Five years ago, Seth and Tara Waters moved to the small town of Winston, Texas, where Seth began his stint as pastor of First Baptist Church. Now that it was time to move on it seemed like yesterday in so many ways but the friendships, they had built seemed so many. They weren’t looking to move but an old friend of Seth’s threw his name into the mix at a large church in the Dallas area and after meeting with the personnel...

Deke Johnson was standing by his Land Rover when Seth and Tara came out of the baggage claim door. Tara had only met Deke and Sydney once at her wedding. They were childhood friends of Seth’s. Seth saw his old friend and called, “Deke, you old dog, how have you been? Where’s Sydney?” Deke replied, “Sydney was busy with her practice and couldn’t be here, but she’s meeting us for dinner. I am doing well. Business is booming...

Becky arrived at the church at 9:45 Monday morning, as usual. That allowed her time to start the coffee before everyone else came in. She especially wanted to make a good impression on the new preacher, Seth Waters. She had met him when he came to preach as part of the interview process, after which the church voted to hire him. Seth timed his arrival at 10:00 so as not to be early but not late. He felt the first day he s...