KBLAST 2.0!

I've had a number of people commenting on my recent, "What are you doing now?" that I currently have on Facebook. It reads, "Brian Klinger is trying to figure out what he's going to be when he grows up." Last night my 6 year old came home from Kindergarten with a booklet of her and her classmates, and one of the questions they were all asked is, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Her answer is awesome: "I want to be a mommy when I grow up because that means I get to have kids!" My daughter has more wisdom like that than I know what to do with. I feel like her sometimes, though.

When I was a kid I wanted to play baseball for the Cubs more than anything in the world. Then I got a little older and realized I'm really not that great at baseball, I should figure out something else. So I got to the end of High School and the question came up again. I was undecided until a friend of mine leaned over to me in the balcony of the church we attended and said, "You know... you should be a teacher. You'd be really good at that!" The more I thought about it, the more I thought that made sense!

So off to college I went. Around a hundred grand later I'm a teacher, and a really good one for 5 years. But that I have a real passion for ministering to the hurt and broken in my generation, so I join a crazy church called Crosslink and teach at a private school.

3 years later, I can't enjoy teaching anymore because my heart absolutely breaks for the people around me, and I don't want to do anything but try to reach them and love them, and teaching becomes an obstacle rather than a love.

So I tromp off to South Dakota to go into full time ministry. After a year in full time ministry I leave the church I was at because things just didn't work out, but I have 2 beautiful foster children who I'd have to give up if I were to leave. There are no positions available as a minister, so I work at Volunteers of America, trying to make a difference in the lives of troubled teens. My time there takes away from my time with my children, so I look for a more "normal" job, and become an 8-5:30 support technician at Coin ConneXion, M-F. I also join an amazing church called Celebrate. Through my time at Celebrate I go through a healing process that helps me rediscover, once again, who I am. During this rediscovery I realize that I have a mission from God to be a full time minister and that my calling never left me.

As I write this, I'm beginning yet another endeavor. My children are now adopted, and I'm getting ready to plant a church back in Columbus, OH in the Pickerington area. As I'm preparing, I'm really focusing my mind on what it is God has REALLY called me to do. I want people to pray and buy into what it is that I'm getting ready to do, but for that to happen, I have to be able to TELL THEM what I'm getting ready to do! I could go into the logistics and the target audience and the answer to, "Why Pickerington?!", but that wouldn't really tell anyone anything about who I am and what God is calling me to do.

So, I find myself answering, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" with, "I want to be a pastor so I can make a difference in people's lives!" Not too terribly far from what my daughter said, is it? Makes me feel like an immature child.

But as I'm writing this, my heart is literally breaking in a million pieces. You see, years ago, I asked God to let me see people through His eyes. Some people say, "Don't pray for patience, or God will put you through something so that you get it!" Well, seeing people hurting, struggling, fighting, screaming, cursing, hating, crying, and dying all around me recently has rekindled the passion to love them all, even more than anything I've ever felt before.

And I think to myself, what a wonderful world... er... no... sorry... ADHD... and I think to myself, wow... I can't even BEGIN to imagine how much this breaks God's heart! Not that he's mad or bitter or any of those things, I just know that He can't stand to see His people that He loves SOOO much going through the hurt and pain that they're suffering! "Well, why doesn't He stop the hurt and suffering then?" Heh... why don't you? Heck, why don't we all? What are you willing to sacrifice and do to be Christ to the people around you, to help take away the hurt and suffering, to show them how much God loves them no matter what they do, and to give them THEIR heart and passion back?

I'm willing to go to Pickerington where God has told me very clearly that there are people there He needs me and my family to reach out and touch. So I'll do whatever it takes to do just that. If you're interested in coming along for the ride, keep checking back and reading my updates. I would love for you to pray for me and my family as we walk this road. If you feel like you want to give to this ministry, I'd be happy to talk to you. But I don't want a single penny from you if God hasn't placed it on your heart to give. Seriously. God's got the money we need somewhere. And finally, if you're interested in joining us in this crazy journey, I'd love to chat with you, as well. Use the contact link to send us an email letting us know how you want to be involved, whether it's prayer, money, or your physical presence. All three are going to be PRICELESS to fulfilling God's purpose and plan.

So, what's YOUR heart and passion?