We really need prayer....
I will try to make a long story short.
About 3 years ago, our church was doing quite well...attendance was average, the congregation seemed happy and all was well. However, that all changed when our Pastor resigned. There were issues on the consistery with how well he was sheparding, and concerns regarding a questionable ministry he was involved in. He decided to quit instead of work things out...and well - that is when things went sour.
Obviously we then had a church split. But that wasn't the end of it. People who stayed still had issues with what happened, how it happened and such. For about 2 years, although we had new members, we lost a few more.
Our consistery decided we would not hire a Pastor right away (even if we wanted to, we could not afford one), and decided to work on a new church model of an elder led congregation. (All churches are anyway as a Pastor is simply a teaching elder). That was okay, however, some people are SOO dependant on a Pastor, that they then left.
Now here we sit today. We are dong ok. We have had a few more members join...and some of them new believers praise God. We have also had some of our long time members move far away, and sadly could not attend anymore.
I know numbers are not important in a church family. We used to be at 200+ (small church) , but are now at approx. 80. The elders and deacons have prayed and prayed and have done wonderful things in our community. However, on Sundays - it is so empty in there...and I can tell many (me included) are getting frustrated. To top things off...our old Pastor (not the one who resigned, but one from way back) has started a new church and within 1 year, his attendance is double ours. He doesn't do much different from us either. So it is frutrating.
We really want to reach the community and win people for Christ...but it just is not happening and I am getting frustrated. I love this church, but I am tired of seeing numbers decrease instead of increase.
Can you please pray for God to reveal what next steps are to be taken by the elders and deacons - I am sure they are discouraged (my hubby is a deacon). Pray for outreach in our community to be successful and for salvation to come to our neughbors. For an increase in numbers. For Worship to come alive again. For bitter and unhealed hearts to heal. For peace and wholeness within our congregation.
Thank you.
While your at it, please pray for a new drummer....ours moved away
The band just isn't the same.
Victroria
I will try to make a long story short.
About 3 years ago, our church was doing quite well...attendance was average, the congregation seemed happy and all was well. However, that all changed when our Pastor resigned. There were issues on the consistery with how well he was sheparding, and concerns regarding a questionable ministry he was involved in. He decided to quit instead of work things out...and well - that is when things went sour.
Obviously we then had a church split. But that wasn't the end of it. People who stayed still had issues with what happened, how it happened and such. For about 2 years, although we had new members, we lost a few more.
Our consistery decided we would not hire a Pastor right away (even if we wanted to, we could not afford one), and decided to work on a new church model of an elder led congregation. (All churches are anyway as a Pastor is simply a teaching elder). That was okay, however, some people are SOO dependant on a Pastor, that they then left.
Now here we sit today. We are dong ok. We have had a few more members join...and some of them new believers praise God. We have also had some of our long time members move far away, and sadly could not attend anymore.
I know numbers are not important in a church family. We used to be at 200+ (small church) , but are now at approx. 80. The elders and deacons have prayed and prayed and have done wonderful things in our community. However, on Sundays - it is so empty in there...and I can tell many (me included) are getting frustrated. To top things off...our old Pastor (not the one who resigned, but one from way back) has started a new church and within 1 year, his attendance is double ours. He doesn't do much different from us either. So it is frutrating.
We really want to reach the community and win people for Christ...but it just is not happening and I am getting frustrated. I love this church, but I am tired of seeing numbers decrease instead of increase.
Can you please pray for God to reveal what next steps are to be taken by the elders and deacons - I am sure they are discouraged (my hubby is a deacon). Pray for outreach in our community to be successful and for salvation to come to our neughbors. For an increase in numbers. For Worship to come alive again. For bitter and unhealed hearts to heal. For peace and wholeness within our congregation.
Thank you.
While your at it, please pray for a new drummer....ours moved away
The band just isn't the same.Victroria
