Saturday, May 15, 2010

Ordination

Guess what I have never done in my 21 years of ministry? I have never been ordained!

I wonder if that means all these years in ministry haven't counted??

Kidding. I felt the Lord nudging me to take this step in preparation for my new season at Englewood. I'm pumped about it. And, as the Lord would have it, my ordination will take place just 4 days before my first Sunday with my new EBC family. Pretty special, I think.

My church here in Franklin - Thompson Station Church - is having an ordination service for me next Wednesday night, May 19 at 6:30. My pastor here, Pastor Tom McCoy, will be heading up the service. My current worship pastor, Chip, will be leading worship. My worship mentor, Dick Hill, is coming from Houston to take part in the service as well. And of course, my new pastor and partner in crime, Pastor Ben, will be taking part, too. I can't wait. I'm ready for God's mission for my family and me in this season. Woo hoo! Bring it.

Would you pray for my family, the ordination council and me as we share in this special night? I am asking the Lord to mark this night as one where He will seal in Angela and me this calling that He has placed on our lives...and that He would send us out from this night with every bit of ministry heart and authority that we need to march into this new day.

And of course, any of you who are in the area and would like to come to join us, we would love to have you.

My friends are asking if they have to call me Pastor Travis now. I told them no. They can just call me "The Very Right Reverend Deacon Doctor Pastor Travis CoTTRELL." Yep. That'll do.

:-)

38 comments:

Unknown said...

I am definitely praying for you and your family during this special time of ordination.

So cool to know that not only does our LORD set you apart but your home church is doing the same thing.

Sheryl

pinkdaisyjane said...

What a wonderful affirmation from the people you minister with... So excited for your new ministry!

Rachel said...

LOVE IT!!

will be praying, O Anoited One! =D

Sunny Sue said...

Very exciting for you, Angela and the kids to have such a wonderful send off. Not only will you have so many special people there with you, but know that there will be many more of us "out here" that are wishing you well and praying for you.

When Ben became pastor at Englewood, we were so hoping that he would use "Brother" just so we could say, "Amen, Brother Ben". He didn't go that route for some reason. Hmmm. Looking forward to hearing what name your new choir comes up with for you. :-)

Amanda said...

Travis, this is so awesome. Mom told me about it yesterday. Our whole family wishes we could be there for your ordination. What a great night that will be. We love you guys very much!

Jill said...

How cool! Praying for you and your family during this special time.

CAROL LIVIN FOR GOD said...

Oh Travis you make my heart happy,
I will be praying for you and your family.
So excited for you.
Blessing to you
we will need a video to see so have someone video tape so us seista's
Carol

Cindy said...

Praying for you and your family.

Tiffany M. said...

You will indeed be covered in prayer. Congratulations.

Laura said...

So excited of this new season in your life! GOD has some awesome things in store!

GOD bless!

Rhonda said...

Will be praying for you all! How exciting:)

HIS Child said...

Don't you love the way Jesus wraps things up for you?
In your wildest dreams, I wonder if you and Angela could have ever fathomed this on your lives.
He is truly a giver of good gifts.
I pray that this night will always be remembered as a blessing and affirmation of two beautiful hearts surrendered to His call on their lives.
God bless you, Angela and your family.

Celeste

His Jules said...

So Awesome!!! We will be praying for all of you during this special time.

Anonymous said...

That is so cool and very fitting. We were so thrilled and honored to have you at Cool Spring last Thursday. Everyone that I've spoken with said it was truly a worship "experience!" You are truly a pastor who brings the word both in spoken and song! Thanks for your kindness and attention our Cool Spring Family. God Bless!

Wendy Berenson
Mechanicsville, GA

Unknown said...

You are soooooo spiritual... that's what you told me when I got ordained :)

Rhonda said...

Hey Travis, that's so cool about your ordination and yes you and your family will be remembered in prayer. I am looking forward to the praise and worship to our God this weekend in Grand Rapids. I live in Kalamazoo about 50 miles south of GR. GR is a great city!

You always me laugh, thank you!

Rhonda Siler
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Fran said...

Congrats Travis!!! That is just awesome. So happy for you!

Blessings~
Fran

Anonymous said...

HOW AWESOME FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!!!
LOVE, HUGS AND PRAYERS,PAM

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Mary H. said...

This is wonderful!!! May God bless your family!

Cindy- My Life HIS Story said...

I'm so excited for ya'll! Ordination is a HUGE thing. No offense at all to those who aren't in the vocation of ministry, but I just don't know that those who aren't can fully appreciate the magnitude of it.

My husband was ordained in Alabama early on but wasn't in Texas, so I was able to be there when he, after 23 years in the ministry, was ordained. AWESOME! I think the tears started for me pretty soon after the pastor said, "Good Morning! We are gathered this morning..." or whatever he said!!! All I know is that I, as his wife, also felt that sealing upon my heart and such humility to be called - and to watch the laying on of hands - Whoa!! I still get teary-eyed and all chill-bumpy!! Praying it is just as magnificent for ya'll!!

Oh and my oh-so-reverent husband, in response to the "Do we have to call you _______" (fill in the blank with whatever!!) simply replied, "You may call me...The Prophet."
Now remember...his last name is Moses. Such a goof, but he still makes me laugh!

Unknown said...

Rev. Travis...
I know that it will be an awesome time for you and your family. We'll pray for you at Immanuel tomorrow night.
But be careful- people will start to think that you are old now that you are the reverend!
Blessings,
Steve Gray

Liza Lynnette said...

