She said yes...

June 13th, 2025

For the past few weeks, Leigh-Ann and I, the kids, and many others have been on a secret mission to help set the stage for our oldest daughter Alexa’s engagement. The plan was simple but layered with more than a little misdirection…it’s not really a lie if it’s for an engagement, right??

We told Alexa we were attending a formal event at the Corrigan rooftop. Meanwhile, we arranged for friends to “hire” her to babysit that night, only to cancel at the last minute. With her evening free, we invited her to join us. She got dressed up, expecting a night of mingling and small talk with her parents.

As we walked over to “the event” we talked about all the people she would meet and the food we would eat, but when she stepped off the rooftop elevator, there was no gala and no food (sadly ?) but there was the love of her life down on one knee locked in for the proposal surrounded by what felt like an infinite number of roses. There were two photographers and a videographer poised to catch the moment on film.

The moment was magical….and she said yes.

After the shock settled and all the pics were taken, they went to dinner to celebrate as a newly engaged couple, and then we all gathered late into the night to relive the moment, watching videos, looking at pictures, and celebrating what God has brought together.

It was beautiful, joyful, and reminded me of something deeper. I’ll be preaching this Sunday as we begin a new series titled “To the Ends of the Earth: God’s Heart for the Nations.”

In Acts 1:1–11, Jesus gives His disciples a vision for their future, an intentional call to take the good news of the Kingdom to the ends of the earth. He doesn’t leave them guessing. Instead, He offers a clear, bold vision for how the Gospel can change the world.

In a way, it’s not unlike what we saw on that rooftop. Just like Jaren had a vision for his future with Alexa, that will require a lifetime commitment…Jesus invites us into His mission, which also requires all of our trust and commitment.

Alexa and Jaren love Jesus, and they love each other. We couldn’t be more thrilled for what God is doing in their lives. And as we celebrate their story, I can’t help but think of the even bigger story we’ve all been invited into, the gospel story that doesn’t end with a proposal, but with a redeemed world and a returning King.

I hope you’ll join us this Sunday—IN OUR NEWLY REMODELED SPACE AT 1717 McGee, as we begin this journey through God’s heart for the nations. Services are at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or on our New Life website at 9:15 am.

It’s going to be a great day,

Troy