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What I have learned in my 20s.




Today, I hit the big 3-0. I wanted to write a few notes of reflection on my 20’s. Overall, I would say that the theme of my twenties has been trying new things. Between getting married, having kids, and stepping full time into ministry, there have been many new ventures that Kayla and I have started. 


I can’t speak to what my thirties will be like, but I can say that my twenties have been a decade of discovering who God has equipped me to be — as a father, husband, and pastor. 


Learnings from Ministry:


  • Never underestimate the prayers of old ladies.
  • Don’t let one season of ministry define the rest of your ministry. 
  • Great preaching doesn’t bring people to your church, relationships do. Great preaching keeps people engaged and coming back. 
  • There is more flexibility in ministry than in other vocations. At the same time, there is no such thing as leaving work at the office. 
  • The more you take risks for God, the more the enemy tries to attack. 
  • Failure is a great teacher. 
  • A pastor needs other pastors in his life. One cannot serve a lifetime of pastoral ministry without trusted friends and invested mentors. 
  • God is faithful in the seasons of success and the seasons where everything seems to be falling apart. 


Happenings of my twenties:


  • Got married 
  • Graduated college 
  • Graduated seminary
  • Became a preacher 
  • Started a family 
  • Planted a new Campus 
  • Planted a Church 
  • Failed a bunch 
  • Moved multiple times 
  • Started Cycling 
  • Bought a house 
  • Perfected a spaghetti sauce recipe (top secret)
  • Fell in love again with Yankees Baseball 
  • Survived a pandemic 
  • Developed new friendships 
  • Said goodbye to old friendships 
  • Learned to enjoy sweet tea
  • Began the habit of journaling 


I am looking forward to the next decade of life and ministry. I don’t know what all lies ahead, but I am believing that God will continue to work all things together for the good of those who love Him. 



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