Why would God need me in Denver?

Church planting can be a mystery. I have seen church plants come into this area only to disappear in a short time and some that have taken root and seem to be fruitful. There are other churches in Cherokee County that started about the same time or shortly after we started Axios in 2002. Several of these churches have pastors that are not from around here. They moved from Iowa, Arizona, Ohio, or from other parts of GA just to plant churches in this area. During the year or so that we struggled at Axios, I would often wonder why God had to bring these guys in from other places when I was right here, ready, willing and able to be God's man in this area. Now that I tell people that I am moving to Denver to start a church, I often get the this reaction, "Why would God need to send you to Denver to plant a church? Doesn't he have someone in Denver that He can use in Denver?" I have some thoughts about this:

1. I am not a Georgia native. Most of my life has been outside the state of Georgia. I was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, went to college and seminary in Chattanooga, TN, worked in Geigertown, Pennsylvania and Chicago, Illinois and then moved to GA in 1986. I may have moved here before these other church planters but I still had to move here to get here. The point is that I don't necessarily belong here. I do believe that God divinely led me here and that He has used me here in ways I never could have imagined but He is now divinely moving me again and as His follower, I must simply go. The only difference in this move is that I am not alone. I am moving with my wife and daughter and the ones that I am leaving behind (especially my 2 daughters, 2 sons, 2 sons-in-law, 4 grand kids) are more dear to me than any I have ever bid farewell to. It makes it harder yet I feel more excitement than sadness and more love and encouragement from those closest to me than ever before.
   
2. Just because I have lived in Cherokee County for 22 years doesn't necessarily mean I am the best man to reach Cherokee County. If being a native of an area makes you the best candidate to reach that area, then no one should ever venture out and missionaries should all stay home. Jesus seems to teach the opposite. He said in Matt 13:57, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor." Longevity and familiarity do not always translate into converts and disciples.
3. "Going" and "sending" have been a part of the Christian mandate since Jesus' ascension. How else could the Gospel be spread around the world? Why wouldn't God send me? Why isn't He sending you?
4. In Acts 21, the Apostle Paul was staying with Philip who had 4 daughters that prophesied. But it was a prophet from Judea that God used to bring His message to Paul. 4 prophets right in the house where he was staying but God brought the message from somewhere else. Sometimes the outside voice is more readily received than the insider's voice that has been there all the time.
5. Isaiah 28:11 says "Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people." This may be a loose translation of Isa. 28 but it seems that God is saying that the people of Ephraim were not listening to local voices so He was bringing in outsiders as a last resort to bring repentance. Sometimes the foreign voice brings about the results God is looking for better than the local voice that has become common and drowned out. Maybe this is why there is a church planting movement going on right now. Maybe God is doing everything He can to get the attention of people. And if that means moving a guy from NC to Woodstock or a guy in Holly Springs to Denver then so be it. And praise God that He is active and moving and expanding His Kingdom.