church in the park! (And what, exactly, Todd does for a living.)

Yesterday, in the ninety-seven degree heat, we had church in the park.

Oh, yes, my friends.  It was hot.

Normally, our services are held in the conference room at a hotel in town, but there are occasions when the space is rented to another party and we have to worship somewhere else.  In the winter, we often go to another hotel's conference room.  In the summer, we have services outside, and follow things up with a potluck lunch.

The last five years of church planting have offered ample opportunities for church in the park.  In fact, our very first official church service in Cedar Falls was outside in a park.  It always holds fond memories for me.

Five years ago!  Whoa.

This weekend was extra special, though, because it was the first time the teaching schedule has ever lined up for Todd to be the one teaching on a park Sunday.  I always love the Sundays that he teaches, and yesterday was no different.

Which brings me to a question that I know has been burning in your gut for a long time: What, exactly, does Todd do?


I mean, we move around a lot for church plants, he's on the teaching team and the elder team, and he preaches regularly.  So... is he a pastor or something?

The quick answer is no, and yes.  No, he's not paid to do ministry, and never aspires to be.  He works full-time as an insurance claims adjuster, just like he dreamed of doing when he was a little boy, dressing up in his dad's polos and sitting in front of a cardboard computer, answering the phone on his Fisher-Price headset.

But also, yes, he's a pastor.  In the Bible, the Greek word for 'pastor' and 'elder' is the same.  In a Biblical model, church leadership is overseen by elders - men who meet specific spiritual, moral, and logistical qualifications laid out in Scripture.  In our network, elders go through a training and vetting process, followed by a vote by the church members, and go up for re-vote each year.  They're responsible for watching over the life, doctrine, spiritual health and shepherding of their local (independent) church.

So in short, that's why he was up there teaching this weekend.  (Not all elders are regular teachers, and not all teachers are elders, but Todd's lucky enough to do both.)  I love getting to sit under my husband's teaching, and I love that the kids get the opportunity to see him in this role.  They seem to be pretty thrilled about it, too.  We're all big fans.

Anyway.  Long story short: after Todd's teaching, we all hung out and ate lunch.

She insists on having her arms hanging out the top of the Ergo, which always makes her look so uncomfortable!

The end.