Having conflicts at church

[Jmacaroon]

I am having trouble at church, it seems the Pastor is wanting to always "pick" on me. I bring a good number of underpriveledged children to church and I wonder if he is trying to discourage me because perhaps he thinks the children we bring are keeping new, more financially "blessed" people from joining?? I always try to be of service to everyone at church. I am constantly being told "NO" by him, anytime I have a new idea or want to sponsor an activity. It seems he goes out of his way to tell me no. Tonight there is a new guy starting to help with the youth group, it is mostly youth that we bring that are a different race from us all. He asked us not to bring a certain couple of boys tonight just because they were a little reluctant to heed to his authority on a canoing trip. I think these are the children who need the Lord and His Love the most. I am hurt that we are asked to leave these boys out. He never asks people not to bring children of our own race, and there are some really "rambunctious" children of church members who are not perfect little angels, I feel like "our" kids are looked at under a microscope. Now he has the Childrens Church director he just apppointed who is being "mini-me" for him. They wouldn't let me bring some children at Christmas whose Mother is in jail, just because they had moved and we couldn't pick them up every Sunday, but, they still consider us their church home. It isn't fair that my kids are the only ones left out of stuff. I don't know what to do, if I leave, it will be the 3rd church who didn't want "those types of children" , we even tried bringing them to a church the same race as them, they didn't want them either because they didn't have fancy clothes. I think it is all about money, their parents hardly come and they don't bring much offering money. My husband and I aren't very financially able to tithe big, we give our proper tithe, but, I am disabled and my husband doesn't make a very big salary. It feels like we are "dispensable". Our pastor is young,31, this is his first job as full time pastor, I understand he may have felt he needed to excersize his authority to "prove himself" or something. I am not rude or anything to him, I realize I am to be under his authority. There are many of the congregants who truly love these children, I want the children to continue to have relations with these special people. I am at a loss as to what to do, I don't feel talking openly with the Pastor is an option, he will just shut me down. I don't care how he treats me, I just don't want the children to feel unloved or hurt .All I know is "Suffer the little children to come unto Me and forbid them not" rings in my ears and I don't understand any church not loving these children. They cannot help their circumstances.

 

[CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR]

Everything you say makes a whole lot of sense except one statement.Who told you that you are to be under the authority of a racist minister?God,Jesus,the Holy Spirit,that's who you need to be under the authority of.I don't want to be there when He judges your minister.It's not going to be pretty.
Your desire to act as a spiritual mother for these children is an incredible act of Christian love.Now if you can only find a church that's filled with love.Your story is similar to what happened to William Booth in London when he tried to bring street people into a Methodist church.He was so discouraged by the ministers that in disgust he started his own denomination - the Salvation Army.Yes it is a church.That's where I'd take your kids.The salvationists have bible believing churches but most importantly,the Holy Spirit just gave me this referral to give you.Problem solved!Thank you for showing your love for these children God.You are truly awesome!

 

[cherokeehippie]

Abba! I ask that you bless my sister and brother in Jesus big time!!! I ask that you will make a way for the Little children to come to You thru them with no hinderances from the enemy and religious spirits. I ask for those spirits to be binded in JESUS name! I plead the blood of the Lamb over my sister, brother and the kids they are ministering to. BLESS THEM, ABBA!!, in Yeshua, Lara

 

[desi]

It sounds like you may want to find another church. While these children need God, bringing them to a church where they are in the minority when there are other churches they would be more readily accepted at seems odd. Its like you are setting them up for rejection because you know they both look different and are from different backgrounds than the majority of the church you are taking them to. The minister may be acting different towards them but do you think he is acting against the will of the majority of his congregation? I don't think you can change how these children are received at the church you are taking them to.

 

[sawdust]

I've been a part of 7 or 8 Churches in my 15 years as a Christian and indirectly involved with heaps of others either through having friends there or combined ministries. Yet not one of them was without sinners! LOL
Yes I'm being very cheeky but not to offend you but hopefully to add a little humour and lighten the situation for you. I can empathise with your position. I was always in trouble with one Church I attended (or so it seemed) although my problem wasn't the pastor but some of the members. I tend to bring the alchoholics and schizophrenics that nobody wants. Or I'd be "crazy" enough to do something new when I led worship, like actually involve the congregation! (It was a fairly conservative Church) LOL
Sometimes the things people said hurt very deeply and they were rarely said to my face. I would usually find out by accident. However I found, in spite of others and the stumbling blocks they would try to impose upon me, God was always faithful. I learnt two basic things:
1. The stumbling blocks helped me grow in faith and love.
2. Whenever I was most discouraged, someone would come along and say or do just the thing I needed.
I can't offer any quick fixes for your situation except to say pray, trust and believe that God knows what you and the children need and will act upon His own determination accordingly. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall fulfill the desires of your heart." Ultimately we must follow the way of Christ, not man. Hang in there, don't lose heart. My prayers are with you.
take care

 

[LOVELYST]

hello sister in Christ, first of all you need to get out of that church. Any church that is not doing God's will, is not good for our spiritual growth in Christ. You have the desires to do God will with these children, and don't give up, as my fellow brother said, pray to God he will open a way for you, he knows the desires of your heart and he will open a way for you, everyone one day have to stand before the creator and give an account, so don't give up run the good race, run the race for Jesus, you will be greatly rewarded. God bless you