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When God Plants a Seed: The Journey of Andrew and Claire
This is a story about someone we love—our son, Andrew—and about something else we love deeply, Williamsburg Presbyterian Church. More than that, it is a story about the beautiful way God can use a church family to plant, nurture, and grow a calling.
When we moved to Kingstree in August 2005, Andrew was a junior at Davidson College, majoring in mathematics. At that point, becoming a pastor was certainly not part of his plan. In fact, we weren’t even sure how he was going to make a living selling math! Whatever his future held, we were pretty sure it would be easier—and perhaps more lucrative—than being a pastor.
But somewhere along the way, God planted a seed.
During college, Andrew volunteered with Young Life, where he had the opportunity to mentor high school students and help them develop a relationship with Christ. After graduation, he worked for them for a time. Then, in what may have been one last attempt to avoid the pastoral path, he sold cars at a Hyundai dealership in Atlanta.
Still, the idea of becoming a pastor would not leave him.
Through the prayers and encouragement of family, friends, and this church, Andrew and his wife, Claire, eventually took a step of faith and began their journey at Duke Divinity School. Andrew loved Duke—and especially being part of the Cameron Crazies—but he also loved knowing that his church family in Kingstree was behind him.
WPC surrounded them with encouragement. We wrote notes, sent food, prayed them through the process with the Presbytery, helped them financially, and welcomed them home like rock stars whenever they returned to Kingstree.
After graduating from Duke, Andrew and Claire were awarded a fellowship through Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. Part of that fellowship took them to Zambia, a poverty-stricken country in southern Africa, where they worked alongside the church. It was a life-changing experience. They often say they went to Zambia thinking they would teach others about being the church of Jesus Christ, only to discover that the Zambians taught them far more.
When they returned to the United States, Andrew accepted a call to a church in Clayton, North Carolina, where he served for eight years. From there, God called Andrew and Claire to a larger church in Huntersville, North Carolina. Today, Andrew serves as the pastor in charge of missions, along with many other responsibilities, while Claire uses her Christian Counseling degree to serve God and others.
And then there are Jack, age 10, and Rain, age 6, who make sure there is never a dull moment!
As parents and followers of Christ, we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have Andrew preach at WPC this Sunday and to worship alongside him, Claire, Jack, and Rain.
When we look back, we can see that God was working long before any of us understood exactly what He was doing. A young college student studying mathematics, a volunteer with Young Life, a car salesman in Atlanta, a student at Duke Divinity School, a missionary in Zambia, and now a pastor serving the church—each step was part of a journey God was faithfully shaping.
And WPC was part of that story.This is just one of the thousands of ways Williamsburg Presbyterian Church has served God and His people throughout its long and faithful history.
Have fun, David
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