4 decades.
40 years.
480 months.
14,610 days ago.
On May 7, 1986, we pulled our Ryder moving truck into Cape Coral, FL. We were on a mission. A calling. An assignment from God.
Knowing we had the support of two other couples was a blessing, but the unknowns were overwhelming. We had no guarantees and few assurances of success. Our only goal was simple but massive: start a church that would reach unchurched families.
Milestones are moments for reflection. Over the years, I’ve written “30 Things I’ve Learned” and “35 Things I’ve Learned” at those milestone years. This year, to celebrate 40 years in Southwest Florida, I’m keeping it simple.
Just four things in four decades.
I’m sure you are relieved.
Embrace Change as a Constant
During the 11 months we spent preparing to launch Cape Christian, I wrote the core values and philosophy of ministry that would guide us. One of our four primary statements was that we would be “Change-Oriented.”
I wrote: “We will not fear and resist change but see it as important and necessary for effective ministry.”
For forty years, I’ve had to lean on that phrase. Whether we were navigating growth or cultural shifts, I often reminded our congregation: “The only thing you can count on as being consistent at Cape Christian, is change.”
When we embrace change rather than resisting it, we make room for growth.
Look at what that willingness to adapt has produced:
- From 65 people in one service to 6,000 people each weekend across 8 services on 2 campuses in two counties.
- From a rented school cafeteria to a 14-acre campus in Cape Coral and a new campus in Babcock Ranch.
- From nothing to offer to now providing multiple spaces for the entire community: A worship center, family ministry center, a large preschool, a family-oriented park with a splash pad, pickleball courts, and a café.
- From 1 staff member to a team of 150.
The Takeaway: Change isn’t something to be feared—it is the engine of progress.
Practice Patient Perseverance
There is no such thing as an “overnight success.”
Every week, I sit with my wife listening to a concert-quality worship team leading a room full of passionate worshippers. When I do, I often think back 50 years ago. We were a newly married couple walking out of a worship experience in Salem, Oregon.
I remember turning to her on that summer evening and saying, “Someday, we will lead a church like that.”
It took decades of showing up, even when it was hard, to see that “someday” become a reality. Perseverance isn’t just about sticking it out; it’s about keeping the vision alive while you do the work.
Prioritize Purposeful Successions
The best leadership decision I made in 40 years was intentionally planning my exit while I was still in the race. By preparing and releasing younger leaders (Wes, Jeff, Cory, and soon Kyle), the light of Christ now burns brighter and spreads further than if I were still clutching the torch. I’ve learned that my fruit often looks, smells, and tastes better growing on someone else’s tree. Because of these successions, the foundation I laid at age 32 is supporting a reality of incredible impact that I get to see at 72.
Maintain a Mission Mindset
From day one, we refused to become a ‘holy huddle.’ We chose to reach outward, even when it required significant risk. Comfort zones kill callings. While it’s natural for organizations to drift toward internal maintenance, we’ve remained relentless about the main thing: Loving God and Loving People. We never aimed to be a big church; we aimed to make a big impact. That mission mindset has been our game-changer, resisting the pull of mediocrity for four decades.
Forty years of dedication to this calling has been the privilege of a lifetime. Every difficult conversation and stressful meeting fades in light of the big picture: a fruitful four decades of planting, watering, and harvest. Today, when people ask, “Are you surprised?” we have a one-line answer. We say, “Not surprised, always in awe, and deeply grateful.” To everyone who caught the vision and joined the mission—thank you. Truly, the best is yet to come!
QUESTION: What is one ‘someday’ dream you are currently persevering toward?
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