Life in the City: Ministry Spotlight–Andy O’Rourke

This is a mostly uncorrected transcript generated by a transcription service. Before quoting, please check the audio for accuracy.

00:00:02

Welcome to the.

00:00:03

Life in the city podcast from Antioch Community Church in Northeast Minneapolis where we explore what it looks like to be a loving family inviting all people into the life changing way of Jesus Christ.

00:00:14

We’re glad you’re here.

00:00:19

Hey Antioch, welcome back to the life in the city podcast.

00:00:22

This is Rachel Love.

00:00:24

And I’m Coley Waataja.

00:00:25

And we have another guest in the makeshift studio with us.

00:00:30

In his own office, actually, technically speaking.

00:00:33

Yeah, we’ve been taking over his office lately for recording, but we have Pastor Andy O’Rourke with us today, so welcome, Andy.

00:00:39

Thank you.

00:00:40

Thanks for letting me be part of this podcast.

00:00:43

Yeah, our hope today is to grill you on all the really deep theological questions we’re going to talk about, like eternal conscious torment.

00:00:50

We’re going to talk about predestination.

00:00:52

Yeah, we just, we have, we have one month left, so we want to get it.

00:00:55

All out of our.

00:00:56

Out of our system today.

00:00:58

Let’s go for it.

00:00:59

You’ve got all these books for something, right?

00:01:02

Uhm, no, but for real, like we we have a month left of you being our lead pastor and we just wanted to give you an opportunity to to share with us, but also.

00:01:12

Uhm, give the listeners of antiok a chance to kind of hear your heart and.

00:01:20

Yeah, just kind of what what you’re looking forward to.

00:01:23

It’s not not just about looking back, but about looking forward.

00:01:28

But before we do that, I do want to look back, because you have been the you were the planting pastor of Antioch, and you’ve been here for basically 15 years now O.

00:01:40

How did that happen?

00:01:42

How did you get, how did you get to Minneapolis planting here in the cities, starting Antioch?

00:01:48

All of that.

00:01:50

Yeah, my wife Sarah and I were celebrating this December will be 23 years that we’ve been married.

00:01:58

Uh, and we moved to Minnesota in December of 2000.

00:02:05

When I finished up school in at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.

00:02:10

And we moved to Minnesota, to a rural town named Glenwood, about 2 hours northwest of the Twin Cities, to start a church there. So, yeah, in December of 2001, we moved to Glenwood, MN.

00:02:29

Two hours northwest of the Twin Cities, and we went there too.

00:02:34

Started church to plant a church and they already had a core team of I think six families at that time who I interviewed with and candidated with and hired us, hired me to come and be their plant church planter and we did that.

00:02:53

We moved there.

00:02:54

And we were there.

00:02:55

I was the pastor of Hope Community Church.

00:02:57

It was called.

00:02:59

In the Glenwood, Starbuck, Minnewaska area for four years.

00:03:04

And an opportunity to move down here to the Twin Cities came up.

00:03:10

And initially that was to go on staff with our district office, with the Free Church here in Minnesota and to help out with leadership development and training young leaders, especially, you know, the next generation.

00:03:24

And part of the part of the idea behind that was that would lead eventually to a church.

00:03:30

Plant among next Gen young adults in the city.

00:03:36

That valued training up leaders, multiplying leaders that had a high value on urban ministry and.

00:03:44

Making disciples in that context and then also church planting.

00:03:50

Being part of helping to start many other churches as well. So that was very appealing to me that the challenge and the opportunity of that and we moved down to the Twin Cities in the summer of 2007.

00:04:06

Is when we eventually got down here, and right when we when we.

00:04:13

When we were on on site, living here in the Twin Cities.

00:04:17

Started to recruit and gather a core team for a future church plant.

00:04:23

In the city that was reaching all types of people, but especially young adults.

00:04:29

And was seeking to train leaders and then also be part of helping to start new churches. So that was kind of the roots of antiok in 2007.

00:04:42

Gathered a team of of all different types of people and then trained what we called a core team of 14.

00:04:50

14 men and women and launched public Services October 19th of 2008.

00:04:56

That’s so crazy that it was that long ago, but I got to be on.

