Lance Crawford

September 21, 2009 has etched a vivid memory in my brain. It was a Monday afternoon, and I was spending some time reading this book for the 2nd time. I don’t remember what page I was on or what I was wearing (as you should when having a spiritual epiphany), but I do remember God spoke to me so clearly, that there was no doubt in my mind I had heard from him. It was an instant, quiet, almost-audible voice that said, “Plant a church in Asheville.”

Let me go back a few years. During college, my wife (just my ridiculously good-looking friend then), Stephanie, and I had visited Asheville separately with our families. During the several times I visited, I remember thinking how weird it was. There were loads of local artists, musicians, self-proclaimed hippies. I loved it. Stephanie felt the same way. So, during our short year and a half of dating and engagement, we visited Asheville a couple times and completely fell in love…and not just with each other, but with the city, too! When we got married, we never considered Asheville as a future home for our family. Living in Asheville was more of a pipe dream rather than a possibility. Tallahassee seemed like a permanent home to us. That is, until September 21, 2009.

Back to my spiritual epiphany. As soon as I felt God speak these words to me, I was overcome with a large helping of fear and an equal dose of excitement. I had never really considered planting a church, being a lead pastor, or moving to Asheville. But, in that instant, everything changed. I walked out into the living room of our one-bedroom apartment and began to tell Stephanie what I had just heard. Her look matched her response: “Let do it.” We talked and dreamed for a while about what was happening. I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into. I just knew I had to obey.

I called my dad that afternoon to share the news. I think I partly wanted confirmation from a wise man and partly wanted to share my excitement with someone who wouldn’t think I was out of my ever-loving mind. My dad delivered on both counts. He confirmed and shared that he knew I would be called to North Carolina. He seems to know a lot of things before I do. Go figure. I wasn’t sure what my next steps were, so I did what any good Christian boy called to start a church does: I applied to seminary. I also started reading anything I could get my hands on that had the words “church” and “plant” in the title. I was in over my head from Day 1, but was eager to see where God would lead.

My wife and I spent a month reflecting on what God had spoken before I shared it with my boss and pastor, Brian. He also confirmed the calling and the rest is history. I won’t lie, there’s been many scary/discouraging/doubtful/impossible/pathetic moments thus far along the journey. But the clarity of September 21, 2009, has always kept me continuing in obedience with laser-sharp focus. This is not something I chose to do. This is something God chose to do, and He has graciously allowed me to be part of it. I don’t know exactly what lies ahead. I just know I have to obey.