Mike Goldsworthy

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗼⁣
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I heading back from doing some work with a church in San Antonio who are looking for a new Executive Pastor, and made a quick stop by the Alamo⁣
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The last time I visited the Alamo was the summer after high school. My friend Nic and I had decided we wanted to do a road trip, but couldn’t decide where to go. In the midst of watching PeeWee’s Big Adventure where he travels to the Alamo, we looked at each other and said, “we need to drive to the Alamo”⁣
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I have so many fond memories from that trip. Getting pulled over doing 120 mph in the middle of nowhere Texas, visiting multiple alien museums in Roswell, seeing the movie Armageddon during one bored afternoon and promptly buying the CD to listen to that Aerosmith song over and over, and committing to wearing cowboy hats any time we were outside the car in Texas⁣
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Honestly, the Alamo was not the best part of our trip. But what I realized later was that the Alamo was never the point - it was just the spark that got us in the car and headed in a direction⁣
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I’ve realized that’s often what I need—not a perfect destination, just something to get me started. Once I’m in motion, I figure things out along the way⁣
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You’ve likely experienced that too. You chose a college based on what you thought you wanted, but along the way, you changed majors, made lifelong friends, or discovered a new passion⁣
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Or maybe you moved somewhere new—for a job, a relationship, lower cost of living, or a romanticized idea of being there. And even if those reasons no longer apply, so many experiences, people, and opportunities came from that move⁣
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You just needed something to get you going⁣
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I’ve sometimes been disappointed when a destination didn’t turn out as planned. But maybe that was never the point. Maybe it was just meant to get me moving⁣
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And so today, as I head back home for the second time from the Alamo, I’m giving thanks for all of the other Alamos that moved me out of a comfortable place and opened up all kinds of new possibilities that I couldn’t have planned for

𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 - 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻. ⁣
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It’s a few months out, but I wanted to put this on your radar - I’m really looking forward to teaming up with to offer a 𝟭 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟴 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝗖𝗢. ⁣
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You’ll get an opportunity to connect with others from around the country who are leading in a similar kind of position, all while doing a one day strategic planning sprint to help intentionally launch your creative ministry into its next season. We will guide you through the tools and processes to create an actionable plan that’s uniquely yours and driven out of your specific context.⁣
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Because we wanted to make this accessible for Creative Ministry leaders, for you to potentially be able to bring multiple team members with you, and we wanted the ability for leaders from a lot of different places and contexts to be able to come, we’re offering it for only $150 per person. When we are typically facilitating this onsite with a specific organization, we’re charging $5k-$10k. So, it’s a great opportunity to meet some new friends in similar roles, enjoy Denver, and walk away with an actionable plan for your next season, at an incredibly affordable price.⁣
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There’s a link in the comments for information and registration.

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Two days ago I got a text message that my pastor, boss, mentor and friend Roger Beard had passed away. ⁣
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I first met Roger in the summer of 2000. We met at a Black Angus for lunch for an initial interview to be the High School Pastor at Parkcrest, where I would serve with him for the next 8 years before he retired, passing the baton (literally) for me to succeed him. ⁣
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Over those 8 years and then after, Roger left a significant mark on my life.⁣
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He gave me opportunities that were beyond my capacity and experience, trusting that I could grow into them. I distinctly remember the conversation we had when he first suggested that I could possibly follow him as the next pastor at Parkcrest. I realized that I would only be 29 years old at that point, which I shared with him. His response was, “well Mike…30 is a good age to get crucified at.” I’m not sure if he was right, but I appreciated his willingness to put me in positions that I was not ready for but could possibly grow into. ⁣
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For the first couple of years after he retired, Roger and I would get together monthly, taking turns picking a book to read together. When it was my choice, I would often pick a book that was probably somewhat stretching for him. He would never come in critiquing it though. Instead he showed up at our times together with curiosity and wanting to understand vantage points and experiences that were outside of his own. In working with so many different leaders over the past several years now, I’ve come to realize that kind of humble curiosity is a gift that many in positions of leadership do not pursue. ⁣
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One of the most significant gifts that I learned from Roger was to develop a pastoral theology. When we processed situations together, he taught me that the way you think theologically has to take into account real people and our theology’s effects on them. That idea would have a significant and radical effect on me. Maybe more than anything I learned from Roger, this is what would leave a lasting mark and shape me for years to come. ⁣
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As I transitioned from my role at Parkcrest, we didn’t have the same opportunities to spend time together the past few years as we did before. But I remain indebted to him and the mark he left on my life. He was a gift and will be missed