00:04:59

That core team you were on that core team doing training in our basement with that old blue carpet?

00:05:05

That blue carpet with an 8 month old Luke wolfing your giant Bible?

00:05:08

Yeah, a long time ago.

00:05:10

I have a picture of of him with Curly the curliest hair ever, which he still has.

00:05:14

Which is awesome.

00:05:15

Uhm, so how it’s been 15 years since that vision was initially cast?

00:05:21

In what ways do you feel like Antiok has remained the same, and in what ways do you feel like it’s changed or evolved?

00:05:29

Over those because a lot has happened in those 15 years.

00:05:33

Yeah, well it’s.

00:05:36

When you think about, you know the 1515 years is a long time in.

00:05:41

Any church setting, and for any church plant.

00:05:45

But when I think about, for instance, comparing the two church plants that I’ve have been able to be involved in, in planting one rural, one urban.

00:05:58

The Urban church plant, antiok.

00:06:01

In an urban area, you know, in a.

00:06:05

In the city and then especially when you have a lot of young adults and young married families.

00:06:13

College students, you just have a high amount of turnover.

00:06:17

So over the course of 15 years, it really seems like it’s been four or five different churches just with the amount of people that have come and gone and not, you know, not not always for, for bad.

00:06:31

Reasons, right?

00:06:32

A lot of times just life takes people different places with jobs and relationships and different things that come up.

00:06:44

Yeah, it’s it’s been.

00:06:46

That’s the first thing that strikes me about just the 15 years that it seems like multiple churches during that time with the different groups of people and we we hosted uh LED a community group for many, many years.

00:07:01

My wife Sarah and I and.

00:07:04

I mean over the course of that time with sending out new groups and bringing new people into the group, I mean really it was also like four or five different community groups over the years it seems like, but.

00:07:13

For sure, for sure.

00:07:15

And yet the like, the core values and our mission statement, the core values have remained the same.

00:07:22

Our mission statement has maybe changed each year even.

00:07:27

But but the overall mission has has remained.

00:07:32

How challenging has that been?

00:07:34

To keep the vision the same when the turnover and everything else is so high.

00:07:42

Yeah, I I.

00:07:44

You know, I don’t think the.

00:07:48

Maintain like casting the vision and the mission of what we’re about at Antioch.

00:07:57

It hasn’t been as challenging as.

00:08:01

Trying to train up leaders?

00:08:05

Have leaders in place.

00:08:07

Mobilize volunteers the resources required.

00:08:12

To work at trying to accomplish that, that mission and vision and work out, you know, the different strategies and the programs and whether it’s, you know, kids ministry or different mini ministry teams on Sunday mornings or a community group leader.

00:08:31

The mobilizing volunteers I think is challenging when you have a high transition.

00:08:37

Yeah, keeping people in the leadership pipeline from volunteers or church planners.

00:08:40

Yeah, yeah, and at the same time.

00:08:45

We’ve always really embraced the the value of of sending people out, raising people up and sending them out and seeing.

00:08:53

For sure.

00:08:55

I mean multiplication and sending as one of the marks of success, not just growing large and keeping everybody.

00:09:05

Here or around?

00:09:08

Uhm, around antiok, but being willing to pour into people and then release them and let them go and.

00:09:17

You know that that’s always been something that we’ve been deeply committed to, but when you release people, it leaves a void, right, that you’ve poured into.

00:09:25

For sure.

00:09:27

And I think we I, you know, one of one of the highlights, but one of the hardest, harder things that we’ve had over the years was sending out a church, church planting team in 2014 out of Antiok.

00:09:43

A church planter and family that we had poured into and developed in a church planting residency and then if I remember right around 2525 adults that went with that that team to plant in Saint Louis Park.

00:09:57

Yeah, it was like 1/5 of our.

00:09:58

Church at the time wasn’t.

00:09:59

Yeah, I mean, we were a Church of 125 or so and you know.

00:10:04

It was a.

00:10:06

We we really felt it.

00:10:08

And I think we, I mean, you remember you were here.

00:10:11

We underestimated the.

00:10:15

The emotional impact of.

00:10:18

Now these people are gone, right?

