Looking around, it seems like everyone else has more serious problems than I, but... well, it sure means alot to us.
My church is in a bit of a crisis. Two years ago, Emanuel Lutheran decided to exand our outreach. We built two new buildings, began a daycare and afterschool literacy program, and hired an assistant pastor. And the church has grown, and still is growing.
But not enough to save us fiscally. We are deeply in the red, and wondering how we're going to pay the bill on the building loan. We've doubled offerings and cut everything that can be cut, but are still losing money. Last week, the pastors came to an unpleasant decision- We could no longer afford to pay two pastors, one of them would have to leave. Pastor Paul and Pastor Barbara have both sent out letters of availability. The first to receive a call will leave.
You can imagine how distressed this has made the congregation. It feels like we decided to climb Mt. Everest without checking to see if we had enough rope, and now we are groping in the dark. To lose one of our pastors is like losing a limb, and Barbara (who I'm almost certain will receive the call) is already facing a family crisis.
Please extend your prayers, for us and especially for our pastors in this difficult time. For the one who must leave and face a new situation, and the one who remains here with this mess all to themselves.
My church is in a bit of a crisis. Two years ago, Emanuel Lutheran decided to exand our outreach. We built two new buildings, began a daycare and afterschool literacy program, and hired an assistant pastor. And the church has grown, and still is growing.
But not enough to save us fiscally. We are deeply in the red, and wondering how we're going to pay the bill on the building loan. We've doubled offerings and cut everything that can be cut, but are still losing money. Last week, the pastors came to an unpleasant decision- We could no longer afford to pay two pastors, one of them would have to leave. Pastor Paul and Pastor Barbara have both sent out letters of availability. The first to receive a call will leave.
You can imagine how distressed this has made the congregation. It feels like we decided to climb Mt. Everest without checking to see if we had enough rope, and now we are groping in the dark. To lose one of our pastors is like losing a limb, and Barbara (who I'm almost certain will receive the call) is already facing a family crisis.
Please extend your prayers, for us and especially for our pastors in this difficult time. For the one who must leave and face a new situation, and the one who remains here with this mess all to themselves.
for you all, the one who must leave and the one who stays, that the Lord will fill them with His strength to face the problems that may arise
