Happy Thanksgiving From The Deffenbacher Family!

Happy Thanksgiving From The Deffenbacher Family!

The past year has brought many exciting changes to our family. Because we have recently moved to our new home in Clovis while simultaneously experiencing a massive data-transfer fail (ie, lost most of our contact list) this is our 'early' Holiday greeting/update/card. We have much to be thankful for.

Blake (12, 7th grade) surprised us all by playing on the Junior High football team and quickly became the starting ‘snapper’. In addition to riding his Yamaha dirt bike ‘too fast’ for his parents liking, Blake enjoys spending quality time with his Grandparents, Uncles, Cousins and Student Ministries friends.

Paige (9, 3rd grade) loves to sing on the worship team, take dance and piano lessons, play soccer and spend time with people. This summer Paige made the decision to be baptized in the Pacific Ocean… which was a highlight for Brent who had the privilege of participating.

Amy transitioned from the classroom into administration this school year by becoming the Dean of Students (aka: Principal) for Fresno Christian Schools. On a regular basis Amy interacts with students, parents, teachers and the public to create an environment where students grow academically, socially, and spiritually. A ‘perk’ of her job is that Blake and Paige go to school with her every day and she can be present and formative in their education.

Brent continues to enjoy his Adjunct Professor role in the Business School of Fresno Pacific University. In September of this year he accepted the call to become the Family Life Pastor for the Peoples Church in Fresno. In addition to overseeing ministries from birth-young adults, Brent leads teams, equips leaders and teaches on a regular basis. A ‘perk’ of his job is that Peoples Church and Fresno Christian share a campus, which means he gets to see Amy and the kids on a daily basis.

Its been said, “One true constant in life is change.” As a family we’ve experienced our fair share of change over the past 18 years, but our friends family and faith have stayed true. Heading into this holiday season our prayer for your family is that wherever this update may find you, you would know that there are four people who love you and wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year.

Grace & Peace,

Brent, Amy, Blake & Paige Deffenbacher

September 1, 2014: Labor Day Update

If you are reading this blog post you are either a (1) long time friend checking in to see what’s new with the Deffenbacher family, (2) newer friend checking out these Deffenbacher people, or (3) cyber-stranger who I hope finds encouragement and confidence in the truth that God is Good, and if life isn’t Good right now…He’s not Done.

Looking Back

A little over a year ago we strongly sensed that the Lord was both calling and preparing a way for our family to return to California. Leaving a city, church family and friends that we loved deeply was a loss that we surprisingly grieved for the better part of the past year. Amy’s ‘dream job’ at Fresno Christian turned out to be more of a ‘nightmare’, and my intentional step away from full-time vocational church ministry at times seemed both foolish and irresponsible.

One of the big motivators for our move back to Fresno was to be closer to our immediate family. Even as Amy and I struggled to become settled in this new season, our kids seemed to be thriving at Fresno Christian and thrilled to be closer to their Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and especially their Cousins.

2014 – The Year of Trusting God’s Timing

I’ve heard it said that God is seldom early, never late, but always on time. Waiting on the Lord’s timing has proven to be one of those topics that I’ve historically enjoyed preaching-on, but haven’t really enjoyed living-out. This past year has been an epic saga in trusting the Lord, leaning not on my own understanding, and believing that He will direct and provide a purposeful path.

Here is a snapshot of my path…

Over the course of the past year the Lord has been incredibly gracious to provide regular preaching opportunities, part-time ministry assignments, and consulting contracts in addition to my role as an Adjunct Professor at Fresno Pacific University. Through this process it became increasingly obvious that the Lord was preparing me to re-enter into full time vocational ministry within the local church. What was not as ‘clear’ was when and where this would happen ...until recently.

Peoples Church

20 years ago I was given the opportunity to ‘cut my teeth’ in church ministry as a Junior High Intern at the Peoples Church in Fresno, California. Peoples Church exposed me to and prepared me for a launch into ministry. I have had the privilege to serve at churches like NorthPointe, Calvary, Northwest, and NewHope in roles ranging in title from Youth/Student Ministries/Emerging Generations Pastor to Spiritual Formations/Associate/Interim/Co-Lead/Lead and Senior Pastor.