00:10:19

You know, kids that others saw in the nursery aren’t there anymore.

00:10:24

And it’s bittersweet, right?

00:10:27

It’s a it’s exciting because we’re sending people out to reach more people with the gospel, but at the same time it’s hard because it leaves a void, and that’s just.

00:10:38

One of the bittersweet aspects of multiplication, I think.

00:10:42

Yeah, I think you’re right that the church plant sending out the Petersons and that and that core team was so awesome.

00:10:49

It was a huge high point.

00:10:52

Kind of like growing up like we did it, we like did what we set out to do.

00:10:56

We’ve been trying to raise up leaders and send them out and look, we’re doing it and then that.

00:10:59

Following Sunday was like, where’d everybody go?

00:11:03

And like, oh, we didn’t think about this part.

00:11:06

And we had, we talked about it, but you can’t really experience it until you’re in it.

00:11:13

But kind of on that vein of.

00:11:15

Of those high points, like what are some of the highlights from?

00:11:18

Your life in vocational ministry.

00:11:21

Antioch, or in Glenwood or wherever else?

00:11:26

Yeah, I think.

00:11:29

A definite highlight, wherever it’s been, is for me always seeing lives that are changed and transformed through coming to know Jesus.

00:11:40

Uh, so?

00:11:42

Seeing people come to faith.

00:11:46

Uhm for sure.

00:11:49

But then also seeing people take significant steps of growth or victory over sin in their life or restored relationships.

00:12:00

Well, you know, whatever those might be.

00:12:02

Friendships, family, marriage.

00:12:07

Seeing, seeing, life transformation.

00:12:10

You know it.

00:12:11

Has always been at the top through the power of the gospel.

00:12:19

You know, I think of specific examples of that.

00:12:25

Like people, you know, people come to mind, but one of the things that’s.

00:12:30

That’s special about being in a place for a longer amount of time is.

00:12:37

You get to see more of the fruit of that, so.

00:12:41

People that have come to Christ.

00:12:45

Growing in Christ.

00:12:47

Maybe start dating, then get engaged and being.

00:12:52

Part of there.

00:12:54

You know pre marital part of their wedding and then they’re having children.

00:12:58

We recently had the opportunity just this.

00:13:05

A couple months ago, a month and 1/2 ago.

00:13:09

I baptize a girl of a couple that my wife and I did premarital for.

00:13:19

I mean like 13 years ago or something and now.

00:13:25

You know they have a large family and or baptizing their kids.

00:13:31

I mean, that’s one of the sweet things about being in a place for.

00:13:35

A long enough time where you can see even the fruit of generational impact of following Jesus.

00:13:43

High points for sure, have been lives being.

00:13:48

Transformed and.

00:13:51

Relationships being restored.

00:13:58

Just establishing a legacy for the gospel that will go forward.

00:14:04

Into the future.

00:14:05

For sure.

00:14:07

I can even speak to that.

00:14:08

I mean for myself.

00:14:09

Like I was a Christian when I met you and come to Christ was join the team and stuff.

00:14:14

But I mean you.

00:14:16

In the very first community group, we started talking about some of the basics of faith, and that was where it came up that I had actually never been baptized.

00:14:23

Not out of any conviction, just kind of laziness about it.

00:14:28

So it was like it was.

00:14:30

You or the group that.

00:14:31

It’s like, well.

00:14:33

Are you going?

00:14:34

Is there a statute of limitations on obedience?

00:14:36

So you gonna do this?

00:14:39

So you baptized me.

00:14:40

You did not do our premarital counseling ’cause you were also my boss, and we thought that was weird.

00:14:45

But you didn’t marry.

00:14:46

You didn’t marry John and I.

00:14:46

Yes, did the did the wedding ceremony.

00:14:49

You did the wedding.

00:14:50

On my sabbatical, actually, but it was totally worth it to do that.

00:14:52

It’s true.

00:14:53

It’s true that that is love.

00:14:58

And then you’ve dedicated Dax, you know, I just think and you’ve baptized John to my husband.

00:15:03

Before long before we were dating, he got baptized here too.

00:15:06

So I mean, even I don’t even think of it as like, oh, my whole life.

