Steve Alessi: Author of Alessi’s Angle, Pastor of Metro Life Church in Miami, Husband of World Renown Worship Leader Mary Alessi and Father of Four. A few weeks ago Mary and the girls and I boarded a plane and headed to Flagstaff, Arizona. The purpose of the trip was to connect with our Pastor, Mike Hayes and a few other Pastors in the Churches in Covenant Network to see a new Church plant in the area and to confer with Church growth strategists. We were also told we would have some time to "sight-see" while there.
Truthfully, this trip was not on my "fav list" and after a summer filled with travel, I truly didn't want to go. I love Pastors Mike & Kathy Hayes and was looking forward to seeing them, especially since they will be at Metro at our 14th Anniversary Celebration on September 25th, but heading all the way out to Arizona was not the way I thought I needed to show my love. When I texted him earlier in the summer to let him know the tickets were too expensive, I thought for sure he would give me a pass and let me off the hook, since the economy is what it is (whatever that means??). Like the loving Pastor he is, Pastor Mike didn't give me the pass I was looking for, but instead suggested I try a cheaper route of travel. Not wanting to disappoint our Pastor, Mary booked the tickets and before we knew it, the day arrived and off we went to Flagstaff...and boy am I glad we did!
I can't even begin to tell you how exciting that trip was for us. To see the new Church plant in Flagstaff reminded me of the excitement we can experience when we step out into abandoned faith and totally trust in God. Then to hear from the guys at Kremmer & Associates speak on Leadership truths that immediately I put into practice when we returned (and they're coming to Metro in October), and even used in that Sunday's sermon (remember the clown glasses?). And of course to connect with Pastor friends and to see our daughters stay up to 1 AM in the lobby playing board games with their kids. The whole trip was a true blessing, and to think I almost didn't experience it because I was about to let my excuse be bigger than my dreams. I'm so glad my Pastor didn't let me make that mistake.
That was the work portion of our trip, but you should have seen the play time...the Grand Canyon. We spent one afternoon aboard a train heading to see one of God's most beautiful works of art and it was spectacular! As we all stood overlooking the Grand Canyon, I found myself wanting to run up to Pastor Mike and Kathy and give them a huge hug and kiss to simply thank them for making us come to Arizona. If it wasn't for them, we surely wouldn't have made the trip and would have missed this beautiful sight and experience.
As we were heading back out of town that Friday, making the long and winding road trip down the Mountains, I was taken back by everything that occurred in that short 4 day trip and I heard God speak to my heart these words; "Just like your Pastor introduced you to the new experience of the Grand Canyon, if you follow and honor him, he'll introduce you to new experiences of faith in the Spirit."
