by David Docusen | August 27, 2013 | Uncategorized
“Work as hard for me as you would like someone to work for you in the future.”
Those words were spoken to me by my first boss, Pastor Ed Ivie at Calvary Assembly of God in Orlando, FL. I was 21 years old and fresh out of Southeastern University. I was all passion and very little experience. Mornings came late for me and lunch breaks were long. I hadn’t developed the skill of being a full-time, vocational minister. Quite simply, I didn’t know how to work.
Over the course of the next five years, I watched Ed closely. He displayed a genuine combination of work ethic, creativity, passion and sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Ed taught me what it meant to truly work toward the calling that God had placed on my life. It wouldn’t just happen because I was called. I had to learn what it meant to use a calendar, be early, stay late, retreat, rest, etc.
Ed taught me what it meant to balance a healthy family and marriage. To work hard and go home to be with my new bride (this is back when the Docusens were just David and Dara…no Max, Mary, Jack and Ben).
I am forever grateful for Ed’s influence in my life. As I am now the lead pastor of a young church in Uptown Charlotte, I find myself thinking back these days on many of the lessons I learned when I was in my twenties, observing my mentor. Many of those lessons were educational moments that Ed wasn’t even trying to teach me anything. I just watched and tucked away for future use. I resolved back then to work hard because I loved, respected and admired Ed. He asked me to work hard, and I responded because he had earned my trust.
I believe that God blessed that season and, in turn, has now blessed me with the opportunity to lead an amazing team of talented, passionate leaders at Center City Church. The commitment our team displays to work hard, go above and beyond and live a balanced life is so humbling and inspiring.
I am so grateful for the season in my twenties to sit under such a great leader. I realize that I am now in a position to encourage, raise up and challenge young leaders that are now choosing to serve under my leadership.
I pray that my leadership is as effective in the life of my team as Ed’s leadership was in mine. I am so aware and so grateful for the foundation that I stand upon. And I’m grateful for the patience, love and care of my first boss.
If you are a leader, remember that your influence goes far beyond the words you speak to your team. They are watching closely, just as I was learning on the fly as a young, twenty-something pastor under Ed’s leadership.
I haven’t said this enough, so this seems appropriate:
Thanks, Ed. Your investment in my life lives on. I am a better child of God, husband to Dara, daddy to Max, Mary, Jack and Ben and pastor for Center City Church because of your influence. I love and appreciate you.
by David Docusen | August 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
We will be kicking off a new season for our church family on September 8th at 10am. This will include a new teaching series, small groups, community outreach opportunities and a path to becoming a Center City Church Partner.
Make a note that our gatherings will be moving one hour forward to 10am to give our families a chance to enjoy the service, get out for lunch. It also never hurts to be able to be home by 1pm kickoff for the Panthers game (or whatever your NFL team may be).
These are exciting times to be a part of our community. I hope you can join us and bring a friend on September 8th!
by David Docusen | August 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
Once upon a time, I could have been considered a blogger. On a daily basis, I would share the journey of preparing to launch into a new season of church planting (starting a new church from the ground up…for those not up on the lingo). I would share stories with friends, family and strangers wandering the interwebs. It was a great season.
That season lasted a few years until we started Center City Church (www.centercitychurch.net) in 2010. At that point, I became an infrequent blogger. I would share weekly stories of the life change that we were seeing in our community and funny little things that my kids say.
That season lasted about a two years. Then I became a person who had a blog. That was it. Nothing more. Nothing less. I was a has been blogger. Washed up. So much so, my domain (www.daviddocusen.com) expired and I didn’t even know it.
So…today is a new day. I’ve decided to start sharing the journey again. There is so much happening that’s worth sharing. At the very least – as a person who processes through writing – this is a great way for me to process this exciting season of life.
Blogger was good to me. But WordPress has now won my blogging affection. A new blog for a new season. Here’s to hoping I become a blogger again. I’d love to share the journey with you.
by David Docusen | August 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
Jesus was always dealing with religious people. But their religion didn’t look much at all like the love, joy and peace that the Scriptures describes true followers of Jesus. These religious leaders were greedy, angry, judgmental & pious (this list could certainly go on).
In one encounter with these pretentious leaders (Matthew 12), they tried to trip him up by saying that he couldn’t help a crippled man on the Sabbath (the holy day of rest). Jesus wouldn’t have any of it and reaches out and heals the man. The religious leaders are oblivious to the miracle in front of them, instead they are incensed that Jesus did such a thing on a day that was set aside for rest.Jesus slips away as these leaders begin crank the engine of “religious justice.” As he is leaving, hordes of people follow him,their eyes opened to the reality of God’s love, power and sovereignty. And the religious leaders of the day are left only with their greed, anger, judgment and piety.
I don’t want to live my life defending a religious system. I want to be intimately aware the there is a God that loves me. That the same power that Jesus displayed that day when he reached out and healed this crippled man is available today. That the love that Jesus displayed to anyone that would truly seek him is available to me today. That’s a love worth living for every day. Even more, that’s a love worth laying down my life to follow.
In the following Scriptures, a prophecy is quoted that described Jesus hundreds of years before he ever came to live on this earth. In the final description (Matthew 12:21), it says this:
“And his name will be the hope of all the world.”
My prayer today is that I would not be boxed into a religious system. My prayer is that I would be in relationship with Jesus. The all-powerful, all-loving, ever-compassionate savior. I pray that I would remember that every hope that I have is found satisfied in Him.
If you are searching for hope, peace, freedom & joy, I believe that every hope you’ve ever had is satisfied in Jesus. Not in religion, but in relationship with Jesus – the hope of all the world.
by David Docusen | August 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
You were not mass produced. When God created you, he didn’t create you on an assembly like to look like every one else and process things like everyone else. He knows you. He cares for you. He designed you.
I have been totally enamored by the artisan industry lately. Artisans train for years to become masters at what they are making. They actually care about the product that will make it to the marketplace. Artisans are found in a variety of fields – bread, cheese, wine, clocks, etc.
If God is the master craftsman, what does that mean for us? What is our role?
We are called to be artisans of faith. To truly care about growing in our knowledge of God. Spending extravagant time with him. Learning. Growing. As we continue to grow in our faith, we naturally begin to make disciples around us by sharing what we have learned.
Artisan faith – unique design; genuine pursuit.