00:15:11

But when you think of it in terms of events.

00:15:13

Like that’s a.

00:15:13

Lot of it’s a lot of life events.

00:15:16

And I mean the general generational impact you were talking about?

00:15:21

Long after you are done serving as a pastor at Antioche, that impact of how God has used you and the lives people here will continue as they meet new people, as they have kids, we always talk.

00:15:35

Talk about we want to be a family of servant missionaries who make disciples, to make disciples.

00:15:39

And I think that’s one way we can see that is the impact that you as one person can make on so many lives that can then hopefully continue that call of the Great Commission to make more disciples, whether that be discipleship in homes or in community groups or hopefully.

00:15:55

Outside of the doors of Antioch in the future as well, so that’s pretty cool to see.

00:16:01

Yeah, so it’s a follow-up question then.

00:16:03

UM, disciple Ng people is not always easy because people are messy.

00:16:09

And, you know, doing the good work of the gospel in a broken world is hard, and there’s soil and there’s chaos to deal with.

00:16:17

Uhm, so in the work of vocational ministry then?

00:16:21

Uh, what are some of the hardest parts of doing that work that you’ve experienced?

00:16:30

I think a few things come to mind.

00:16:34

I think you guys will.

00:16:36

Probably resonate with this too, having been in ministry as well.

00:16:43

One of the hardest things is.

00:16:47

Watching people make.

00:16:49

Choices too.

00:16:53

To pursue some sinful path or watching people make destructive choices.

00:16:59

Uh, in their life and you know you, you can’t make someone.

00:17:06

Pursue Christ.

00:17:07

You can’t make somebody choose the right path.

00:17:13

You know, just seeing people.

00:17:16

Over and over again make destructive choices and.

00:17:19

It’s like watching a train wreck, right?

00:17:24

Crying out to God and.

00:17:30

Knowing that.

00:17:31

Right I can, I can.

00:17:33

I can be here for you.

00:17:34

I can tell you the truth.

00:17:36

I can plead with you to not make this bad choice.

00:17:40

But ultimately, like you have to choose.

00:17:43

To either obey God or not, you know?

00:17:47

So that’s for sure one of the hardest things.

00:17:53

The I I think a lot of the.

00:17:59

A lot of the other things that are really hard about.

00:18:02

Vocational ministry or pastoral ministry.

00:18:07

There are things that we see.

00:18:10

Even in the life of Jesus.

00:18:11

So it’s.

00:18:13

It’s not super surprising, that.

00:18:16

Following the path of.

00:18:19

Of Jesus as a leader, as a.

00:18:23

Humble servant, leader that you’re going to do just what he said it’s a path of.

00:18:31

Taking up your cross and following him, right so.

00:18:37

You see, when you’re in vocational ministry, especially in.

00:18:40

The local church.

00:18:42

You see a lot of things that other people don’t see you.

00:18:44

See the the underbelly of the the congregation, right?

00:18:50

You see I.

00:18:51

There’s a lot of brokenness.

00:18:53

There’s a lot of hurt.

00:18:54

There’s just a lot of brokenness.

00:18:56

It’s a.

00:18:58

It’s a dark.

00:18:59

It’s a Dark World.

00:19:01

It’s a world that’s broken by sin all around us.

00:19:05

Not even.

00:19:07

You know, not just outside there, you know, outside of the church walls, but.

00:19:12

All of us within the church are dealing with different aspects of brokenness and.

00:19:18

I think one of the.

00:19:20

One of the things that’s hard over, you know, the years and decades.

00:19:26

When you’re in that kind of environment, is.

00:19:30

It’s easy to.

00:19:34

I I don’t know how to put it but.

00:19:38

You can be.

00:19:40

Overcome by the darkness.

00:19:45

You know if you’re not, if you’re not.

00:19:52

You can get in an unhealthy place where you’re taking that stuff that you’re dealing with or seeing taking it upon yourself.

00:20:01

In your own life.

00:20:04

Internalizing it the emotional.

00:20:08

Baggage associated with with.

00:20:11

With those things.

00:20:13

Yeah, I don’t really know how to describe it, but.

00:20:16

It just it.

