Just a couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to share some insights about church-planting with a classroom of students who are studying the book of Acts. I opened my discussion by detailing some of the hardships that my family and I encountered over the years with planting a church. We've seen quick numerical growth and just as quickly...decline. We've reached the hurting and been hurt by them along the way. We've been pressured to waver on the truth, been seen as "competition" by other churches, and lost people, money, and had the building where we met flooded and "destroyed." We've built into leaders and watched them struggle with sin, then walk away from leadership, the church, and God. I end up wondering if I'm actually making a worthwhile difference in the lives of the people I serve. It's enough to make me ask the question, "Should I quit?"
I've thought about this question many times over the years, usually when things take yet another turn for the worse. I could certainly relate to the apostle, Paul, when he talked about the struggles he faced in his ministry as well.
Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? (2 Corinthians 11:24-29 NIV)
What do you think? Should I quit?
Tell me your thoughts at http://mygardenwalk.blogspot.com.
You can vote on this question on the right-hand side and comment at the bottom of each post.
Let me know what you think!
I sincerely hope you don't quit. I know my opinion doesn't hold much value since I haven't attended a service in over a year, but Lifebridge wouldn't be the same without you and your family. What I'm trying to say is, if you quit, it would be a detriment to everyone. It's not your fault if people leave or find a better fit for them at another church. God brings people in and out of our lives for a reason. We don't always have them as long as we'd like, but it's his plan, and his timing. You and your family have touched so many lives!! Remember our first year at the fair and that couple from Chicago was so impressed with the church they bought Third day tickets and gave them to us? Or the farmer who found the lifebridge balloon in his field and looked you up on the internet? (can't remember what state he was from but it was our first year i think). Look how many people have been baptized. Look how many have a relationship with God now, but never did before. The vision behind Lifebridge was unique, original, and reached a certain jonera of people. Keep that original vision, unless God advises otherwise, and things will only improve. You can't please everyone. God selected you and your family for a reason, and it wasn't to be puppets for people to control by guilting you into running the church the way they think it should be ran. It hurts to even see you mention the word quit. We love ya brother and really hope you never quit or even think of it ever again ;)
ReplyDeleteKim, thank you for your kind thoughts. It's good to read about your memories of the "early years" up here. Perhaps it's time to start letting God create "new memories" for you as well?
DeleteHope to see you soon,
Pete
We are working on that, I promise. :)
DeleteI'm not good at blogging, so I have to say "ditto" to Kimberly's response because she said it real well. I also have to say that even though we just starting attending LifeBridge it has really changed our life and way of thinking. Not just because of the awesome music, or the goodies our kids love to snack on, but because of the messages that you deliver. You bring the verses and stories to life and really help make sense of them. I can tell you that for the last year we have been church hopping, and we're so glad we made the treck out to Valpo to see what Lifebridge had to offer. We used to be fine skipping out a week here and a week there...now we look forward to church and I hope we have many, many more years ahead of us attending Lifebridge.
ReplyDeleteBecky, I'm glad to hear that God is working through the church body here to make such a difference in your life. I'm asking Him to continue working through the people here to be a blessing and make a difference in your lives for many years to come!
DeletePete
As I read your blog this morning, my heart was heavy for you. As I prayed for some word of encouragement, my feeble mind was at a loss. But, we serve a God who is merciful. He is so good that He even gives words to us so we can praise Him, when our own words would fail. You know I have always seen such a parallel between YFC and LifeBridge. So I share with you from the YFC President, Dan Wolgemuth from last week's email:
ReplyDelete'EVERY - the weekly Enewsletter of Youth for Christ/USA
March 6, 2012
Rain...
Dan Wolgemuth, President and CEO, YFC/USA dwolgemuth@yfc.net
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:43-45 ESV)
"...on the evil and the good... on the just and the unjust."
These are the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. They are hard words. They are deep words. They are compelling words.
These words shine a light on our mission. We live and love and engage in and cry with those who have experienced rain. We come face to face with evil that stands in the daylight.
Each of us, in the calling that God has placed on our lives, rests in His assurance that the earthly ledger on good and evil, on justice and injustice, will remain out of balance. Pain and suffering and injustice and evil are not avoided by those who walk with Jesus - even intimately. So His plan seems to be that we model our hope in God by how we handle these situations, rather than our ability to avoid them.
In every community that is connected with this email there is pain and injustice. I am more convinced than ever that God has placed our mission at the point of the spear in many of these situations. Sometimes as a voice for the voiceless; sometimes as an advocate for the defenseless; sometimes as a salve for the wound; sometimes as an ear for the lonely; sometimes as a father to the fatherless; sometimes as the lighthouse of justice in the fog of cruelty.
We are Youth for Christ (and LifeBridge,added by pdg). We are light in the darkness. We are a port in the storm.
We shine brightest when it is dark.
It is not ours to figure out the mind of God - it is ours to stand with Him in the comfort, the hope, the defense, the embrace of the Good News. This is what we are anointed to be. This is what we are compelled to do.
Through the rain that falls - hope - Jesus.
This is YFC (and LifeBridge, added by pdg).
I have never been more grateful to serve with and for you.'
May you find comfort in the words of Jesus, as He calls us to continue to serve. May you hear His voice only, as YOU answer your own question.
Praying for you,
Tricia
Online Learning Up and Running!
Our new online learning system was rolled out at MidWinter and is ready to be used by you and all your team. Currently we have YFC Orientation, 5 Essentials, 3Story®, and Board Orientation available. We will continue to populate online learning with a variety of classes. Core Specific classes will be ready this spring.
These interactive classes are great to do on your own or in a group setting. They are set up to be short lessons packed with information - and with our new YFC app, you can access them easily from all your mobile devices.
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Hey sis,
DeleteThank you for sharing encouragement and a challenge from His Word. It's always a blessing to see your heart soar in service for Him. I look forward to seeing what He will do through you as the days, months, and years roll on.
Pete
Surely your question pondered above is metaphorical? I myself, in the past two years, have pondered the same thing -quitting. But I still have to believe that somehow (knowing that my days are numbered), I still have service to fulfill for God the Father, and I can only learn from a teacher, such as you...
ReplyDeleteDennis,
DeleteYour thought remind me of the story in Scripture where Philip approached an Ethiopian who was reading from a passage in Isaiah. Philip asked if he knew what he was reading. The Ethiopian replied, "How can I unless someone explains it to me." Philip began with that very passage to begin teaching him about Jesus.
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?" And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. (Acts 8:36-38 NIV)
As long as He has given us today, He has something for us to do.
Pete
I have often wondered how you and Traci have the stamina to do everything you do and I think too much of both of you to give a knee jerk "NO!" reaction to this question. You would not be the first minister to say to God, "It's too hard," and you wouldn't be the last. I can only say that I've learned so much from you and that I am praying that God will give you what you need to nourish your soul and give you guidance to do His will.
ReplyDeleteGayla,
DeleteThank you for your kind thoughts and your prayers. Your words are encouraging and at the same time empowering. I certainly do seek His will.
Your co-worker in Christ,
Pete