What Would You Do if This Was You?

[Stephanas]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

Until he returns.

I'm sure the lobbing is real helpful to this minister....lol!

Originally Posted by rgcraig

How long should a pastor stay at a church under these circumstances?

He's been pastor for almost a decade.

- Membership is 30.

- There is minimal compensation and he works a secular job fifty hours a week.

- The church building is an embarrassment, but paid for.

- Started the church from nothing.

- He pays some of the church bills out of his own pocket.

- The church members are apathetic.

Sorry.

Here's my answer.

I hope it doesn't sound harsh, but here it is.

If it's the will of God to stay, stay.

If it's the will of God to go, go.

Nothing else matters, not apathetic people, not grimy buildings, not numbers or dollars, not good days or bad days, nothing else matters.

[Stephanas]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Last word...

Are you sure?

I sense that there is something else that you would like to share.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by Sherri

I believe that if God is in it, the church will grow. I just believe that He intends to add to the church. JMHO.

By the way, this example (and I don't know if it's real or imaginary) sounds just like the church I grew up in all my life. It was the same size when I left at 17 than it was when I was born. Maybe less. I think this is a very sad statement and a poor witness to the community.

This is a statement that can sting like the dickens to a home missions pastor. Wasn't it Jeremiah who had no converts?

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by ILG

This is a statement that can sting like the dickens to a home missions pastor. Wasn't it Jeremiah who had no converts?

Sis. ILG,

Dad started the home missions work he and Mom founded in
1958, beginning with his own large famly. A few others joined
us, but I know what you are saying. People would make remarks
like, "It's all family", or "There's only family there", but it wasn't
their family". Thank God for the saving of a man's own house.

I remember thinking back then that I didn't figure Noah had a
problem with his family being saved from the flood. After all, the
Bible said Noah built an ark to the saving of HIS own house. Every
man should build a "spiritual" house for his family. Family alter, living
an example for his children that lived in his house. Just think if every
man would take their rightful place in the home, the preachers could
go home and take care of their own house with Christ as the Head.

Just some thouoghts. Not to offend anyone.

Hugs,

Falla39

[ChTatum]

Originally Posted by Stephanas

Sorry.

Here's my answer.

I hope it doesn't sound harsh, but here it is.

If it's the will of God to stay, stay.

If it's the will of God to go, go.

Nothing else matters, not apathetic people, not grimy buildings, not numbers or dollars, not good days or bad days, nothing else matters.

Good post. It must be correct, as I concur.

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by Stephanas

Sorry.

Here's my answer.

I hope it doesn't sound harsh, but here it is.

If it's the will of God to stay, stay.

If it's the will of God to go, go.

Nothing else matters, not apathetic people, not grimy buildings, not numbers or dollars, not good days or bad days, nothing else matters.

I believe this is the bottom line.

[Stephanas]

Originally Posted by Sherri

I believe that if God is in it, the church will grow. I just believe that He intends to add to the church. JMHO.

By the way, this example (and I don't know if it's real or imaginary) sounds just like the church I grew up in all my life. It was the same size when I left at 17 than it was when I was born. Maybe less. I think this is a very sad statement and a poor witness to the community.

Would this sad little embarassment of a church be the same church that produced one of the UPC's top pastor/preachers? Maybe it had a purpose after all.

[chseeads]

Originally Posted by Stephanas

Would this sad little embarassment of a church be the same church that produced one of the UPC's top pastor/preachers? Maybe it had a purpose after all.

Good point!

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

It would be hard to say one way or the other...some people are happy with small numbers...others hold their own but grow little...
I guess he would have to know in his heart what the Lord wants of him...Noah had 8...however that is used too often by lazy people...
Every soul we win is precious and to that one it makes a difference where they will spend eternity...
Is this real?

I heard a preacher preach one time one of the reasons we should not measure ourselves among ourselves, is because God calls each for a different reason. He equips some to pastor less than a 100, some to pastor 1,000 and etc.

The main thing is to be content where God has placed you. IF God did not place you there you will never be content.

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Stephanas

Would this sad little embarassment of a church be the same church that produced one of the UPC's top pastor/preachers? Maybe it had a purpose after all.

I'm not saying it didn't have a purpose, but all of us could have tried harder to make it grow. We all had the mentality that it would always be small and that really no one else wanted to come. We never heard that it could grow and affect the community. I think that's sad.

The church was in disrepair and really run down all my life. Looking back, I don't understand why. We lived in nice houses, had nice vehicles, but let the church look really bad. We even had an outdoor toilet!

I think we just didn't have any vision that it could be any better. It was just accepted and tolerated. None of us kids/teens invited our peers to come visit because even though we thought we had all truth, we obviously didn't believe it enough to risk inviting others.

Most of us who grew up there continue to live for God to this day. Many are in ministry. But I do wish that I would have had a better image of our church growing up.