Tomorrow is my last class and hopefully my license will be up-to-date.

I have been working with a Metro Nashville Public School to get a position this year in a special area and a local church in Franklin, TN about preaching for them. It looks like both these positions are coming to age at the same time. I might be able to work one full time and the other part time for the first year or so. We will let time tell...and God do His work.

A few months ago I gave up searching for jobs. I put it in God's hands. After that, these two positions fell in my lap and seem to working out for the best. God knows where He wants me and will make it happen. I ask for your prayers in my continued job search.

Shelly has started to go back to her school for a few hours a day to get ready for the upcoming school year. She has to be back full time in a little over 2 weeks. She is ready to get in there and get busy again. Please pray for her new year and new Kindergarten children.

It looks like it is about to start raining outside so take cover and enjoy the rest of the day.

Chad