Today (Monday, June 27th) marks the seven month anniversary since my family and I relocated to the incredible city of Austin, Texas. Seven months exactly to the day. And coincidentally, over the past seven days, something extraordinary has occurred in the life of The Ford family.
Allow me to apologize right now for the length of this post. But every word and link is necessary for me to share this story.
For those of you who have followed along with me on this blog, you may already be familiar with some of the reasons why my wife and I, after living and working some 16+ years back in Atlanta, Georgia, made the decision to plant ourselves and our three children in this ‘weird’ city surrounded by such alluring hills.
Well, what I neglected to share with you is that one week prior to departing for Austin, my place of employment in Atlanta – which had provided me with an opportunity to continue working for them as a remote employee while in Austin, had to lay me off due to a reduction in staff.
Stunned and emotionally paralyzed (due to the fact that most of our things were already at a public storage facility in Austin from a trip we had made a few weeks earlier), it was more than difficult to smile and grin at the ‘going away’ party we had hosted for some of our family and friends – none of whom we could find the courage or the right words to convey what had just happened.
But we kept going.
And just when we thought the worst was over, approximately five minutes after we had crossed the Georgia state line en route to Austin, my wife’s 89 year-old grandmother had passed away. With the family matriarch now gone, I’m sure anyone would understand our desire to turn our minivan around, and return back to Atlanta to mourn.
But instead, we kept going.
So here we are in Austin, the place we had prayed and dreamed about for nearly two years, surviving on severance payments, a tax refund, unemployment, some light consultation work, the enormous generosity of my mother (once I told her I lost my job), and an amazing wife who managed to pick up a late night shift at a nearby hospital cleaning blood, vomit, and at times defecation left behind by patients.
And despite it all, we kept going.
Why? Because nothing that had happened TO US, could make us believe that Austin was not FOR US.
Our decision to move was not about finding a job. It was about planting a family. And after submitting a countless amount of resumes, and one very humbling application experience HERE, I could have scoured the streets looking for some church back door to slip my ministry resume through. But our move to Austin was not about one. It was about ALL.
One bright spot over these past seven months has been a local church just a few blocks away from our apartment complex called Celebration Church. After a couple of visits, we were convinced that this North Austin church was indeed our ‘home.’
Of course it didn’t hurt that our daughter Kayla refused to visit anywhere else! She is a Celebration Church fanatic.
My wife and I, along with our three kids, recently had the opportunity to sit down with Pastor(s) Joe and Lori Champion, who founded Celebration Church, thanks to one of the greatest leaders I have ever met, Dr. Samuel Chand, who happened to be in town that week. We shared with them our story, our passions, our previous ministry experience, what drew us to this city, and most importantly, this church.
And as you can see by the tweet below, the rest is history:
It is with a joyful and grateful heart that I am pleased to announce that I am now the Executive Pastor of Strategic Development for Celebration Church. We are absolutely blown away that God would grant us with an opportunity to serve alongside such a dynamic church, led by some of the most life-giving leaders we have ever encountered.
What an amazing testimony God has given our family; one that our children will hear about for years to come. Our path is clear. Our bridge is complete. Thanks be unto God for all that He has restored.
Did I mention that this church is amazing? God, thank you for being so mindful of us to send us here.
Hi Guys,
That is great news. Never knew about the hardships. You guys are awesome survivors. What a wonderful community church that seems to be doing great community work from the videos. Thanks for sharing.
Auntie with love
HOW AWESOME IS OUR GOD!!!!! What a powerful testimony. It blesses and encourages me. I am so happy for you and your beautiful family.
Congratulations Milan. What an amazing story…
How is AMAZING is that! It’s awesome hearing others great news…someone asked me a question about an idea we’ve been planting “what gives you validation”? I said…our testimony! So thank you for sharing and look for some news from us in a few weeks
Most of all thank you for your commitment!
Wow!!! God is absolutely amazing and I am first excited for you all and then encouraged to continue to follow God when the road sometimes seems blind! Love you all!!
It is easy to give up and go the other direction when trouble confronts us even when we believe God is urging us on. It takes a Man and Woman of Faith to continue on the path no matter what others may say or think. I give thanks to you and Imani for being the example we need to look to.
WOW!! I am so happy for you, God is truly awesome! This is so encouraging, your testimony, just wow! Can’t wait to come visit you in Austin and at Celebration Church!
Hello Milan,
Glad to have you aboard and we know God is up to something BIG in Austin, TX. Blessings to you and we’ll see you Tuesday.
Congratulations! I look forward to getting to know you and your precious family. A lot has happened since the last time we spoke!
