Sean Bailey never imagined a connection over lunch would change his life.

Patrick, a friend from the church where Sean worked and ministered, invited him to grab tacos with a guy he’d known for years, but had only recently reconnected with. Never one to turn down Tijuana Flats, Sean came along. Patrick introduced Sean to his friend, Rick, and over the next few hours heard about the vision God had given him for church planting in Orlando. That would not be their last encounter. Over the next few weeks, Sean and Rick would exchange more meals and many more stories. “As I got to know Rick I felt that his heart for building a community of believers was exactly what my wife and I had been praying for. I knew this was something we needed to be involved in.”

But choosing to be a part of Grace was not an easy step. “I was on staff at another church and at the time had no way of knowing how much of a struggle it would be to sever the ties from not only our church, but my job as well. But I knew God was calling me to do it. Once we made this decision we had so many encourage and pray for us along the way, but we never knew how hard it was going to be. Pastor Rick regularly reminds us about the gospel identity we have in Jesus and that is exactly what I needed to hear during this transition in life. When everything is upside down and you can no longer place your identity in your life, your job, or your relationships you have to put your identity in Christ. God has transformed me through those truths and has helped me take my next step toward Him.”

Sean immediately began working to network and reach people in the new community where he would be serving. “Working in the Conway area has been especially encouraging. It has this neighborly sense of community that is hard to find these days. It seems when someone finds a church like Grace, it’s contagious and others want to follow. I am looking forward to watching more people meet Jesus, grow, become involved in Grace Communities and through that see entire neighborhoods impacted by the gospel.”

As Director of Connections, Sean has come to realize that no encounter, no matter how random, is an accident. “From that first meeting with Rick, to the new faces I see every week at Grace, I am reminded that God has a plan. I am thankful He has called me and that He is calling others to be a part of His story.”

Sean walked away from everything familiar and in faith attached his life, ministry and family to Grace Conway. A connection he doesn’t regret.