God Knows the Plans for You

I stood towards the far end of the practice field and looked across the field at Coach McFarland and Coach Broadway. They were having an animated conversation that I was pretty sure was about me. A few moments later my suspicions were confirmed when Coach Mac yelled, “Allen, come here!” I tried to run through every what-did-I-do-now scenario as I jogged towards him. As soon as I approached, no small talk, “Are you going into ministry?”
I proceeded to fumble over my words like a running back wearing oven mitts. How did he find out? I had only told Coach Hansbrough. Mario?!?! Up until that point, I’d been having doubts, wrestling for weeks. Was God calling me to be a pastor or to keep teaching and coaching? I guess this was the moment I was going to decide. “Well sir… actually sir… yes… yes sir. I believe God’s calling me into ministry.” Coach Mac smiled and Coach Broadway began to speak, “Well, I’ll pay for your seminary.” I looked back and forth at the two in stunned silence.

So God let me get this straight. In 1987 my family moved from Washington D.C. to Alpharetta, GA where I would attend Milton High School and meet Nate Webster who would convince me to play college football. While playing college football, my dad became head coach at Riverwood where I would become an assistant coach after college. While coaching at Riverwood my dad would die unexpectedly leading me to pursue teaching and coaching. Following one of Riverwood’s most successful seasons, my close friend would resign as head coach causing me to look for new coaching opportunities. Nate Webster would call me to see if I’d be interested in coaching at Roswell where he’s on staff. While on staff at Roswell, I’d become a follower of Jesus and accept a call to ministry standing on a football field.
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The story of my life is the story of a relentless God whose goodness has been running after me from my first breath to this present moment. In ways I cannot begin to fully grasp or understand, Jesus has been drawing me to himself not in spite of but through my life circumstances. Like Joseph, in Genesis 50 I have time and time again watched God use unlikely circumstances for my good and his glory. Today and in the week that follows I pray that you would glimpse the improbable story Jesus has and is writing through your life. I pray that you would be able to rest in God’s goodness and the assurance that he knows the plans he has for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Yours In Christ,
Allen Hoskyn, Associate Pastor
Missions & Discipleship

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