Mike
You and your family would be a great asset to any place. Glad you chose Austin area. Glad that I have got to meet all of you and look forward to the future.
Man you are in with a great group of people and ministry! Gabe Soto and his media team have been excellent to work with. Joe Champion is an up and coming preacher as well. Best in your new position bro!
I will never understand why God has you go through so much before he bless you? But I think its always something big about to happen for you and he wants you humbled and grateful. Our faith is so important during tests and trials, it’s then that the enemy always tells you that you are defeated. Often it looks hopeless but the devil is a liar! In your face devil! HA HA …. We win again!!!! Blessings to you and your family.
So Inspiring!!!! What a demonstration of the fruit of the Spirit at work and how God honors all of that; through the good , the bad, and bleak. I am so ecstatic for the Ford Family. May God and his awesomeness continue to shine through you and be at work in all of you. So glad to see that MY college minister is a DOER of the word that he taught! I can’t stop smiiiiiiiiiiiilinng for you all; do to this little tickle in my stomach that is from the joy I have in knowing that your Endurance pushed you and the family to this point! Bless you!!!! Love you guys!!!!! God is sooo Amazing!!!!
Gosh, Milian!
Thank you for sharing this post. What a journey you and your family have taken to get to were you are really suppose to be. Wow!!! This is so encouraging.
God be praised!
Milan,
I know this will sound churchy, but “the glory is in your story.” Man I so pumped to hear this for you and your family. Keep grinding dude! The best is yet to come.
God be praised! Love the Shoats family!
This is an AMAZING display of Gods love for you and your family!
So happy for all of you! Isn’t He good?
Celebrate!!!! What an awesome God we serve. Blessings to you and your family…
Milan and Imani, you and your children are truly blessed. God has placed all of you where thriving and making a wonderful difference to your Austin community will be far reaching. Your move will encourage others to believe in the power of prayer, giving God a chance to lead the way.
Congratulations to the Fords,
Aunt ‘D’ Dorothy
This is a great testimony sir. Never look back because God’s best is ALWAYS ahead of us.
Welcome to the team! God is faithful!
Jesus is rewarding your faithfulness. Way to go, Milan.
Jeff
Congrats!
Brother Milan,
In reading your message, I was so profoundly reminded that Yahweh, the Almighty God does not make mistakes and that he has so lovingly guided you and your family towards your “Divine Destiny”! As the journey continues…”Keep Rising To The Top” and let nothing and no man stop you! Truly, “The Best Is Yet To Come”…Peace, Life and Love be unto you and your family, always…….The Messenger
Congratulations on your obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is faith undergurded by obedience that pleases our Father. Blessings to you and your family as you continue to walk by faith and not by sight.
Love you all
Hi Milan,
Its quite sometime i read your bloogs but each time i do i get bleesd, i get hopes high that someday people all over the world will be blessed through me. Its so amazing what you write, this is awsome, i followed all the links. God will sustain you and your dear family. Be my friend milan, i want your family as my family, you are a source of inspiration! God bless you.
OMG!!!!!! This is absolutely amazing!!!! I’m speechless and almost in tears. Strategic Planning is your VEIN Ford. Omg!!!!! I’m so excited for yall I can’t take it. WoW!!!! Love you guys so much and I’ve got to get myself to Austin. Enjoy this new phase of life….God has once again shown his sovereignty and what joy it brings to know that your obedience, even when it looked like defeat, has brought an abundance of blessings. Love you all. We’ll talk soon.
Ford, I am so so so happy for you. The hand of God is so on your life continually and favor apparently is on your side, not to mention your ability and expertise. Keep your hand in his hand!
God is truly awesome! I’m very excited over the news! You all are true survivors……wherever you go. :O) Love you very much!
Amazing story of trust and surrender … I am inspired and encouraged … and a lot of other things !
Mr. Ford words cannot explain that I always come upon your POST ON TIME!!!!!!!!! Like the ON TIME GOD we serve! when reading this today 7/8/2011 it gave me much hope! that GOD truly is the BEST THING that has happened to the lives of the people of GOD!! if we just “keep on going” THANKS and Much Success to your family. ( West Palm Beach, Florida)
He takes my breath away! *and breathes new life & hope into me through your life! I have this hope.
I am super late in reading this post, but all along I knew greatness was just waiting on you to come and be a part of it there in Austin. Didn’t know if it would be a church organization, a business, a movement…just knew it would be right. So happy for you and Imani and those gorgeous babies. Perseverance and patience…they both pay big! And hey, there is no limit…not even the sky. congratulations!! All the best.