Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Owensby.
Hi Linda, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Becoming a Texan as soon as we could we arrived the end of 2019 with lots of excitement and plans for the future. We moved from Washington State with our two adult children, a son in law and two grandchildren as there would not have been a move had we not all agreed to this mega change in life together. Getting settled in Thanksgiving week 2019 in Spring, Texas where we purchased a home large enough for all of us while transitioning into life here then the most amazing interruption in our lifetimes took place, Covid disrupted life in every way, as we all know, life changed, plans changed and we like everyone else had to wait out what the future would look like for each of us.
Selling a small trucking company in Washington State before leaving, closing down our church and handing off a para-church ministry that we were a part of for 20 years were all very huge milestones. Change was about to hit us like a rock and not at all what we expected. When God interrupts the plans of men there is no way to meet that accept head on. Attending a mega church, not something we ever thought to do because we came from small town roots. WoodsEdge Community Church was a one time shop, we went and fell in love with its love for Christ! Big, bold and significant. We were little fish in a big pond looking for our way. We served, Yet. We felt there was more for us to do as we sold our home in Spring once the kids got themselves all settled into life in Texas, had their own homes we sold the big beautiful dream home and moved to 3 acres in East Conroe, where its still too hot in the summer and now the bugs were even more prevalent than ever. Finding our way through the maze of churches we attended a small Baptist church around the corner from us because, well, location location location!!. Not being Baptist did not matter as we saw this as a temporary dive in for the moment as our home was being remolded right under out feet so traveling to WoodsEdge wasn’t conducive as we had workers in our home daily and weekends too trying to get it livable. What an adventure. We had intentions of church shopping after this initial time frame but felt the Lord leading us to stay as the church had no pastor, and the worship singer (1) announced he was leaving immediately, we felt called here. Instantly. The need was great so we settled in for the next year or so but found resistance in everything we offered in helping this little disabled body that was all of about 12 people when we first came. As leaders we offered to do much but eventually left due to a lack of interest. We located several other churches in the area looking to find a place to worship we found a home church as the travel into WoodsEdge was far enough we felt the Lord calling us to be nearer to home. If you are going to help in a community then you need to be close enough to do so, right? We went from a sweet little church home fellowship that had no desire to grow, so serving wasn’t going to happen there to another church in township of New Caney that while there was room to serve just never quite felt like home, though a wonderful group of people there no doubt. Mark having pastored for years did not ever stop thinking about the little Baptist church, staying in touch with the Pastor they had hired we followed along with their story in hopes that things would turn around there for him. One day he called to say they were leaving, we met with them, agreed to come and fulfill the worship set that Sunday as he would make the announcement he was leaving. Again, we stayed. A year and a few months later we are still here. Most of the members that were here when we came the first time had already moved on. Some dedicated souls remained and agreed to Mark stepping into the pastorate once again on a contingency of 6 months after which time we committed to remain and keep sowing into this little church.
During these several years we at one point started up a trucking company but found after a year of slaving in the system that had riddled the industry with so much financial burden that the little guys don’t really stand a chance of surviving in, we choose to sell out. Mark being a disabled vet and Linda already retired we chose to invest our time at the church, where we are today doing what we can in very challenging times, these end times that they are. At this point the church remains small but being steadfast we know “God does not despise small beginnings”. Our roots are in Calvary Chapels and we are currently underway to affiliate with them in the near future, with a name change and retaining our SBTC affiliation we hope to draw from all the new neighborhoods springing up in our area. Texas is growing like wildfire and our area is bursting with growth, The horizon looks most favorable from here!!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
How much time do you have? lol
Has it been a smooth road? in short, no! Life isn’t smooth for anyone. There is far too much “news” to not see even those with abundant wealth have trouble just as Jesus promised us as He said, “In this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world”. That is huge. Now to apply that is a whole great big process that each of His gets to experience along the way in this thing called life. Sure, there is some calm but life is filled with many challenges along the way and all of that is for the greater purpose our Creator has in shaping those that love Him for the Kingdom of God. So we remain steadfast no matter the challenges for it is in these times we learn to rely upon His leading, trust grows in the storms so looking back it is easy to see His hand of protection, blessing and faithfulness in every obstacle and challenge along the way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a husband and father, past foster parent, a Pastor, the President of a para-church, a Marine Corp Vet,, trucking company owner I can say my life is very full of life experiences. None greater than finding my life in Christ 35 years ago, and I find it a privilege to carry the truth of Gods word through my days and offer in any case the change it has made from those first exciting days to the longevity of applying it in my life. Nothing has made more of an impact for me than this. I am blessed to have raised two great kids that now serve Him, a son in law and five grandkids that my wife and I pour into as we see them grow up in a world so volatile yet amazing at the same time. I found my Jesus roots of understanding in Calvary Chapels and note that this foundation has impacted every part of my life, from home to work habits He changes everything. Married for 34 years now, Linda and I take very seriously what our days look like and how we can make a difference. I cant say that we are “set apart” from others but rather we are like-minded with any that are sold out to living this life in Christ to its fullest extent, not perfectly mind you, but most definitely committed to the work here.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
The saying “imitate those that do well in what it is you want to do” comes to mind when considering the need to find a mentor. This works in the world and certainly pertains to the life of a Christian as well. My life in the ministry has been from nearly the start, 35 years ago, of much involvement in the technical things such as the sound ministry since it is one of my passions. Starting a Karaoke business back in 1991 I dove in deep, watching others do what they did, getting opportunities to work with professional band members and their sound techs gave me an education in sound engineering for the stage that took me right to the ability to minister through the sound ministry from the start of my involvement with many churches from that point. I still use the skill as today we have been involved in the revitalization of a small community church over the past year plus, here in Conroe, Texas, putting my skills to the test once again. However, that said, what brought me here to this little church was my passion to teach the Word of God. Ordained in 2012 I have senior pastored now here and back in Washington State with that same passion. Getting my skill to teach came via dedication to the hearing the word through mostly Calvary Chapel pastors as a truck driver for many years to then owning a trucking company. My start as an Elder at Calvary Chapel of Port Orchard, Washington to now pastoring at a Baptist church here. I maintain a need to lean in and upon the preaching and teaching of many other pastors that I admire and emulate the style of through the Bible teaching that has been the catalyst for my understanding Gods Word and the ability He gives me through the Holy Spirit to do so.
Pricing:
- All should count the cost of salvation in Christ Jesus, for while it is a free gift, it will cost you everything.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://firetowerbaptistchurch.org
