Our Story
Our story is not typical. We did not attend seminary. As pastors, we are not polished in the way many are accustomed to. Transparency is very important to us, so we've learned to leverage our lacks and weaknesses in a way that takes the focus off us and puts it on God. Only He could craft the miracle that is our story.
Before my husband and I were even married (in the late 90's lol!!!) it was spoken over us that we would be in full time ministry. At the time, we both worked full time in a secular capacity. We spent the first 15 years of marriage pouring into the vision of someone else's ministry, raising our children, and growing in character. All the while, we had suppressed an urge to be in full time ministry. In 2012, we both felt that God was bringing that desire to fruition. We attempted and even started the ordination process several times and each time the door would shut. Long story short, we stepped out in faith, making the decision to leave all things comfortable and walk away from a church we adored to start a Bible Study in our home.
The road was extremely difficult but we knew that our faith would be "dead" if we didn't put feet to it. Our Bible study grew and turned into a Sunday morning gathering in a barn on our property. In 2015, we were burning out having people in our nooks and crannies every week and we knew it was time to push our little eaglet of a church out of the nest. At this point we told the church that we were only willing to use our home for church for one more month. Again, it was a huge risk to say such a thing, but we had the faith to believe that if we stepped out God would meet us. Within that time frame, the local YWCA agreed to rent us space for a nominal fee. It was a huge answer to prayer!!!
What we didn't know was that four months later a struggling church would donate their 20,000 square foot building to our congregation free of charge. We fought the urge to think small and we took yet another leap. In the 2 years we've been in the building, money has been donated for a new furnace, new windows, and paint for all 20,000 feet. Most importantly, very generous donations have come in to send a family to Africa to do missions and also to feed hundreds of people locally!!! In the mix of things, my husband also lost his job after 15 years with the same company. God knew this particular leap would be too hard to make on our own so He was faithful to make the decision for us. We also sold our big house with the barn for church and paid cash for a smaller one. One small act of faith, through many trials and tribulations opened the door for us over the course of 5 years to start a church, own a building outright and personally get out of all debt in a time when our resources were the leanest they've ever been.
So that's our story! If you will TRUST HIM and believe HE REWARDS THOSE WHO SEEK HIM, He will do the impossible. The God Factor will change everything in your life. Will you let him?
Before my husband and I were even married (in the late 90's lol!!!) it was spoken over us that we would be in full time ministry. At the time, we both worked full time in a secular capacity. We spent the first 15 years of marriage pouring into the vision of someone else's ministry, raising our children, and growing in character. All the while, we had suppressed an urge to be in full time ministry. In 2012, we both felt that God was bringing that desire to fruition. We attempted and even started the ordination process several times and each time the door would shut. Long story short, we stepped out in faith, making the decision to leave all things comfortable and walk away from a church we adored to start a Bible Study in our home.
The road was extremely difficult but we knew that our faith would be "dead" if we didn't put feet to it. Our Bible study grew and turned into a Sunday morning gathering in a barn on our property. In 2015, we were burning out having people in our nooks and crannies every week and we knew it was time to push our little eaglet of a church out of the nest. At this point we told the church that we were only willing to use our home for church for one more month. Again, it was a huge risk to say such a thing, but we had the faith to believe that if we stepped out God would meet us. Within that time frame, the local YWCA agreed to rent us space for a nominal fee. It was a huge answer to prayer!!!
What we didn't know was that four months later a struggling church would donate their 20,000 square foot building to our congregation free of charge. We fought the urge to think small and we took yet another leap. In the 2 years we've been in the building, money has been donated for a new furnace, new windows, and paint for all 20,000 feet. Most importantly, very generous donations have come in to send a family to Africa to do missions and also to feed hundreds of people locally!!! In the mix of things, my husband also lost his job after 15 years with the same company. God knew this particular leap would be too hard to make on our own so He was faithful to make the decision for us. We also sold our big house with the barn for church and paid cash for a smaller one. One small act of faith, through many trials and tribulations opened the door for us over the course of 5 years to start a church, own a building outright and personally get out of all debt in a time when our resources were the leanest they've ever been.
So that's our story! If you will TRUST HIM and believe HE REWARDS THOSE WHO SEEK HIM, He will do the impossible. The God Factor will change everything in your life. Will you let him?
our name
The Well Church name came from the story about the Samaritan woman in John 4. In the story Jesus is leaving Judea to go to Galilee. On the way He "needed" to go through Samaria. Samaritans were known for a religion that mixed both idolatry and Judaism. They were considered "half-breeds" and they were generally hated by the Jews. One might find it odd that Jesus went out of his way to go there, especially midday when the sun was the hottest. Upon entry to the city, Jesus went to Jacob's well. He was obviously thirsty and weary from the journey. It's at this junction that one of the first acts of evangelism of the Christian church is consummated.
Here at The Well, Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman. The story alludes to three different reasons why this woman is extremely disadvantaged. She is a woman. In that culture, woman were viewed more as property than person. A man would not have been found dead conversing with her in a public setting. As the story progresses, she also confesses that she is guilty of sexual immorality. And finally as we stated before, she was a Samaritan. She is despised. She has all the labels available for a woman of such repute. She isn't even named, but her story is memorialized for eternity as a testament of the precious living water that is available to all who have a chance encounter with the Lord. God uses her to evangelize her entire city!
When she meets Jesus, He captures her attention by the mere fact that he would treat her with dignity and have a conversation with her. He asks her for water, but by the end of the story, she is the one who goes away refreshed. Jesus proclaims that whoever drinks of His living water will "never thirst." He prophesies that there is a time coming when true worshippers will worship in spirit and in truth. The woman's heart is so full that she shares her story with the men of her city. They come to hear and believe.
We believe we are a church called to "Samaritans." We feel a particular call to those who are outcast, those who are free thinkers and those who are called to leadership but may be a little rough around the edges. Jesus broke all the rules to pursue the call on this woman. We feel led to do the same for our generation.
Here at The Well, Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman. The story alludes to three different reasons why this woman is extremely disadvantaged. She is a woman. In that culture, woman were viewed more as property than person. A man would not have been found dead conversing with her in a public setting. As the story progresses, she also confesses that she is guilty of sexual immorality. And finally as we stated before, she was a Samaritan. She is despised. She has all the labels available for a woman of such repute. She isn't even named, but her story is memorialized for eternity as a testament of the precious living water that is available to all who have a chance encounter with the Lord. God uses her to evangelize her entire city!
When she meets Jesus, He captures her attention by the mere fact that he would treat her with dignity and have a conversation with her. He asks her for water, but by the end of the story, she is the one who goes away refreshed. Jesus proclaims that whoever drinks of His living water will "never thirst." He prophesies that there is a time coming when true worshippers will worship in spirit and in truth. The woman's heart is so full that she shares her story with the men of her city. They come to hear and believe.
We believe we are a church called to "Samaritans." We feel a particular call to those who are outcast, those who are free thinkers and those who are called to leadership but may be a little rough around the edges. Jesus broke all the rules to pursue the call on this woman. We feel led to do the same for our generation.