One Year Later: A Letter to Southpointe Community Church

  Precious Brothers and Sisters,

It seems futile to even try to express the joy I have in being with you over the past year. Living life along side of you in Nolensville has been so incredibly enjoyable and life-giving. This year has been both the busiest and the most enjoyable year I have ever had, and for that I am humbled by both God’s grace and your warm welcome. I remember as if it were yesterday, getting word that SPCC was looking for a Youth Pastor. After attending Tennessee Tech and having multiple friends in the Nashville area, coupled with my love for the state of Tennessee, the opportunity caused my heart to leap with excitement about the possibility of moving back to Middle Tennessee to walk the road of repentance with precious saints, following the leading of God in my own life as well as the life of Southpointe Community Church.  I was with SPCC and the folks of the search committee about 10 minutes before I knew this was a place I would like to be for a really long time!

So, on this, the one year anniversary of our stories coming together I want to say Thank You. Thank You that you allow me the privilege of spending time with your covenant children, to walk alongside you as we carry them to the foot of the cross, preparing them for seeing their Savior who loves them and gave himself up for them (Gal 2:20). Thank You that you allow me to stand and deliver the Word of God to you, and by God’s grace you see that this Jesus I proclaim to you is the Christ (Acts 17:3). Thank You that you open your homes to me. As an unmarried man in ministry, the looming loneliness can be overwhelming. You have not failed to treat me as a native among you and not a sojourner, and you have loved me as one of your own (Lev. 19:34). 

My prayer as we continue on is for many more years together as the Lord would allow. I pray that you and your covenant children would continue to see the beauty of the Lord (Psalm 27). I also pray that SPCC and Elevate Student ministries would be as a city on a hill.(Matt. 5:14).  A beacon for the community of Nolensville that loves and serves the town with gospel intentionality, so much so that if, God forbid, SPCC would ever have to close its doors, the town of Nolensville would be heartbroken to see her leave, and that a watching world would see, believe, and fall in love with the Gospel of grace, and that SPCC would continue to be humble, gracious, and loving as it seeks to advance the Kingdom to all the corners of the Earth, and that the knowledge of the glory of the Lord would spread across Nolensville and the surrounding areas, as the waters cover the seas (Hab 2:14). 

It is the desire of my heart to walk this road of repentance with you. I hope that I will always be the chief repenter on the journey of faith and obedience to a greater dependence of God and his transforming grace, for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love for those who fear Him (Ps. 103:11)

Because He Lives,

Darrell E. Jones

Ninety.

"We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner! I can't think what anybody sees in them." - Bilbo Baggins

“I have held many things in my hands, and have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” - Martin Luther

"Was trying to find me something but I wasn't sure just what/ Funny how they say that some things never change"

- 'Sweet Carolina'  by Ryan Adams

  Three months. Ninety Days. Thats the amount of time I have been at my new job as Director of Student Ministries for Southpointe Community Church. I love to reminisce. All my life long I have been a sucker for nostalgia. Not sure what it is about the past that I find so compelling. I could chalk it up to being a history major, or being a decent storyteller, or the fact that in spite of the brain cells I lost in my teens and twenties, I have still been gifted (or cursed) with a steel trap for "toasting the good times". A beat up old Braves hat sits on my head. A picture of my roommates from college hangs on my wall. I spent the weeks leading up to my move from Charlotte back to Middle TN receiving multiple texts, emails, and phone calls from fellow Nashvillians anticipating hanging out once again. A Continuation of the "good ole days". An "on ramp" to the social pipeline. A place to step into the river midstream. As the third month begins, there have certainly been a few lessons I have already learned. Some easy and fun. Some difficult. All a part of the story being woven by a Loving Creator who will not relent to nostalgia or any other idol. A Father who will not relent until I look like his Son on that great day. 

     One: In both moments of ease and moments of difficulty, Christ is all I have to offer. 

            I get to have lots of conversations during the week. Some of them are lighthearted and fun, some are sad, some are hard. All of them require something of me that I simply can not give. It is in these moments that Jesus increases, and I decrease. It's also one of the hardest things to do. I'm a fixer. I don't like to see people hurting. Sometimes its wise to say things. Other times its wise to stay silent. The most important, and most loving things we can do is listen, pray, and appeal to Scripture. Whether its a confused high school kid, or a beleaguered parent, we must point them to a listening Lord, who not only speaks through his Word, but listens with his ears. 

   Two: Moving is tough and so are friendships. 

          I wasn't prepared for the loneliness that comes with a new town. It was loving of my friend Brent to warn me of this. Brent married my friend Alissa. They both did well. When meeting with Brent the first time I mentioned that the ebb and flow of being in a new town is weird. Early on days were fast and crazy. At night they came to a screeching halt. The anticipation of the weeks leading up to the move was met with unmet expectations. I really wanted to just see familiar faces after the whirlwind of new introductions. I struggled with knowing that maybe, just maybe, there wasn't room for me in the lives of my established friends. Life grinds on, patterns are established, disruptions and change aren't readily embraced, and circles are tough to break into.  It's the sad reality of life on this side of Heaven. However, in light of this I have seen the beauty of God's church, namely the local congregation in which I work. SPCC has surrounded me, overwhelmed me, and spurred me on to righteousness and holiness. Members have had me in their homes and let me sit with them at sporting events. They've shared wisdom on everything from finding a date to finding videos of exploding hogs and tannerite. Tim Keller speaks of how our generation is the best and worst at community There is nothing like transition to expose your idols. There is nothing like the insecurity of an exposed idol to push you to Jesus.

 Three: Hold tight to things that cannot be shaken.

         A couple of weeks ago I couldn't hold tightly to anything. I went to throw a frisbee and couldn't. 2 days after that I went to pick up a 15 lb dumbbell and wasn't able. The next day I was simply picking up my laptop bag from my passenger seat and it was as if someone was whacking me in the forearm with an extension cord. I've always prided myself on being sufficiently strong. I like lifting heavy things. I like flipping tractor tires. I like working outside. Last year in seminary my friend Matt and I literally paid the bills by moving furniture. I knew that it likely wasn't anything serious, but I began to wonder "Who am I if i can't pick up things?" I had to come to a place of realizing that, much like the relational woes, if this was something God was wanting to take away, then I trust His decision. It wasn't an easy conclusion to reach but while looking back on a lifetime of His faithfulness to me, the things of earth always grow strangely dim. Therapy and rehab may repair the damaged nerve. I hope it does. I enjoy being able to do things without it nagging me. If it doesn't, I can still look to Jesus as the one who purchased my redemption. I can remain hopeful that we inherit a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and offer to God acceptable worship in reverence and awe of all that He has done. 

  Surely there are lots of lessons in store for me in this new adventure. If they are share-worthy I will gladly pass them on. Come visit.  Oh and I've gotten to speak a couple of times Listen here. here, and here. Seriously, come visit.