00:20:17

Piles up and it can it can weigh you down I.

00:20:19

Mean I think of.

00:20:21

I could never do this. And I have a great respect for somebody that has, you know, 25 counseling sessions in a week, you know, a professional clinical counselor and being able to like, go home and leave that there and go, go, yeah.

00:20:39

Just like to soccer practice.

00:20:41

Grow up and.

00:20:41

Go and pick your kids up from soccer.

00:20:43

Or whatever and.

00:20:45

You know so.

00:20:49

Yeah, shutting it, shutting it off.

00:20:52

And not not that you should like totally be shutting it off, but shutting it off to a place where you can still like, engage with your family and life outside of the vocational ministry world when you’re when you’re dealing with.

00:21:07

Like heavy, heavy things all the time.

00:21:09

That gets. That’s.

00:21:10

That swearing.

00:21:11

So that’s one of the hardest.

00:21:13

That’s one of the hardest parts for.

00:21:15

Yeah, I think it’s a muscle that you grow in learning.

00:21:18

It’s part of learning that you’re not God, but like, I can’t save everybody.

00:21:22

I can’t say fix everybody problems, but it’s also a muscle to learn how to differentiate and separate yourself from.

00:21:29

Everybody else is stuff, but then it can be exhausting to even use that muscle.

00:21:35

To like force yourself to walk away mentally from it for a time or.

00:21:41

Yeah, I think it can be.

00:21:42

It can be tempting to feel like, well, if, when.

00:21:44

Things are really.

00:21:44

Dark and heavy like, well, I shouldn’t be having fun right now.

00:21:45

Right.

00:21:48

Or I?

00:21:48

Shouldn’t you know?

00:21:51

Because there’s still this stuff going on.

00:21:53

Right, right.

00:21:55

And I I think personally some of the hardest things that.

00:22:00

That I’ve been through or that.

00:22:03

My wife Sarah and I have been through.

00:22:06

Have been.

00:22:08

Things that we’ve been blindsided by with.

00:22:12

Stuff in people lives or you know.

00:22:16

Betrayal or some type of a secret life that comes out and.

00:22:24

That stuff just comes in that that sort of thing knocks you down.

00:22:29

You know.

00:22:30

And I mean the church is a a body, right?

00:22:32

And so when one part of the body is hurting or broken.

00:22:36

The whole body is affected, and you being a part of that body that has the spiritual gift of shepherding that you’ve been called to use.

00:22:45

I’m sure that can be really weighty to think, well, how do I, how do I shepherd in these moments where things seem so dark and so broken?

00:22:57

Yeah, and that’s one of the reasons why, because of that reality.

00:23:02

That’s one of the reasons why on our elder team.

00:23:06

We one of the things we really highly value and try to practice is.

00:23:11

Sharing the load of shepherding together so no one deals with a heavy crisis situation alone.

00:23:20

We’re supporting one another or shepherding one another on this leadership team as we seek to shepherd others, because when you’re trying to do it, when you’re trying to shepherd in difficult situations, alone and isolated.

00:23:34

It can be.

00:23:35

Be dangerous in a lot of ways.

00:23:39

I think sometimes in those dark moments is also though, when you get to see like the coolest breakthroughs or like really see God at work.

00:23:46

So there’s kind of three ages.

00:23:48

If anyone hasn’t noticed already, we’re hitting three.

00:23:51

H is the high points, the hard times, but then this third one is the hand of God.

00:23:56

Uhm, as you think back to the last 15 years, like how have you seen?

00:24:00

What are some of the moments where you’ve seen?

00:24:02

God really come through, for lack of it.

00:24:05

We know he’s always working.

00:24:08

But where would you say, Oh yeah, that was, that was the hand of God?

00:24:16

Yeah, I mean, I I think of.

00:24:20

You know different.

00:24:22

Early on.

00:24:24

The first.

00:24:26

The first year or a year and a half or so?

00:24:31

We had a situation where.

00:24:34

Some of our, uh, major part of our funding fell through when I was raising support and the associate pastor that we had at the time, we were both raising some support and it turned out that we we needed to.

00:24:49

To each raise 50% of.

