A Month in the Life

Yesterday my brother and sister-in-law came to visit us from North Carolina for the Fourth of July. This is the first time they’ve visited us since we moved to Austin, so we’re very excited to have them here! It’s even better that the weather has been nice—below 100 every day. :)

Whenever someone comes to visit you for a weekend, the pressure to see all the best sights and do all the right things during the limited amount of time you have can be overwhelming. That’s why whenever ANYONE comes to visit us, we know we’ll never go wrong taking them to the most gorgeous dining experience around: The Oasis. Known as the Sunset Capital of Texas, The Oasis offers a decent meal with breath-taking views of Lake Travis, especially at sunset. So last night, there with my family and my giant slice of Chocolate Explosion, overlooking the beauty of God’s creation, I realized how great my life really is.

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I find that one of the most exciting and frightful, courageous yet uncertain adventures in the world can be forging a path through a forest with no well-trekked path—no clear signs of direction or obvious markers along the way. It is amazing to me that, as a child, typically I embarked upon such adventures with inadequate provisions—just a backpack with a small bottle of water, a granola bar, my trusty walking stick. Setting forth toward the unknown was something I loved. Such an undertaking is not for the weary or the faint of heart, because no one really knows where the path may take you….no one knows the obstacles that may occur along the journey.

Since my husband has given you gist of who we are and what we’re doing, I’ll share a cliff’s notes version of myself. I’m originally from North Carolina, and have a younger brother (and sister-in-law) who still live there. (They’re actually coming to visit us tomorrow, and I can’t wait!) My parents just relocated from NC to Austin to help us with the church—a blessing beyond words! I became a Christ-follower when I was in 9th grade, and, on a youth on mission trip, acknowledged my call to ministry at the age of 16. (Here’s some nostalgia for somebody out there—this sacred moment in my life took place during a prayer meeting a few of us had at the good ole’ Mary K hotel next to Headquarters. Yes, I slept there and lived to tell about it!)

After I graduated high school, I attended Kent Christian College in Dover, Delaware. (I know, I’m not helping my cause here—two “landmarks” in my personal history are no longer in existence; my, how that dates me!) After two years at Kent, I transferred home to Meredith College in Raleigh. At the end of those four years, I graduated from both schools, with a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Kent and a B.A. in History and Education from Meredith. My first teaching job was actually at the middle school I attended growing up, which was pretty cool for me. After teaching a few years and receiving my Master’s in Education from UNC-Greensboro, I served as a Fulbright Scholar in South Korea for a year—a surreal experience on so many levels. After more teaching back in the states, I took another huge leap to pursue a dream. Urshan Graduate School of Theology was opening in 2001, so I moved to St. Louis to be part of everything from the ground up. At UGST, both my intellect and spirituality were challenged and developed on a daily basis. I really had no way to know how powerfully my life would be transformed during my time at Urshan—my entire paradigm for following Christ changed (in a good way!). I also snagged my amazing husband while I was there—who says it doesn’t pay to study? :O)

Since he stole my heart, he knew I’d follow him to the ends of the earth. Thankfully, I didn’t have to with this move—because God called us to the gorgeous hill country of Austin, Texas! I serve The Sanctuary of Cedar Park as Administrative Pastor and Worship Director, and I also serve our community as the Lead Dyslexia Specialist for Leander Independent School District. My greatest privilege in life is serving others as I serve Him.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!

A Month in the Life of a Church Planter
At this point in life, the very thought that something we have to share might, in some way, be of interest to others is kind of scary. Quite frankly, it feels like we’re moving at the speed of light with little time for meaningful reflection, or for the simple pleasures of life. I can’t even tell you the last time I had a chance to visit a local book store -- sit and veg on a couch with a cup of joe -- and I know it’s been a while since I’ve read a book for pleasure or relaxation (I sure do miss my Calvin & Hobbes!). With that said, thank you Kent (little ‘d’) for asking my wife and me to share our lives -- thoughts about what we are doing, seeing, feeling, tasting, experiencing on our journey in the great state of Texas, in a place called Cedar Park (north Austin, for you music lovers).

Introductions from Us (Mel)
I was born in a small mining town in just off the coast of Vancouver Island, in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada. Afterwards, we moved to the island, where I spent most of my early years in the town of Nanaimo. While there, a couple asked my folks if they could take their 5 year old son to Sunday school. I was one of those snotty-nosed, rug- rat bus kids who was transformed, baptized on a cold November night by the power of God’s spirit in an old-fashioned revival under the ministry of Rev. Terry Black. Fast forwarding several years, I spent most of my life living and working around Vancouver, gazing many nights at the Rocky Mountains that surrounded the city or watching the blissful movement of the Pacific Ocean as it crashed onto the banks of one of the local parks close to my home.

What Influenced my Journey to Ministry
While on a missions trip to Eastern Europe, we visited Romanian orphanages and youth camps in Serbia, which deeply moved me. God began to speak to me about doing more with my life than I could have ever dreamed or imagined. I moved away from the Great White North to attend Bible college at Gateway College of Evangelism in St. Louis, where I graduated with my B.A. in Theology. After graduation, I served as Gateway’s Director of Student Ministries and Adjunct Instructor of Youth Ministries, and also obtained a B.S. in Organizational Leadership from Greenville College.

It was while working for Gateway that I met the most amazing person in my life. Lisa literally transformed my worldview and caused me to melt in my tracks. She was attending Urshan Graduate School of Theology, and her passion for learning and continual encouragement fostered my commitment to pursue graduate work. We were engaged during a Preview Weekend at Gateway (I proposed to her in front of about 500 friends and strangers during a concert). After we were married, I continued my studies, completing an M.A. in Human Service Counseling from Regent University and an M.T.S. from Urshan Graduate School of Theology.

Recent Places I’ve Lived
After living in St. Louis while attending UGST and working for Gateway, my next stop in ministry was as an associate pastor in Columbus, Indiana, where I spent two wonderful years of my life. Most recently, we moved to Cedar Park (Austin), Texas to start a brand new church plant under the umbrella of New Life church and Pastor David Bernard. We’ve been here now for two years and counting… :)

Where I Am Now
So by day, I am a hospital chaplain working around 50 hours a week, taking a few courses at seminary to complete my requirements for board certification as a chaplain and for entrance into a doctoral program. My driving passion is The Sanctuary of Cedar Park—in all areas of my life, I’m attempting to be actively engaged with others and relevant to my community as a church planter, pastoral counselor, and lead pastor. (Check us out at http://www.mysanctuarycp.com/ – our website stinks, so if anyone has a charitable spirit, a talent for web design, and a burden for a poor church that can’t afford a better website, feel free to contact me!).

I am basically stretched in several directions, trusting God to provide strength for us during this exciting journey upon which we travel. Over the course of the next few weeks, I invite you to experience some of the meaningful stories and random thoughts we have as we pursue our passion, one step at a time. With that said, I say farewell, and ask you to allow my better half to introduce herself to you when next we meet.

Mel & Lisa Reddy
Cedar Park, Texas

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!

Hello everyone.
Tonight is the last night of the month. I am a bit sad to be leaving you all. Its been fun sharing my life with you all. I hope I can continue this daily tradition on my myspace page. I thought I'd write a little short story in closing, however; I'm not feeling it. So here's what I'll leave you with instead:

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Today was a one service Sunday. Every month having 5 Sundays in it we designate the last one of the month for relaxation or time with your family. With that said, I have watched a couple movies. My husband sat down and started to watch the Travel channel. I really want to go on vacation. Arg! Ok thats the most uninspired piece of writing I've ever had. Have a great night!

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!