Brandon Fountain

It is amazing how much life you can experience in a few short years.Ten years ago, I started out on a career in student ministry that I thought would span my lifetime. At the same time, I left South Carolina, thinking I'd never return - aside from brief visits. I was newly married, and it was just the two of us, off to change the world...one student at a time.

Three short years later, I'd learned something very important about myself...I hated working for churches, in fact, I wasn't sure I ever wanted to attend a church, ever again.

We moved to Birmingham, AL with no concept of how much our lives would soon change.My career in nonprofits starts here - first as a street outreach worker with homeless & runaway youth, then as a communications and development volunteer with a death penalty abolition group.

I also became a father during this time. I thought I knew what that would be like...I was wrong.Much to our surprise, we did venture back through the doors of a church, but to be a part of a community so unique, the church that gave it the space to grow, did everything it could to destroy it at the roots.

More changes...and a new community, Micah's House, was born.

Intentionally doing life together with a diverse group of individuals will teach you things about yourself that you never knew, you never knew.Father, round two.

Job transitions. Hospitality guests. Four houses. President, Board of Directors. It all sounds so simple, but feels less so when it's the day-to-day.Now it's time for more change - another job, another move - oh, and so much for never returning to South Carolina.

Not sure if this is full-circle or fresh-start, but I do know one thing...I've given up on forecasting the future. It's less stressful to roll with it, 'cause face it, if the next ten years are anything like the last...there's no telling where I'll end up...and I'm ok with that.