Two decades later I am once again privileged to be joining the Peoples Church staff as the Family Life Pastor. In this role I will be working with teams of pastors, staff, adult leaders and parents to oversee the spiritual formation and development of children (age 0) through young adults (college age). I’m honored to come alongside Pastor Dale and the very talented team of pastors/staff/directors in this capacity to help people see God and participate in his redemptive story.

An Amy Update

For those who stay up to date w/ our family on social media, you are aware that Amy recently transitioned from the classroom when she assumed the Dean of Students role at Fresno Christian. Amy’s skill set as a godly educator who is organized and gracious with people (students, parents and faculty) have already made a huge impact on the culture of Fresno Christian. It brings me great joy to see Amy personally at peace, joyful and thriving in her career.

Friends reading this from afar couldn’t possibly make the connection that Fresno Christian Schools meet on the Peoples Church campus. What this means for our family is that Sunday-Friday we not only worship together, but also work and learn together on the same campus. FYI: it was never ‘our’ plan to both be working full-time jobs, but in the sovereignty of God’s plan ‘He’ knew and has provided an opportunity where we truly are better together partnering in ministry and life.

The Life Lesson We Have Learned

One year ago today we could have never scripted the pieces of life’s puzzle that are now coming together. In full transparency, the moments we tried to control what seemed to be out of control …the worse it got. On more than one occasion our faith was tested (James 1:2-4) because the circumstances of life, quite frankly, sucked. It was during these times of trial (1 Peter 1:7) that we doubled down on our confidence in the truth that God really does hold the whole world in his hands. Friend, God is Good. (Ephesians 3:20) He has an incredibly good plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11-13). If the conditions of your life are not good …God’s not done! (Romans 8:28)

Looking Ahead

This Fall Blake has decided to play football …which is only slightly more concerning than his obsession with jumping and racing his motorcycle on the dirt track at the ranch. BTW: At age 12, Blake’s feet have grown to size 10.5 (mine are 11) and he is even outgrowing shorts!

Paige Marley will be turning nine this month and continues to pursue the arts with a passion as she is currently taking both dance and piano lessons. As a former player myself, I’m thrilled that she is scheduled to be starting up Soccer this month.

In Closing

Waiting on the Lord’s timing in life is one of the greatest ways I have personally discovered that He will grow our faith. God is seldom early, never late, but always on time. My prayer for you, in closing, is that something I’ve shared in this post could be of encouragement to you in this journey called life and that you would trust Jesus to direct and provide a purposeful path for your future.

Grace & Peace,

Brent & Amy Deffenbacher 

PAUSE before POSTING

PAUSE before POSTING

Several friends recently have commented that my Social Media posts (tweets, pics, updates) were positive, encouraging and helpful. This made me smile, but also got me thinking on 'why' that was...so here are my thoughts. 

Let me start by acknowledging that I don't always get it right. In the efforts to be 'me' in a creative, entertaining and hopefully funny way ...my opinions, comments and posts can at times send a confusing message. This is regrettable, inexcusable and I right here and now I seek your forgiveness.  

Secondly, there are folks who I am 'friends' with on SocialMedia that say and do things that are confusing, hurtful and downright mean. On more than one occasion I have drafted a 'snarky or stinging' rebuttal, but by the grace of God have managed to press DELETE before SEND (most of the time). 

Here are a few reasons why I choose to PAUSE before POSTING.

First, and with all my heart, I believe that it is possible to be creative without being crude, silly without being sarcastic, interesting without being irritating, hopeful without being critical and encouraging without complaining. 

Second, we are bombarded daily by stories that would lead any of us to believe that the world is going to come to an end tomorrow. Call me an optimist, short-sided or naive ...but I choose to look for the good in life and be an encouragement to others by sharing stories of faith, hope and love. 

Finally, as a Follower of Christ I realize that my life, words and actions are on display for the world to see. It is my online mission to leave a Facebook footprint that leads to Jesus, an Instagram image that embraces my identity in Christ and Blog posts that add sentences, paragraphs and possibly a page in God's redemptive story here on earth.

