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Better than a bucket list: by Jen Hansard

Starting a church has never been on my bucket list. Ryan and I went to art/design school and dreamed of traveling the world— painting, writing and eating really good food. Those plans changed when we turned 26. God knocked on our door and called us into ministry. The idea is still crazy to me, really. But over the last three years, we have adjusted to this plan, and I can honestly say I am really excited!

Our house went up for sale a month ago, we bought a trailer on Craigslist to lug our necessities across the  country and we have been selling off our other possessions every day. I am learning how beautiful simplicity is (less things to dust or vacuum around is amazing!) and how far you can stretch a buck. Living off unemployment really stretches a family of four, yet it also opens up doors of creativity.

Friends and family have asked us "You really want to do this?"And I can honestly say yes with a big smile on my face (and a little sense of disbelief in what God has in plan for us). God really does have a sense of humor and I am glad he pours it out on us. We all can use a laugh.

Yes, there are days when we get overwhelmed. Sometimes it spans a week. Yet we are always lifted out of this darkness with an amazing story. For instance, Saturday afternoon I found a trailer on Craigslist. It was exactly what I have been looking for the last three months and the price was right. I contacted them instantly and that night we drove to Sun Valley with our kids to meet the owner of the trailer in a church parking lot at 9pm with $2800 in cash. 

My dad thought I was crazy, and it sure sounded crazy. Yet when I spoke to the owner Kat on the phone about the trailer, it just felt right. So we raided our savings account, packed the kids up and headed to Sun Valley. A couple times I did think of the horrible things that could happen — get robbed, steal our truck, take our kids. I do tend to think of the worst case scenario and then whatever happens is a relief. 

We pulled into the church parking lot and saw the trailer—it was perfect. Big, white and gently used. The lady came out of her SUV with her husband greeted us with warm smiles. Turns out they just moved from Texas to Los Angeles to go to seminary. They are missionaries who felt called to leave the mission field and go back to school. They used the trailer to get them to LA, where God called them to be for the time. So we bought the trailer, and have it as our way to get us to our missions field in Florida. What are the chances of that?!

The whole drive home, Ryan and I felt at peace about our lives. Yes, we were surrounded by chaos— unemployed, selling a home in a horrible market, raising two toddlers, moving across country away from our family and friends, a brand new job with very little pay, no health insurance... I could go on and on.  Yet Saturday night, God reminded us that everything will be okay and he will continue to open the doors if we choose to go through them. 

God's plan is way better than my bucket list and I am learning to enjoy the ride. 

Radical Faith

Ruth 1:11-18: But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me!” 14 At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. 15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” 16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

Over the last few weeks I have been reading and studying the Book of Ruth. Ultimately, Ruth is about inheritance and genealogy. But I want to discuss the faith of Ruth at the very beginning of the story. The first thing we realize about Ruth is that she is a Moabite. Ruth was a foreigner and did not grow up in Israel. She married Naomi’s son, who died. In verse 11 we begin the dialogue after his death.


What I find interesting is that Ruth could have left and went back to her homeland. She could have gone home to her family, comfort, and security. Her homeland is where she feels safe and not an outsider. But she chose to stay with Naomi even after Naomi insisted she go back home. Naomi knew there was nothing for her in Israel. Naomi also knew that Ruth would be treated as a foreigner. Ruth says in verse 16, “Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Here is a bold statement. Ruth knows she needs to stay with Naomi, even though she does not know how it is going to work out.


In 16 weeks, my wife and I and our two children are moving to Wesley Chapel. Wesley Chapel will be our new home. We have never lived in Florida and only visited Florida for vacation. Now we are called to the community of Wesley Chapel; to live among them and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. We trust God to lead and provide for us, but we are leaving behind our family, comfort and security. May each person reading this blog be praying for our move as we travel to Florida and become part of their community.


Also, be praying for Ryan and Jen Hansard moving from California and also JD and Kristin Winter moving from Wichita, KS. Our team keeps getting bigger.

Radical: by David Platt

I have been reading a book called Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream by David Platt.  Here is a quote from the book:

“When you or I open the Bible, we are beholding the very words of God- words that have supernatural power to redeem, renew, refresh, and restore our lives to what he created them to be.  That is why I believe it is more important for you and me to read Leviticus than it is for us to read the best Christian book ever published, because Leviticus has a quality and produces an effect that no book in the Christian marketplace can compete with.”

