Getting to Know Jonathan and Michelle (Part 1)

(Note: This is a series of emails from Jonathan Jones for the members of the Maryville Church of Christ. If you received this email by mistake, or had rather not get it (fine, be that way) just send me a note and I will take you off the mailing list).

Before Michelle and I got married, my good friend and mentor David Shannon did our premarital counseling. He gave us a great piece of advice on being married and working with the church, "Don't be the President and first-lady of the congregation." We try to live by that advice. We don't want to be the focal point of the church--we had rather fade into the church family.
Having said that, it is true that people want to feel like they know their preacher and his wife. So in the next few weeks, I hope to write you a few personal notes to help you feel like you know us before we come to Maryville full time.
Michelle and I are about to celebrate our second wedding anniversary next week. Most people assume that we must have met at college--we didn't. In fact, I was just 3 months away from being "the big 3-0" when we were married. Although Christian college is often called "the marriage factory" it did not produce for me. In hindsight, I'm glad.
Michelle grew up in Colorado while I was working on our family's farm in Middle Tennessee. She lived three years in Dallas before moving to Spring Hill, TN to be closer to her parents (who had just recently moved here because of a job transfer). Michelle visited the worship service at Spring Hill one Sunday night. At the back of the auditorium, after most people had already left, I asked her if she would like to go get something to eat with me. She said, "I've already eaten." (Boy, did I think I was shot down!). Then she said, "...but I'll go have coffee with you." It all started with a cup of coffee (which she had, I didn't...I hate coffee). I think I had a glass of sweet tea. Well, it was the best glass of tea I ever had.