There is more to be written on this topic, but I wanted to share a few thoughts on the purpose behind why I choose to PAUSE before POSTING.

Grace & Peace, 

Brent 

March 1, 2014: a 2-month, 6-month & 7-month update

It’s been two months since posting on facebook, six months since updating my blog, and about seven months since transitioning away from full-time vocational church ministry. For those who have asked, for those who have been curious, and for the close few that have been prayerfully joining me in this journey …here’s an update.

1st, what started out as a 30-day New Years resolution to ‘limit’ my social-media consumption turned into a two-month fast from posting and viewing facebook/twitter/instagram etc… My motivation was to invest the social-media time into my personal relationship with Jesus, believing that He desired my attention (through prayer) and my devotion (through reading scripture). What has God been saying? Simply; to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength (Matthew 22). Yet profoundly; that my love for Him is in response to His love for me (1 John 4). Through these past two months I have once again been reminded of my ‘identity’ in Christ, that in Him alone (not in ‘being liked, requested or followed’ I find security, significance and assurance.

2nd, over the course of the past six months I have been ‘blown away’ by how gracious, loving and good God has been to me. He has provided opportunities for me to preach at churches (large/small, conservative/charismatic, mean/nice, denominational/independent), join the Adjunct Faculty at Fresno Pacific University’s Business School & School of Theology, launch a consulting practice w/ churches, schools and non-profits, in addition to becoming a mentor, coach, advisor and friend for both small/medium sized business owners. Most importantly, for the first time ever, I became Paige’s soccer coach, Blake’s cross-country/moto-cross booster and Amy’s biggest fan. Just last week I had the opportunity to meet w/ my counselor Steve for a six month ‘check-up’. He reaffirmed that I am doing ‘exactly’ what I setout to do six months ago, but also confirmed my hunch that God was getting ready to both stretch/launch me into what was next.

3rd, Amy (because she’s now our primary breadwinner) and I agreed that after almost two decades of full-time vocational church ministry w/out a significant break or Sabbatical, that we should not seriously consider joining/pursuing any full-time vocational positions for six months. Wow, talk about ‘detox’!! When your ‘identity’ had become so enmeshed w/ your role as a ‘pastor’ on ‘paid staff’ at a church, ‘civilian life’ takes some getting used to. For the Sunday’s that I’m not preaching/teaching/consulting I have become much more empathetic to life as a parishioner (dang those messages are long), outsider (what does that acronym mean?), and otherwise anonymous (yeah, I ‘use’ to be a pastor). Needless to say, the Lord has revealed areas of pride, control and fear that He still desires to redeem in my life. He has also, through this season, reaffirmed my deep love for people and very strong calling to serve His church.

Living in California has been both wonderful and terrible. Wonderful because we have been able to see our kids flourish at FresnoChristian, spend quality time with our Fresno family, re-connect w/ a few friends, make some new friends, see the sunshine (a lot), play golf (probably too much), and be ‘stretched’ to trust God in ways and at levels we’ve never imagined. Its been terrible because we both had unrealistic expectations of how easy transitioning back into a small/large town like Fresno would be, which has led to some pretty serious disappointment in others/ourselves/and yes, God.  Most surprising has been how much we have missed our Portland friends, faith family and food (yes, micro-brews too). We remain convinced that the Lord directed us to transition off staff at New Hope, but remain heartbroken for the loss of relationships, community and calling we once had to my home town.

What’s next? After a season of ‘Selah’, and after two months of concerted prayer and fasting, Amy and I are once again at the ‘crossroads’ of discerning our next step in a growing relationship with Jesus. Would you please join our family as we pray for the ‘wisdom’ to discern God’s will, and that we will have the ‘courage’ to say ‘yes’? 

Because it is my life's mission to 'love God and love people', I will strive to be an encouragement to you and others by sharing helpful, heartfelt, humorous and positive truth revealed through real-life. I will also be using facebook to speak words of faith, hope and love ...only. Finally, in light of this update, I promise to do a better job of posting on the blog to keep you in the loop on where the Lord is leading the Deffenbacher family. 

Grace & Peace, 

Brent & Amy Deffenbacher

March 1, 2014