Allison's Big Adventure

Hi everyone! I figured that a blog may be the best way to keep everyone updated on my big move. (Let the reader know that this was totally my mom’s idea, I cannot take take credit.) In this first post, I’m going to give some context about my move, spend some time in adoration of my parents, talk about my immediate goals in Missoula, and list some prayer requests. Thank you for following along on this journey!

“What do you think about coming out west for a little bit?”

First, some context. In late March, I got a text from some dear friends of mine. They’re a married couple named Steve and Laura, and I know them through another ministry that I am involved with (Revoice). Steve and Laura wanted to set up a conversation with me over Zoom and prefaced the calendar invite by saying that they had potential ministry opportunities for me. (They were completely unaware that I had recently been rejected form the residency I had planned on completing after seminary and had zero idea of what I would be doing after graduation.)

On our call, Steve and Laura told me about the college ministry that they oversee called the AO House, (Alpha Omega House), which is a faith-based, intentional living community for students at the University of Montana (the OTHER U of M). They also told me about a worship directing position that their church, (First Presbyterian Church of Missoula), had been trying to fill for a while. They said that they had been praying about the program director position they needed filled at the AO as well as the worship directing position at FPC and that my name kept coming to them in their prayers. They asked if I would consider moving out west, at least for a little while? After hanging up our call, I felt a pit forming in my stomach, (a pit of conviction from the Holy Spirit, I’m sure.) From that point, I was 99% sure that I would be leaving Holland and moving to Missoula, Montana.

Flash forward…

From that point in March, there were interviews, prayers, conversations, tears, more tears, more conversations, more prayers, and even a quick trip to Missoula shortly after my seminary graduation to meet the folks of FPC and lead a worship service. I felt like I had been metaphorically swept up in the famous Clark Fork River, and that God was telling me to just ride the wave to where He wanted me to go.

I’m writing this on my first solo night in Missoula, my parents left earlier today. They didn’t just come with me on this move, they were the driving forces behind getting my ass out west. My dad fit all my belongings into two vehicles, my mom always had the right thing to say when I oscillated between my excitement and my fear, and we made it across the country over the course of two and a half days.

I cannot say enough about how amazing my parents are. I was an anxious mess as we traveled, (as were they, I imagine), but they cared for me by taking care of all the logistics and driving as we journeyed. All I had to do was spend quality time with them. It was an incredible act of sacrifice from them, and a huge gift to me to not have to focus on anything but savoring my last bit of geographical closeness with them as one chapter ended and another began.

What’s next?

Tomorrow morning starts my week of orientation at FPC! I am going to be working on getting my office situated and learning how to carry forward what the wonderful interim leaders have been up to for the last several months. I am also trying to make some social plans! I have a tentative tubing trip on the books, and a night out in downtown with a couple girls connected to the AO/church. Tonight I went and saw a movie on my own as a way to get out of the house. It was crazy to leave the movie theater and see mountains all around me as I walked to my car and clicked “home” on Apple Maps.

That being said, Missoula doesn’t quite feel like home yet, but it does feel like the place where I am, without a doubt, being called. My first prayer request is that I grow roots here. I want to give Missoula all I can, pray that by the Spirit I can do so bravely! Secondly, I want to request prayer for my job. I am stepping into a role that I have inhabited in several different contexts before, however, this is my first time being a worship director as a licensed pastor and outside of West Michigan. Please pray that, although this is a familiar role, I find refreshment in what God has for me this time around. Finally, please pray that I make meaningful friendships here in Missoula and that the friendships I still hold with my Holland people continue to flourish.

I miss and love you all very very much. Look for weekly updates here on Sunday nights.

Peace to you all!

Allison