While Derek and Mallory Koone will not be the only people to ever leave CITYChurch, there may never be anyone who leaves to whom we are so indebted. I have said this and will continue saying that every single meaningful thing that God has done or will do through CITYChurch is built on the sacrifice of Derek and Mallory. It is highly unlikely that we could have hired someone with the passion and ability of Derek, but to get all of Derek's energy while not being able to spend money to hire someone, is truly an example of God's grace to CITYChurch.
Derek could have literally chosen to go other places and make three to five times the amount of money he made at CITYChurch. He could have chosen to work somewhere that actually had an office. He could also have chosen to work for a more prestigious employer. (As of right now, working at CITYChurch does not move the needle when future employers look at your resume) Instead, Derek and Mallory chose to come to CITYChurch. I don't think this is just because they are such awesome people. I think a large part of that decision is tied to the fact that God wanted them to come to CITYChurch and Derek and Mallory are all about following God. Even when it looks like God has lost his mind.
There are many things we could do to show Derek and Mallory our thanks for their faithfulness. We could give them money. (Really we can't because we don't have much) We could give them something. It would have to be cheap. We could convince LeBron James to follow Derek's lead and move to Cleveland. I'm actually working on this one.
All of those are nice. They make us feel good and maybe help ease the emotional blow of Derek and Mallory and Cayden leaving. But I think there is something more significant we can do to show them our appreciation. Live like they lived.
That means following God when it doesn't seem to make sense. Making decisions based on more important and eternal factors than finances. Being passionate. Being emotional. Throwing Rubiks cubes. And always believing that God is working. It means standing firm in our decisions because we know we are where God wants us, even when others in our lives tell us we are making a mistake. It means living a life that makes other people say "You are doing what?".
In their time with usdfsf, Derek and Mallory showed us what it looks like to live by faith. I honestly believe that the opportunity they have in Cleveland happened because they walked faithfully during their time here.
That doesn't mean it was easy. Despite faith there were anxious moments. There were sleepless nights wondering what was going to happen. Faith isn't the absence of doubt, it is action despite doubt. It is risking that which is valuable because you trust God's leading.
Sometimes I think we give gifts at times like this because we want to pay people back for what they endured. The reality is we can't take away the anxiety and stress that Derek and Mallory endured while serving God at CITYChurch. There is no gift we can give that travels back in time and replaces those times of uncertainty with answers. But we can learn from the struggle they invested in CITYChurch and we can commit to live by faith as they did, and as they are.
Those stressful moments are over. They happened. We can't change them. And I think Derek and Mallory would say that their faith was deepened in those moments. But at the same time, the moments of victory that Derek and Mallory were a part of can't be erased. The enemy can't take away the conversations they had with people. He can't erase the times of worship that Derek led us in. Those victories live on as we choose to live the same faith that Derek and Mallory live. The real faith in the real Jesus who really loves us and showed so on the cross. That faith lead Derek and Mallory to CITYChurch. That faith now leads them to Cleveland. Where is that faith leading you?
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