You might call the year of 2010, the Year of Preparation.

I remember the feelings when we left that ARC roundtable the latter part of 2009. We felt so discouraged. How could we have missed the mark so much? Why would God give us a heart to do something that was totally not even in our skill set, not close to our abilities, and so beyond our limitations — financially, physically, and socially?

We closed the book in our minds on so many levels, yet the aching and longing to plant a church would never leave us alone. I remember countless phone calls with both my parents and Brian’s parents cheerleading us on to follow the dream in our hearts… what was God preparing us for… we had no idea what 2010 had in store.

2010 was the Year of Opportunity:

We went on a dream-getaway of mine to Boston, funded by an unexpected gift given at a church function where our Portside drama team participated; my sister graduated from high school in Birmingham; we took a missions trip with Portside to New York City; we were given a speaking opportunity at a Youth Camp in New Hampshire; our Delmarva-DC Youth Camp was the week after that; and two weeks later, we attended our International General Assembly in Florida.

2010 was the Year of Big Things:

Brian completed his final level of licensure in the Church of God by becoming an Ordained Bishop in June; for the second summer in a row, we took on a big project at Crosswind and did a total overhaul of our stage in the main sanctuary; we pulled off the surprise of a lifetime by throwing my parents a complete surprise wedding and reception for their 25^th Anniversary; we renamed and re-launched Westminster Church of God as Crosswind Church and doubled in a day; and we welcomed our third baby, Lacie Rae, into this world on October 8!

Life was fast and furious, and Crosswind was exploding. All of the dreams we had been dreaming for three years — those that had been challenged around that conference table — were becoming reality. It was personally one of the most fulfilling years of our lives… and then the Cervones came to town.

Jacqueline