The following letter comes to you from Brad O’Brien. We recently commissioned him, his family, and a team of 28 to plant Redeemer City Church in Baltimore, MD. Summit, we believe that the best method of completing the Great Commission is to plant churches in strategic cities in the U.S. and around the world. And we are willing to send out some of our best to do it, even if it is a bittersweet moment.
It was with a wide range of emotions that my family stood before you just 11 days ago to be commissioned as the next church planters sent out by the Summit. After serving on staff for the last ten years, I’ve been a part of more commissioning services than I can recount, but this was obviously the first time I’ve been in the role of being sent out to start a new church. It was a deeply encouraging and sobering moment.
This journey began for my family in the fall of 2010 as we responded to conviction that we needed to take a step of faith. Pastor J.D. was preaching through the life of David. I can recall a particular moment during his sermon, when he spoke about David demonstrating his faith by stepping forward to face Goliath for the fame and glory of God. I knew at that moment that God was calling me to take a step of faith that was motivated by the fame and glory of God. I didn’t know then what it would look like, but I am thankful for God’s graciousness to my family and myself in this journey.
When I moved from Woodstock, GA to Durham, NC in January of 2003 I never imagined what I would experience here. I came to serve the church as a volunteer college pastor and had plans to attend seminary at Southeastern. The past ten years here have been packed with some of the most exciting moments of my life as well as the most dreadful moments. God has richly blessed me in my time here. In His providence He saw fit to provide me with my wife and two beautiful little girls while I was serving on staff at the Summit. My family has also walked through what has, until this point, been the most difficult season of our life together. Our church family faithfully walked with us as we faced the trauma and depression that resulted in losing three babies to miscarriages over the course of ten months in 2011.
February 14th, 2013 has been marked on our calendar for months now, and the day is finally here. This afternoon, we will pull out of Durham with all of our earthly belongings packed in a rental truck. I can’t imagine taking the step of faith that is required to plant a church without my experience that God has faithfully provided me with here at the Summit. At the Summit I have learned that God is still able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ever hope or imagine. I have also learned that the Gospel is more than just a story we believe for personal salvation. It is our motivation for everything we do in our pursuit to be conformed to the image of Christ. I have seen the contagious nature of generosity as well as the power of the gospel being preached in word and accompanied by deed.
Thank you Summit Church for being more than just a job for me. Thank you for being my family and for walking alongside of us in this new adventure. If you want to pray for us you can sign up to get our updates here. Also, if you are on Facebook and want to connect with us there, you can find our page here.
Your impact on me personally as well as my family and our launch team will forever shape the way we live and minster in Baltimore. Thank you!
Brad, Jena-Marie, Calliah Grace and Elsa Lou O’Brien
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