00:24:52

Of our of our salary and we had like two months to do it because some funding came through.

00:24:59

So I mean that was a.

00:25:02

That was a definite crying out to God moment where where we were able to do that and God provided.

00:25:09

And we had.

00:25:09

A lot of those types of moments.

00:25:11

Over the years where God provided in different ways.

00:25:17

Moving into the facility that we’re in now here at the Waterbury building in northeast Minneapolis.

00:25:25

God provided in huge ways to.

00:25:28

Mobilize people to.

00:25:30

To give towards the build out that we needed to do for the space that we’re in and then also the increase in monthly, monthly rent.

00:25:43

And it wasn’t just the.

00:25:46

The best part?

00:25:47

Of that wasn’t just the the money that was giving given it was seeing people really grow through the giving that they were doing and engaging in the mission and.

00:26:01

I think a lot of people really grew together, you know, within our church family through that whole experience and giving of their time to whether it was.

00:26:12

A demo or painting or just different volunteer?

00:26:18

How many hours do you think you spent painting these walls?

00:26:18

Volunteer opportunities.

00:26:20

Probably 100.

00:26:23

2IN yeah, January and February of 2018, I probably worked 200 hours on construction.

00:26:31

And this place was covered in prayer quite literally, too.

00:26:34

I believe on all, like a lot of the studs and things that were built, prayers were written on a lot of the walls of the this hurts.

00:26:41

So I think that’s pretty cool too, that now we can see.

00:26:44

How God has sovereignly ordained like in the kids Ministry area, there’s prayers written in the walls, but also for the kids of this church.

00:26:51

But now we can see kids being raised to know and love Christ in that space to pretty cool.

00:26:56

Yeah, that’s pretty exciting, isn’t it?

00:27:00

Well, as you’re moving into the marketplace now, I mean you’re you’re not going to be Pastor Andy, you’re just going to be Andy.

00:27:05

I don’t know.

00:27:06

Can we still call you faster?

00:27:08

I don’t know what.

00:27:08

The rules will be forever be crossbite pastor.

00:27:11

No, boy.

00:27:11

CrossFit pastor, yes.

00:27:13

Uhm, but as you’re as you’re moving out of vocational ministry, what?

00:27:18

What are you excited about?

00:27:20

As it relates to being in the marketplace.

00:27:23

Yeah, I think, you know, I’ve always had a a very.

00:27:27

High value and especially in the last 10 years on.

00:27:33

Integrating faith and work, you know, living out the gospel in the workplace.

00:27:39

And and there’s a lot of unique opportunities you can have in the marketplace in the world, the work world outside of vocational ministry where there’s opportunities to interact with people that you normally wouldn’t.

00:27:54

Working in in church ministry.

00:27:58

So I think that’s one of the things I’m most excited about living, living out my faith in Christ in a different context around different people, whether that’s with coworkers or.

00:28:10

Customers or clients that were.

00:28:13

Or in I’m interacting with.

00:28:15

And and there.

00:28:17

Yeah, there’s already been some some opportunities to do that type of thing, so.

00:28:24

That’s awesome.

00:28:26

Is there anything you’re apprehensive about?

00:28:29

About being in the marketplace, you mean or?

00:28:33

Or not being in vocational ministry.

00:28:35

Maybe that’s a definition?

00:28:35

Yeah, uhm.

00:28:42

When’s the last time you had a normal job?

00:28:45

Fine. Normal.

00:28:47

Yeah, not that sterling.

00:28:47

Uh, well.

00:28:50

Yeah, I guess that’s.

00:28:51

Something I’m apprehensive about.

00:28:52

I mean, I’ve been in vocational ministry for for 20 years.

00:29:00

You know.

00:29:02

That’s been my training.

00:29:04

You know, undergraduate degree, two different masters degrees.

00:29:09

I mean, they’re all geared towards vocational ministry.

00:29:12

And then.

00:29:14

You know there are a.

00:29:15

Lot of things that I’ve done in the church world that are transferable to the marketplace, whether it’s.

00:29:23

Training leaders, managing people, overseeing organizations.

00:29:28

You know, budgets, Vision, direction, leadership, that type of thing.