Platt would be the first to tell you that God can and has used other books throughout Christian history.  I was struck by this passage, not because I did not know the Bible to be the “Word of God,” but because we hear it so much we become numb to the power of God in the Bible.  I think for most of us, if we are truly honest, spend very minimal time reading the Bible.  Churches tend to be our place of learning and once we understand the basics of Christianity then we don’t see any need to read it ourselves.

Platt tells a story of being overseas.  He was asked to do a Bible study for a group of pastors in an area where Christianity is illegal.  He shares how he was picked up and put into the back of a car.  He arrived in a village where he entered a dark room with a couple of lit candles.  The pastors were gathered in this room eager to learn and study the Bible.  He said a very simple Bible study lasted twelve hours.  After it was over they wanted to meet the next day for another twelve hours. 

What would it look like to study the Bible for twelve hours?  In our culture we are lucky to have a Bible study, which lasts about 1 hour.  In our culture, if the pastor’s sermon goes over the allotted time we get upset.  If we had to risk our lives to study or read the Bible would we do it?  How important is it to read the Bible?  Does it speak to you or change you?  Or do we read it to finish our daily reading for the day? (Obligation to check off the list) Just a few thoughts…

I encourage all of us to answer these simple questions.

See people and be moved

"The Gathering" in Jacksonville

This week I wanted to share a few points from one of the speakers at the Gathering. Keith Loy is the lead pastor of Celebrate Church (Wesleyan) in Sioux Falls, S.D. Keith has a passion for ministry and when he spoke that passion was communicated.

Matthew 9:35-38: Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Keith points out: Jesus saw people, Jesus had compassion, and Jesus met the need. 

How many times do we attend church on Sunday morning, leave, and never apply the message?  This message hit me and I wanted to share it with you.

Matthew 9:35-38 reminds us that the church is about people.  God wants us to partner with him in our communities and see the people who God sees.  Jesus saw the crowds and immediately felt compassion.  We see people all the time, everywhere we go and most of the time there is not a response.  Some of us have been trained to focus only on our own needs and our own responsibilities.  We are so consumed with our own situation that when it comes to others we are without strength or motivation.

Believe it or not people, Christian and non-Christian, matter to God.  Jesus saw the crowds and something moved inside him.  When was the last time you saw the crowds and something moved within you?

The “Gathering” is all about people.  We want to see the people around our community and we want to partner with God.  We want to “gather” together so we can “scatter” into our respective jobs and communities.  We want to share the hope of Christ wherever we go. 

My prayer is that we can all see people and be moved.  But more than being moved we need to take action.  Jesus saw the crowds, had compassion, and then met the need.  My prayer is that we can all find ways to meet the needs (spiritual, physical, and emotional) of those around us.   

Lord, give us eyes to see and ears to hear what is going on around us.

Continue to pray for us as we plan and prepare for the church in Wesley Chapel.

A New Year

I hope everyone is doing well. I just got back from a Wesleyan Ministry Conference in Jacksonville, FL. If you want to check out any of the speakers feel free: http://www.wesleyan.org/gathering


I drove down on January 4, 2011 and was scheduled to pick up Ryan at 5pm. When I arrived in town, I had 3 hours to kill. I was going to find a Barnes and Noble. Coffee and a good book is always a smart choice. When I got to the parking lot, I noticed my car was making some funny noises. The more I drove the louder the noise got. I knew I had to get somebody to look at my car, because I thought the wheel was falling off. I found a Midas about six miles away from the Barnes and Noble. They were very helpful. They told me the back brakes on one side had locked up and I had a huge nail in one of the tires. $956.00 later I was on my way to the airport. I got to the airport with about 10 minutes to spare. What a way to start off the trip.


God showed up during our time in Jacksonville. Ryan and I had some great conversations. One of the most exciting conversations came after a seminar, which talked about creative planning for the worship space. This sparked some ideas for Ryan and we began to brainstorm. The speakers provided us with great challenges as we move into 2011. Next week’s blog is going to focus on one of the messages we heard. Overall the conference was inspiring and helped light a fire within me for ministry. I am ready to get on the ground and implement the many ideas we tossed around.


I am reminded of patience. I am also reminded of prayer. Patience and prayer are so vital at this stage of a Church Plant. Thanks to everyone who has been praying for us.


This is God’s church and we are so lucky to be a part of His work!!!