For a program that began in February, getting a call in November by the Campus USA director Dave Short seemed a little short notice.  My heart was immediately interested since I love evangelism and appreciate the ALPHA model for relational "come and see" evangelism.  But my motives weren't entirely pure.  I must admit that I LOVE overcast rainy weather and had long desired to visit Seattle.  But was this really the "right time" for me to leave my home?  So many obstacles were in the way.  I was working part-time overseeing media for Grace Lutheran Church in Huntington Beach, CA (who would want to leave behind those beautiful beaches, right?) and doing fairly well managing my own video company Mosaic Productions.  Then there was the reality of my exciting relationship with my beautiful girlfriend Meagan that I did not want to leave for nine months (if you saw her and knew her, you would understand my dilemma!).

Though I ignored the call for awhile, God kept pointing me back to Vintage.  First was through the "Council of the Saints."  My friend and co-worker Steve, who had much to personally love by my absence, spent 45min arguing why my obstacles didn't hold water.  I then met with my boss and pastor at the church and he too affirmed my evangelism heart.  I attended worship in the evening at a young adult megachurch known as ROCKHarbor and the sermon seemed to speak directly to me, with the pastor literally saying "God may be calling some of you out of the comfort of Orange County to take risks for His Kingdom."  The person that surprised me the most though is my mother.  She is a widow since 2000 and has struggled with me moving out of her home a few streets away, so I couldn't possibly imagine she would be cool with me moving a few states away.  Yet, she was fully supportive.  God was saying a lot through these fellow Saints.

Some "Circumstantial Signs" next fell into place that was hard to ignore.  My college group began a study of the book Wild At Heart, and I was moved by this link:  "God wrote adventure on your heart.  You must decide whether you'll exchange a life of control (born out of fear) for a life of risk (born out of faith)."  Finally, in December, my girlfriend and I signed-up to spend an hour praying in a 24/7 prayer chapel leading up to Christmas Eve services.  My girlfriend knew nothing about Vintage at the time, so I quietly asked God during that hour to speak to me as to where He was leading me.  At the conclusion of the hour in prayer, the next couple walked into the prayer chapel as we were leaving, and I immediately recognized that this couple served on the church staff administering ALPHA.  Talk about a random sign!  That was the moment my decision was cemented.

By February 25, I found myself out of my home and ready to embrace the adventure God had called me into with Vintage.  This blog will offer thoughts and "ah-ha" insights from the journey.  I invite you to join us.

Have a question?  Feel free to shoot me an email at markahrens@alphausa.org

On Facebook?  You can connect with me there at http://www.facebook.com/mark.marshall.ahrens