the door we didn’t expect pt. 1

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We didn’t go to California looking for this.

That’s probably the best place to start.

In early February, I flew out for what I thought was a normal work trip. We were going to a conference, connecting with pastors, building relationships. Standard stuff.

But somewhere in the middle of it all, things shifted. You can read about that here.

I found myself in a small room with high-capacity leaders from a church planting network called Aspire.

And before I really understood what was happening… Naomi and I were invited into their assessment process.

At first, it felt like an opportunity.

Then it started to feel like pressure.

Then it got real.

The prep alone was intense.

Fifteen to twenty hours of work.
Five presentations.
Financial breakdowns.
Marriage conversations.
Calling, theology, leadership, rhythms… everything.

Nothing surface-level.

Then we flew to the assessment in Ontario, CA.

Three couples. Twelve assessors.

Every conversation observed.
Every answer evaluated.
Every interaction noticed.

For two and a half days, we lived under a microscope.

They asked questions that made you stop and think.

Not just about what you do… but who you are.

There were moments where it felt uncomfortable. Moments where we felt exposed.

But underneath it all, something stood out.

They weren’t impressed by performance.

They didn’t care about how polished you were.

They were looking for something deeper.

Health.

Healthy leaders.
Healthy marriages.
Healthy families.
Real intimacy with Jesus.

And honestly, that hit me.

Because that’s what we want too.

At the end of it all, they sat us down and gave us their feedback.

You never really know how those moments are going to go.

You replay everything in your head. Every answer. Every interaction.

And then they said it.

They want to partner with us.

And what surprised me most…

We felt the same.

We weren’t chasing a network.

If anything, we had already decided we might just do this on our own.

But this felt different.

It felt like alignment.

Like God opening a door we didn’t knock on.

And now we’re stepping into conversations about what it actually looks like to partner with Aspire Network moving forward.

There’s still a lot to process. A lot to pray through.

But we’re expectant.

Here’s what I’m learning in real time:

Sometimes God doesn’t just confirm what you’re already doing.

Sometimes He interrupts it.

He reroutes you. Expands it. Deepens it.

And you have to decide if you’re willing to follow… even when it moves faster than you expected.

That’s where we are right now.

Walking through an open door we didn’t plan for.

Trusting God to lead us step by step.

More to come soon.

Because what happened when we got back to New Orleans…

Might be just as wild.