16 THING THAT SHAPED ME!
Following Alex’s (www.alexmcmanus.org) suit, I decided this was a good thing to map out. Hey don’t forget: What is the “M”? Check out: http://myimn.com
16 Ideas that have stayed with me by Richie
#1 - 1963 or 64? – Entered a Catholic Children’s Home (Sacred Heart Home for Children) for 2 years and then another year in foster homes. The home was not necessarily an orphanage, but it was for kid whose parents were unable to take care of them. There were about 250 children from the around the age of 3 to 14 or 15 there. My brother and I returned to live home again at the age of 5 or so.
#2 - 1966-72 – Returned to the Children’s Home. Was abused while there both physically and mentally in different ways; not by the staff however. I had my first meaningful dialog with GOD there when I was around 8, I yelled at Him for an hour or so on a sub-zero wind chilled day in a cornfield. I think he heard me. J We left the home and the day I left I announced to my Dad I was going back, but I wanted to be a priest. He and my new step mom admonished me; so…., I went home to a big party they had for us; and at the age of 12 I got drunk for the very first time. Kinda odd based on my previous announcement just prior to that. The enemy then sent me spiraling down another road of substance abuse and various addictions for the next 17 years – what a punk he is!
#3 -1976 – Met my future wife; it was Love at first sight. I was 15 and she was 16.
#4 -1978 – Joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 17; left home and never looked back with the exception of my girl.
#5 - 1980 – Married my high school sweetheart, and later that year we had a son and named him Chad Ryan. Over the next 4 years we had two more children – Sean W. and Megan Elaine.
#6 – 1989 – 3 significant events happened this year. Promoted to Chief Petty Officer in the Navy; and later that year was commissioned as a Naval Officer. Both of these were professional achievements that I am still quite very proud of; I was a driven man those first 10 years in the Navy. However, in August of 1989 – I was re-introduced to the man named Jesus; and this time I fell in Love and from that day forward my life has never been the same. Thank you Miguel Gallegos for taking the time to share Him with me; I am forever grateful!
# 7 – 1992 – Moved into our first purchased (brand new) home and we have lived her in Virginia Beach in that home since July of 1992.
# 8 – 1989 -1996 – Tumultuous years in my life. I had carried a ton of baggage into my marriage and even into my relationship with Jesus; and I had never dealt with those issues. This season of my life was very, very tough. I went through ups and downs in both relationships until I started to do the dirty work of facing my past and how it was affecting me as a man, a believer, a husband, and a father. This was a time of pain but also tremendous growth. My recommendation to anyone – Face the Pain – in the long run it is worth it; and He who heals will be there right with you the entire time.
# 9 – 1993 – My first glimpse of serving the King. Taught various levels of children at church, and was then taken on as the Youth Pastor for a local church until l997. This was during a tough time in my life – but serving helped me to stay focused on the finish line. Had a blast with the youth – we were the first church in the area to put on concerts with a mosh pit; this was also my first experience ever preaching the word – very humbling time in my life; but very, very rewarding.
#10 - 1998 – Present – I met Vince Antonucci and caught the Vision of Forefront Church. Sent me in a complete tailspin with respect to evaluating church and how it is done. Being raised Catholic and then being in a church previously that was fairly conservative – this was a breath of fresh air for me! I immediately became immersed in the Ethos/Culture of Forefront and have been serving there in a myriad of capacities: small groups; small groups leaders; small groups leader coach/mentor; men’s ministry leader/coach; children’s ministry teacher on Sunday’s (currently 1st/Kind.); Set up and Tear down (we’re mobile in school); and getting ready to eliminate some duties and take on Global Outreach and Church Planting coach. I began reading books on a much more regular basis during this time; at one point, I was shooting for one a month. Have slowed a bit now with school, but will get back to that mode eventually.
#11 – 2001 – Our daughter Megan was killed in a single car crash on Easter Sunday morning (15 Apr 01). That morning I read the book of Job – but the two things that really caught my attention in the entire book were: #1 – When the going gets rough – Worship; #2 – I can yell and debate with God and he will listen. So…, I did both – the worship got me through, and the dialog with Him helped me to vent. I did not receive answers right away – however, the last 6 years have been amazing with respect to growth and maturation. Additionally, the outpouring of Love from so many that still happens even to this day – has been truly overwhelming. Would I ever want to go through that again – NO WAY!! However, it has been a mixed bag of blessings and many of those, I would never, ever give back either.
#12 – 2002 – ORIGINS Conference in Los Angeles – this was when I caught my real first glimpse of the Post-modern discussion and kingdom living here on earth. Met both Alex and Erwin at Dinner one night –and have conversed occasionally or bumped into Alex at conferences over the last few years. The idea of using more creativity and the arts in how we reach out was firmly planted in my heart; but God was also doing something in my heart with respect to looking more at the Globe versus my own little area of the world. Couple years later I also attended a Catalyst conference in which I sat in on 2 Brian McClaren labs that were absolutely mind-blowing – but helpful. Brian two years earlier had actually taught a small groups conference for Forefront Church, I thought that kinda funny. You may not totally agree with the guy, but he is stinkin brilliant! His book “New Kind of Christian� was a bit of an eye-opener for me too.
#13 – 2003 – My father died after a long bought of emphysema. My dad had a huge impact on my life, both good and bad; and I Loved him dearly. I was able to intro him to Jesus and see his acceptance; so, I get to hang with him for eternity and a day. I do miss our every Sunday conversations though. This very same year in the fall – God spoke clearly into my heart about Orphans of Aids. Given my childhood and a myriad of other things – He was giving me clear understanding that I had been groomed along the way to be involved in this horrible world-wide problem in some form or fashion.
#14 – 2004/2005 – Both of my sons graduated from James Madison University; and I started to work on my first degree at the age of 44. Our family is the first in the entire Merritt bloodline to have anyone attend or graduate from an institute of higher learning. Our marriage is also the only one not destroyed by divorce in our entire bloodline. So.., not sure what that all means – but I think it significant and it made for a good year.
#15 – 2005-2007 – Have attended Londen Institute School of Evangelism at the prompting of Vince my pastor. From an educational standpoint, it has been 2 of the most fruitful years of my life. I have met some fantastic people; and have had the opportunity to sit under some of the finest teachers and pastors in order to prepare me for the next step in this journey. In the Fall of 2006, God again spoke clearly into my heart about being a Church Planter, while also showing me how this would fit into my work with Orphans of Aids. This in turn has sent me on another adventure all together. So.., it has been an impacting and interesting couple of years.
#16 – 2006 – Karen and I attended Church Planting Assessment in Chicago, IL. These 3 days or so, reaffirmed what God had clearly laid in my heart the October before; and it also was a turning point I think for my wife, who quite honestly was very reluctant to the entire idea in the beginning. That was for several reasons; one being my previous impetuous mannerisms in the past; but much of it was fear of the unknown. This and prayer by her, others, and me have been instrumental in quelling some of that fear. J We have decided on going back to the place we left almost 30 years ago; and start a community that will rock that place, and begin a new revolution of Love in the Lehigh Valley of Penna, the State of Penna, the Nation, the World (Acts 1:8).
#16(cont’d) – The Present – I am impacted and shaped by the future that awaits me. Chomping at the bit, hands tight on the wheel – I am ready to run! Aaaaahh, but the greatest shaping I’ve received in the recent past and present is – Patience. I must wait, each step is guided, and I am now careful not to run ahead too far – lest I get lost in myself and wander from the path.
So.., the Vision of the Future is now impacting who I am today! And…, man am I stoked!!