Look Forward: When God Calls You to Lead and Fear Says You're Not Ready
Before the yes. Before the first Sunday. Before the moment he stood in front of a room full of teenagers and realized God had been preparing him for this his entire life. There was just a young man sitting in a parking lot asking God if He had the right person. His name was Patrick Gates. And the calling was real but the confidence was not there yet. The Young Man in the Back Row Patrick Gates had been attending Cornerstone Church since he was fourteen years old. He knew every ministry. Every program. Every face in the congregation. He had served quietly for years. Sound booth on Sundays. Setting up chairs on Saturday mornings. Running media for the youth department when they needed an extra hand. He was always present. Always helpful. Always in the background. And that was exactly where Patrick intended to stay. He was twenty-three now. Working a steady job. Taking a few college classes at night. Living a life that was comfortable, manageable, and completely safe. Safe was ...