The Jesus journey is not a boring drive on a predictable, straight-away highway. It’s a mountain hike. A winding trail. With dips and rises, twists and turns. Formidable challenges. Unexpected surprises.

And course shifts.

Something like three years ago, Carrie and I began to sense a significant shift was coming up around the bend for our family. Perhaps the most significant shift of our lives.

During the summer of 2019 the picture became more clear. It was time to begin preparing ourselves to leave the only church my wife and kids have ever known. It wasn’t a matter of whether or not it would happen. It was now simply a matter of when? how? and what next?

As a general life principle, we’re not fond of the idea of wandering from place to place like nomads every few years. It seems to me that pastors who constantly look for greener grass are usually perpetually disappointed, missing out on some of the deepest lessons and richest rewards that ministry can bring. Carrie and I both believe in being planted in one community over a long period of time, setting deep roots. But there are those rare occasions when the Gardener may have another plan. And it is unmistakably clear to us that this is one of those rare times.

So after seventeen years serving at Northside in Crowley, Louisiana in a variety of capacities, yesterday we announced that this summer the Post family will be making the biggest move of our lives.

It’s going to be hard to say goodbye. I’ll never forget the wonderful men and women I get to serve with on our pastoral staff. Randy. Michelle. Gerard. Heather. Mary A. Brook. Kevin. I’m going to miss each of them and their families terribly.

Our church board is also filled with fantastic people who are ready, willing, and capable of helping the church navigate through this (hopefully short) season of transition. They are not only great board members. They are my friends. And a couple of them are my weekly tennis opponents.

Northside has been the best church family anyone can expect or ask for. Over the last eight years I have served as Lead Pastor, I am deeply grateful for the consistent encouragement and prayerful support our church has given my wife, my children, and myself.

We’re excited for the future of Northside. Even after the challenges that COVID-19 and two hurricanes have presented to us in 2020, The Way Training Center is thriving. Northside Christian School is bursting at the seams. And I believe Northside Assembly is primed for one of the greatest seasons of fruitfulness in its entire 70 year history.

Over the next couple months we will remain here in Crowley. I will continue to lead, teach, and preach. We’ll have plenty of time to visit, laugh, reminisce, encourage, and pray together.

But at some point this summer, the Post family will be embarking on a new journey. Literally and figuratively. We’ll be leaving the only town we’ve ever known as home and moving over 1,700 miles to Los Angeles, California.

As difficult as it will be to leave, we can’t wait to begin this new adventure with our new church in L.A. I’m sure I’ll post more about the church when the time comes. But we’ve been welcomed with open arms. For so many reasons, we feel so good about the “fit.” Since January, I’ve had numerous Zoom interviews and phone conversations with the church leadership. Two weeks ago we were able to fly to Burbank and spend an entire week with the elders. All along the way there have been several “God moments” that have given us extra assurance that we are, indeed, discerning correctly.

As most of our Northside family and our future church family already knows, the church is much, much bigger than one personality. Jesus is the one who is building his Church. In Crowley, Louisiana. In Burbank, California. And in every corner of the earth.

And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

“If I fly on the wings of the dawn

and settle down on the western horizon,

even there your hand will lead me;

your right hand will hold on to me.”

Psalm 139:9-10