Grace

Trusting God Through the Doubts: Our Journey to Freeport

Back in July, my family and I moved to Freeport, Florida, with a desire to plant a church and share the gospel with this community. We came with a vision for what we prayed the Lord would do through Grace Reformed Baptist Church of Freeport. We knew there would be challenges, but I don't think you can ever fully prepare yourself for what it feels like to step out in faith and trust the Lord with something this big.

Church planting has been an exciting journey, but it has also been a humbling one.

There have been moments when I've been encouraged by the doors the Lord has opened, and there have been other moments when I've had questions and doubts. You start thinking about all the things that still need to happen, the people you hope to reach, and whether you're doing enough. You wonder what the future will look like and how everything will come together.

I think it's important to be honest about those moments because following the Lord doesn't mean we never struggle with uncertainty. Sometimes trusting Him means taking the next step even when we don't know exactly where that step will lead.

And that is something the Lord has been teaching me since we moved here.

Learning to Trust the Lord

One thing I've been reminded of throughout this process is that planting a church is not ultimately about what I can accomplish. It's about what God chooses to do.

It's easy to get caught up in the planning, the logistics, the finances, and all the things that come with starting a church. Those things matter, but they can also become overwhelming when you start thinking you have to figure everything out on your own.

Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not lean on our own understanding. That has been a good reminder for me personally. I don't have all the answers, and I can't see how everything is going to unfold. But I can trust the One who does.

That doesn't mean the doubts automatically disappear. It means bringing those doubts to the Lord in prayer and remembering that He is faithful, even when I don't know what comes next.

Our confidence isn't in our ability to build a church from the ground up. Our confidence is in the God who saves sinners, changes hearts, and builds His church.

Small Beginnings Matter

One of the biggest blessings so far has been seeing the Lord provide a place for us to meet. Pathway Church has graciously allowed us to use its building for our Bible studies, and we've already had the opportunity to gather with families to study God's Word and pray together.

We're still in the early stages. There is plenty of work ahead, and we have a lot to learn as we move forward. But getting to sit down with people, open the Bible, walk through God's Word, and pray together has been a real encouragement.

Sometimes we can get so focused on what we hope things will become that we overlook what God is doing right in front of us.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3:6–7 that he planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. I keep coming back to that passage because it puts things into perspective. Our responsibility is to be faithful. We share the gospel, teach the Scriptures, love people, and pray for the Lord to work. We cannot change a person's heart or produce genuine spiritual growth. Only God can do that.

That takes a lot of pressure off our shoulders, but it also reminds us of how important faithfulness is.

We may be starting small, but we believe the gospel is worth proclaiming, even if it is to just a few people gathered around God's Word.

Even When We Have Doubts, We Keep Going

I would love to say that every day has been full of confidence and excitement, but that wouldn't be honest. There are days when the road ahead feels uncertain. There are times when I have to remind myself why we came here and why this work matters.

But I think that's part of what the Lord teaches us through seasons like this. He reminds us that our faith cannot rest on how things look today. It has to rest on who He is.

Jesus says in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church.”

That promise has been a tremendous encouragement to me. Jesus didn't say that we would always understand everything or that ministry would be easy. He promised that He would build His church.

Grace Reformed Baptist Church of Freeport belongs to Him. The people we hope to reach belong to Him. The future of this church belongs to Him.

My responsibility is to be faithful with what He has placed before me, trust Him with what I cannot control, and keep moving forward in obedience.

I don't know exactly what the next year will look like. I don't know how quickly this church will grow or what challenges we will face along the way. But I do know that the Lord has been faithful to us, and I believe He is worthy of our continued trust.

Would You Pray for Freeport?

As we continue this journey, I would ask you to pray for our family and for Grace Reformed Baptist Church of Freeport.

Pray for the families who have begun gathering with us. Pray that the Lord would open doors for gospel conversations throughout the community. Pray for wisdom, provision, and encouragement as we continue preparing for the future. Most importantly, pray that Christ would be proclaimed faithfully and that people would come to know Him.

Our desire is to establish a church that is grounded in Scripture, committed to the historic Christian faith, and centered on the glory of God. We want to see people grow in their knowledge of Christ, love His Word, serve one another, and share the gospel with their neighbors.

If you're in the Freeport area, we'd love for you to join us on Sundays at 6:00 p.m. at Pathway Church as we study the book of Ephesians and spend time in prayer together.

Looking back to July, I can see how much the Lord has already taught me through this process. I am learning that faithfulness doesn't mean having every answer. Sometimes it simply means getting up, praying, trusting God's promises, and taking the next step.

There is still a long way to go, and I'm sure there will be more moments of doubt along the way. But I am thankful that the success of this work doesn't ultimately depend on me. It depends on the Lord, who is faithful to accomplish His purposes.

We are here to proclaim Christ, make disciples, and serve God's kingdom. We trust Him with the rest.

To God alone be the glory.

Soli Deo Gloria.

— Grace Reformed Baptist Church of Freeport