Great time in your life... it is a ministerial rite of passage and it affirms God's calling in your life.

Congratulations!

God bless and keep moving forward.

Sitesx6 said...

What an exciting time in your life, family, and career. God is at work!

On a side note, 160 of us from my church are coming to hear what God has for us in Grand Rapids this weekend. We are all so hungry for God right now. We have had hard times within our church family. Many deaths of young husbands, a young son with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis, a new breast cancer diagnosis in a young mom (she is coming this weekend).

We know God uses you and we are just so hungry to hear.....we have been praying as a church for God to work in all of us this weekend.

Kelly in Michigan

Anonymous said...

We will be bathing you & your family in prayer during this special time in your lives.

connorcolesmom said...

That is wonderful news!!!
So excited for you :)

Anonymous said...

I am praying for you! What an awesome god we serve! I know this will be such a special service for you and your family.

Laura in NC

Sister Lynn said...

Travis,

Your friends in the convent are thrilled. Many blessings to you and your family as you begin this grand adventure.

Peace,
Sister Lynn

Gran Jan said...

Travis - I love that you are ordained now!!! Your desire that God will seal this time in yours and Angela's hearts and lives is wonderful...because that is exactly what it is for.

I hope the council was "good to you." When my husband was ordained they took him through the ringer - but that was a long time ago...and evidently it "took," because he is still serving with joy and passion! So thankful am I!

I love your new title. Both my husband and son are in ministry and at many family gatherings when they "start up" with discussions about end times, predestination, blah blah blah, my younger son and I say "there go the ordained again." HAHAHAHAHA

Much love to the CoTTRELLs!
Mrs. Jan

tkaeser said...

That is great! My hubby is getting ordained this weekend at our lil'church in the country. God takes us on a wild ride!! OH YEA!!!

Molly said...

OK PT Cottrell - Bless you and yours. What a special time.
You are always part of such an amazing connection with the LORD and HIS children thru LPL - this is special for you. Please promise me you and Angela will take time to let each moment of it soak in. Don't speed thru the blessings.

They may be a breeze but don't breeze thru them.

Siesta OC

PS: Cna't wait to see the "team" in Denver. 3 Weeks!!!!

twinkle said...

Travis,

Reading about this just takes my breath away when I think about all the things going on in your life right now! God has you on a whirlwind mission of ministry.

Let me just tell you from my heart that you have ministered to me since my first LPL event many years ago! Shout to the LORD---Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting---Trading My Sorrows---I bought my first Living Proof Live cd at my first event and played it to death! You and your praise team autographed it with your favorite verses after the event. Our group was stranded waiting on our bus that was late!

I know I'm just a woman who loves the LORD, not a minister or deacon even. And that's okay with me. But I want to pray for you. I'm imagining in reverence my hands are on you, Angela and your children.

Father in heaven, how holy is Your Name. You bring order from chaos. You turn our emptiness into a cup overflowing. You bring a Ray of Sonshine into darkness. You are the Divine One who opens doors. And You are the Divine One who closes doors that no man can open. I see how You have opened this door of ministry with Travis and his family. Bless it with Your Spirit-filled anointing. Give Travis and his family eyes and ears to minister beyond the obvious needs and get to the heart of each soul. Surround them with prayer warriors lifting them up and praying them through ministry. Father, let them reveal Your Light to a dark and needy world. May Truth be a guard around them. Protect them and provide for them by Your Might. Give each member of this family a heart that loves You and devotes themselves to serving You. Bless them and encourage them daily. May their ministry be used by You to harvest souls into the Kingdom of God. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Much love,
Deborah

DeborahC said...

Praise God! I'm so excited for you in this new season of your family's life. I'm covering you in my prayers.

3girlsmom said...

GO YOU! So much better, and less random, than my dream. Ahem.

Praying for you tomorrow as you "officially" begin your journey at EBC.

Jackson has Fran and now has you and your peeps? I'd say Jackson is a pretty awesome place to be right now. Go get em!

-Robyn

Ashley said...

Travis, I hadn't read your blog in a while (I kinda quit blogging...couldn't keep up!), but I noticed your tweet this morning about it being your last full day at citizens of Franklin and I was curious if y'all were moving. HAD. NO. CLUE. about the ride you guys have been on. I went through and read your great adventure posts. What a ride! Very exciting for your family. I pray God's blessings over all of it.

By the way, my dad's a music minister and was a missionary in the Philippines so I grew up in church and around all the church stuff and I love it all, too.

Bev Brandon @ The Fray said...

TVRRDDPTC,
That is a pretty exciting moment for you and Angela and your kids! Wish a few hundred more of us who adore you could have been there. But HE was! Sheer Wonder! Immutable Grace! That's Who it is for anyway. Called to Acts 20:24. Burdened with Gal. 4:19. There is a Powerful Benevolence that has been working on your behalf to bring you to this place in your life. We all look at you Travis and shout TO GOD BE THE GLORY. You have become an occasion for worship because of all HE has done in you and will continue to do as you worship HIM alone and lead us all there. We think the world of you Travis!

Margie by the Sea said...

Praying for you and Angela.
Thank you for sharing your joy in the Lord with us. It's downright Contagious!
Margie/Kate's Mom

Charity said...

That's an awesome send off. My husband and I left our home church (I'd been there since Kindergarten and we'd been serving there for 8 years) almost three years ago and our last Sunday night there was Stephen's ordination. Such a time... such a time. and a memory. Congratulations.

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