Dear Journey Kids team,

I hope you are enjoying some sunshine, warmth and relaxing days this summer season. I am writing to let you know about a big change for all of us: I am returning to the elementary music classroom this school year and will no longer be on staff at The Journey. This decision has not come easy, but God has given me peace to know this is the right next step. I tried out a small teaching role last school year and enjoyed it very much. I love spending my day with kids and found myself being drawn back to the music classroom. I am excited to return to teaching, and I have also been honored to serve as the leader of our team for the past 14 years. I never envisioned myself in the role of “ministry leader”, but have also never regretted it. I’d like to briefly share some of my story with hopes it will be an encouragement to you.

Adam and I moved to Muskegon in 2007 as I had gotten a new job teaching elementary music at Reeths-Puffer schools (which is an amazing and long story in itself!). We had never been to Muskegon before but settled in quickly. I enjoyed my new job, and when we found The Journey, we jumped in right away.

Fast-forward four years: things were going great! I had gained some job security in my position and confidence in my teaching skills. We were still invested in and taking steps at The Journey, and there was a job opening for the Journey Kids Director. During the announcement at church, I felt God’s Spirit telling me “you could do that”. Uhm...what? The answer was a hard and fast “no”. I was not interested and not qualified. Sheesh, what a terrible idea. So, needless to say, I pushed the thought away real fast. The annoying part is...it kept coming back! I couldn’t stop thinking about it! As I began talking with family and friends, I was advised to listen for God’s voice and be obedient. More than one person told me that if this was God’s plan, I wouldn’t be able to go in a different direction.

In an effort to keep the story short, you all know that I kept listening to God’s Spirit and applied for the job. I remember in the interview answering most questions with, “I don’t know, but I love Jesus, I’m a hard worker and I’m good at learning new things.” Apparently Matt & Paul believed me, and I started as Journey Kids Director in the Fall of 2011.

In the past 14 years, our team has celebrated countless wins together, walked alongside each other through life’s ups and downs, and created a place for so many kids and families to explore and experience Jesus at The Journey. What I love about our team is that none of that was dependent on me: you didn’t join the team because of me, but you kept taking steps of faith to follow Jesus and share your faith with the next generation. I kept us focused and moving together toward our shared mission, but each of you owned the vision, showed up consistently, and played your part in investing in kids to build a strong faith foundation. Our JKids team is here for the long game. Over and over again we have walked alongside kids as we care for them as babies, speak truth into them as preschoolers, guide them to follow Jesus in elementary school, and then one of the most meaningful things happens: they become teenagers and choose to join our team! We walk alongside them to learn how to serve other kids, and the seeds we planted grow into a young adult with a strong faith foundation. This has been my favorite part about leading this team: the slow and steady deposits of relationships connected to God’s truth keeps us growing closer to God and each other.

As you reflect on my story and the stories we have shared over the years, let’s pray for each of us to live with Jesus at the center of our lives so we can continue to hear God’s Spirit and follow His lead. The decision I made 14 years ago was illogical - I gave up job security, financial cushion, and confidence in my skills, but I can barely count all the things I have gained. I have celebrated countless wins, developed meaningful relationships, and experienced tremendous spiritual growth...all because I chose to be obedient to God. It didn’t make sense, but God gave me peace to know I was taking the right step.

Likewise, the decision to resign from leading Journey Kids and return to teaching music is something I have wrestled with. I know my season as Journey Kids Director was a gift from God, and I also know that God has gifted me to connect with kids through music and share His love and story in a different setting. God has given me peace about this decision, and I have confidence that no matter who the next leader is, our team will continue to invest in the next generation. The greatest step for each of us is to obey. I pray our Journey Kids team continues to make space to hear God’s Spirit, follow God’s ways and lead the next generation to do the same.

Grateful for each of you, Julie