00:29:33

Public speaking.

00:29:37

It is, yeah.

00:29:38

It is a little scary to to step into a totally new realm.

00:29:43

Uh with uh.

00:29:45

A sharp learning curve in a a different environment and just wondering you know can I do this or?

00:29:54

You know the the temptation is going to be.

00:29:59

Temptation is always going to be there to.

00:30:04

To go back to.

00:30:05

You know, because it’s just too hard.

00:30:07

On the learning curve.

00:30:11

So that being said, then, you’re still, you’re not just a pastor, you’re a member of Antioch as well.

00:30:17

So how can we as your church family be supporting you and your family during this time?

00:30:24

Uh, you know, I think the biggest thing.

00:30:28

Is to to reach out and check in with the rest of my family, I think.

00:30:35

Because they don’t get that that often.

00:30:38

You know, I’m just around more of the.

00:30:40

The leaders and the staff at the church and.

00:30:45

But they, you know.

00:30:48

The transition and.

00:30:51

You know, leaving affects them too.

00:30:53

Like my kids have always been passeurs kids.

00:30:56

And my wife has always been.

00:31:00

Either a pastors daughter or pastors wife and now this will be the first time that that’s ever been different.

00:31:08

Yeah, well, I think recently I was looking at a document that we have in one of our files here of all the sermons that you have preached over your tenure and.

00:31:21

And I think by the end of this month you’ll be at like 600 and 74675 sermons. Well, that you have preached at Antioch, which is.

00:31:31

Quite a few.

00:31:34

And over that time, I mean, God has just allowed you to.

00:31:39

Bring to light so much gospel truth for the people that are currently in Antioch and those who have attended over the years.

00:31:46

So, so this is a pretty big question, but if there’s one thing that you hoped Antiok would remember.

00:31:54

From all that you’ve taught or said, what would it be?

00:32:01

You know, it’s.

00:32:02

It’s really a simple.

00:32:04

A simple answer I think.

00:32:06

The one thing that I would want.

00:32:08

To leave is.

00:32:10

For people is to keep their eyes on Jesus.

00:32:15

To keep focused on him.

00:32:17

Growing in him, loving him, wanting to know him more.

00:32:22

That’s what it’s all about.

00:32:24

You know so not.

00:32:26

Not uh.

00:32:29

Me as a leader or some clever word of wisdom that I had, or even a, you know, powerful servant series or something like that.

00:32:41

I think just to keep.

00:32:43

Whatever you’re doing, wherever you are, just to keep your eyes on Jesus would be.

00:32:48

My parting words.

00:32:52

Well, thank you.

00:32:52

Yeah, you’re welcome.

00:32:53

This is been fun.

00:32:53

Thanks for thanks for having me.

00:32:55

This was this was fun.

00:32:57

Yeah, antiok, like we’ve mentioned, Andy will still be around, but if you want to reach out to him before.

00:33:03

Before he’s no longer on staff for another month, you can contact him at andy@antiochcommunity.org. After October 30th, those will probably go to Rachel.

00:33:12

And she will.

00:33:13

Forward them onto his new personal.

00:33:15

Which I don’t even know.

00:33:16

I should probably get that in my contacts here soon.

00:33:19

And Speaking of October 30th, this episode will come out before then.

00:33:23

Don’t forget Antiocha on October 30th.

00:33:26

That’ll be obviously the last sermon we get to hear from Pastor Andy at that time, but we’ll be having a lunch after the service that day to love on Andy and his family like.

00:33:36

You shared.

00:33:38

So that is it for this podcast.

00:33:40

We’ll see you guys next time.

00:33:42

God bless you.

00:33:42

Hey, Jack.

00:33:45

Before we go, we want to invite you to help us celebrate Andy, please record a video of one minute or less sharing something you want to remember or something you want to thank Andy for.

00:33:55

Send them to Rachel or myself and we will put them together for a slideshow on October 30th.

00:34:02

This has been the life in the city podcast brought to you by Antioch Community Church in Northeast Minneapolis. Join our worship service at 10:00 AM on Sundays in the Waterbury Building or contact us at podcast@antiochcommunity.org. Thanks for listening. We’ll see you next time.