First of all, thanks for visiting our church via the Web!

            Let me tell you a little about how we got here. I was born at Fort Leonard Wood Army Hospital in Missouri in August of 1977, but I grew up on the south side of Des Moines, Iowa.  I was born again and then baptized at age 11 after being invited to an Awana program by a neighbor girl. I was faithful to church for a couple of years, hiding God’s word in my heart, and was even awarded the “Pal of the Year” award. (Pretty special at the time.)

            During this time, I remember my Grandpa saying to me, “God has plans for you. You’re going to be a pastor someday.”  I wasn’t convinced, and all too soon I found that church was a bit of an inconvenience for a boy with big dreams of playing sports at a high level. Most of my games were on Sundays and so were the Packers‘ games.

            “Maybe I’ll go next Sunday?” I had left my first love.

            Speaking of love, only one thing could compete with the ballgames. I met Tracey in our high school Physics class our junior year. I was definitely her “thorn in the flesh,”  but she couldn’t get rid of me. I was persistent. Eventually, I would convince her that underneath the uniform I was a pretty gentle, fun-loving guy. She didn’t have to do much convincing for me. She was good to me, but there was something different about her.  When I finally asked her on a date, I figured out what that was. She told me that she “wouldn’t date someone who didn’t love Jesus.” Well I did…..or I used to. That stung a little. She didn’t even know I was saved. I started to attend youth group with her and eventually got her approval.

            We graduated in 1995 and both went off to college. Tracey went to earn a degree. I went to…well, you guessed it, play ball. Our team was very successful but, as for me, I knew it was the end of the road. I couldn’t afford to live the childhood dream anymore so I came home and got into the construction field. I began as a helper to a concrete outfit with some family members, and later earned my license as an electrician while Tracey went on to get her degree at Grand View College. During her final year of school, I would ask her to marry me and she accepted.

            All the while we were serving faithfully in the local church, even working with the youth shortly after being married. This was an exciting time for us. After being married for nearly two years, Tracey gave birth to our first child, Jacob. What a miracle!  Things were going near perfect. We seemed to have this all figured out. 

            Shortly after, everything seemed to fall apart. Our church went through some difficult changes, including losing our pastor, which affected me greatly. I was struggling just to make it to church even though I was supposed to be an example for our youth. We would eventually change churches only to realize that wasn’t the problem. My relationship with others outside of church became very strained as well. Most of all, Tracey and I weren’t seeing eye to eye to say the least. As Chicken Little would say, “The sky is falling!” I didn’t know it at the time, but this would turn out to be the most profitable time in my spiritual walk with God. 

            A man by the name of John Jackson came as a guest speaker to our church one Sunday night. He spoke on the book of Joshua and about dealing with fear. He talked about letting God be God and challenged everyone to pray specifically for something only God could do so that no man could take credit for. I remember asking God if He would allow me to be a part of a Spirit-filled church that would grow for all the right reasons.  No games, gimmicks, or fancy methods to draw people in. I just wanted to be a part of something that God was a part of. I recall thinking that my problems with God and church were because of everything else BUT me. Man was I foolish. The Lord would show me otherwise. 

            Soon after, I found myself listening to a message series by James McDonald titled, “In It To Win It,” a series about spiritual warfare based on Ephesians 6. I can still hear him authoritatively preaching, “Our battle…….Is not…….with other people!” This was news to me. All my problems seemed to be wrapped up in this little blanket of, “It’s not my fault.” He would cut a little deeper with this quote, “In terms of your nearness to God…… you are where you have chosen to be” My eyes were filled with tears and my heart was broken to know that nothing stood between me and true spiritual revival but…..well…me!  It starts with me!

            I locked myself in my extra bedroom for nearly two whole days fasting and praying and reading. I experienced a closeness to God that I had never known previously.  I read most of the New Testament in that time and scriptures that I had read and that had been taught to me several times suddenly had new meaning as if they had come to life. I began to feel the urge to be bold for Christ and I wanted to share everything that I was experiencing with the whole world. Where would I go? Who should I share with? As I prayed, the bedroom door opened and I knew. God had given me a ministry that would bring forth more fruit than any other if I would just plant the seeds…my wife and child.  Revival happens one at a time.(or two at a time!)

            In 2003, revival had definitely set in to my heart and in our home. We were experiencing some of the greatest moments in our faith since it was conceived, but it was as if God was just beginning. Did I say conceived? We would soon be expecting our second child, Katie. What a blessing, but a girl? Lord have mercy on me! Also at this time,  I started to feel a desire to go into full-time ministry. I suddenly remembered what my Grandpa had said to me nearly 13 years prior and my head began to spin. I could feel the grin that had developed and literally it was ear to ear., but yet I had so many questions. How could I be equipped? I couldn’t afford to quit my job and go to seminary?  I shared this with everyone hoping I would find an answer. Listening to Bible teaching on the radio one day, I heard the man from the station say, “Your 24 hour seminary, this is CSN.” It was catchy and it stuck with me. I realized that I was being equipped by these men who were teaching through the word of God, chapter by chapter, book by book.   One teacher spoke a word to me days after that would affirm what the Spirit was telling me. “God does not call the equipped, He equips the called.” That answered one of my questions. I began to wonder though, was there a church around here that taught systematically through the Bible? A Christian friend and co-worker of mine mentioned to me that he heard of one on the other side of town and that he was going to check it out.  Tracey dragged her feet a little bit, but It wasn’t long before we followed. 

            We immediately fell in love with Heartland Christian Fellowship. It wasn’t dramatically different from where we had been in terms of doctrine and such, but there was an overwhelming feeling that  we were “home.” We knew we were supposed to be here. I had a chance to share what God was doing in our family with Pastor Wayne and he encouraged us to keep growing through the Word, being led by the Spirit and he encouraged me that if I was called by God, it would be evident. 

            My father always taught me that, “when a man speaks, you listen and do what he says, and you’ll do just fine.” Well I did, and he was right. God used Pastor Wayne and his wife, Brooke, to train us up in the way we should go, much like a spiritual father would his own children. For five years, Pastor Wayne led us through the scriptures, encouraged us, rebuked us, loved us, but most of all, he was a faithful example for us.  His “suit up, show up” mentality was just what I needed to bring discipline to my life, the kind I was going to need in order to lead in ministry someday. In the spring of 2008, Pastor Wayne and “the gang” heard the call to go out as missionaries  to Costa Rica. For me, it was time. That someday was now. It was time to obey the calling that God had given me when I was a teenager. Ready? Afraid? Confused? The Lord has always brought confirmation to me from the book of Joshua.     

            “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; dot not be discouraged; for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:5(b)-9

             So I figured, when the Lord speaks,  I’ll just listen and do what he says, and I’m sure I’ll do just fine. Thanks dad!!   

            God bless you!

            Pastor Brent