drovethenail
12th January 2007, 05:25 PM
Okay...short version.
We had an older building and decided to build a Family Life Center a few years ago. Well, last January the older part of the building caught fire and burned down. The FLC was standing still but it had fire and smoke damage. By this time our finances were going down. As a church we decided (or rather the church board did) to build a new sanctuary. The building process started and our finances continued to decline gradually but then they started to level out. Well, meetings were held in February and March (of '06) about finances and to try to cut back in areas. The Senior Pastor (as suggested by the Bishop) suggested that we let the Associate Pastor go because he had been there for 5 or so years and he seems ready to find his own church. Pastor Wes (the Senior Pastor) gave his sermon on Easter morning just like any other morning.
Then a couple of days later my mom told me the news. The board had the Bishop come and they got Pastor Wes fired! I cried...he had been there for 14 years...and so had I. I couldn't remember having a different Pastor. The Bishop said that it was 5-7 people. He also said that it only takes 7 people to get a Pastor fired...my thought was that it only takes one to keep him. Then what had been happening in secret started being shown to my eyes. Once I was at a regular even when I saw three of the board members (that I knew had been one of the few to get him fired) talking about 10-15 feet away from everyone else. They were having secret meetings (I know this because a close family friend was on the board). After Pastor Wes was fired about half of the church attendees left...or at least almost half.
Most scattered but some started a new church...Freedom Community Church. Finances dropped even further. Just before I left for TX and NYC (missions trip) we were told that finances were getting worse and worse. Most peoples pay was cut by half...including the Associate Pastor and the Youth Pastors pay. We were also told that if finances didn't improve that money would run out mid-August. One more thing. They have holded off on paying a Construction Company...well, my dads Excavating Inc. was hired by the as part of that job so they haven't paid the business and they don't really plan to pay.
After I got back from the missions trip I spoke at that church...along with a couple of others. I got back July 15th...and since then I spoke at 2 other churches and have visited a couple more. But I did end up going back partly because I still have so many ties there and my parents went there. Well, a couple of weeks ago my parents decided they aren't going back there again. I know that more people will leave now because my parents left.
I'm quite shy and don't really like going to places by myself...although I don't have anyone that will go with me pretty much. Don't know if any of you actually read all of that...but it's nice to get it out...because I just don't know where to go. I live close to Jackson, MI and not far from Lansing...if anyone knows of a good church that's in the area...or maybe even a little ways away let me know please.
We had an older building and decided to build a Family Life Center a few years ago. Well, last January the older part of the building caught fire and burned down. The FLC was standing still but it had fire and smoke damage. By this time our finances were going down. As a church we decided (or rather the church board did) to build a new sanctuary. The building process started and our finances continued to decline gradually but then they started to level out. Well, meetings were held in February and March (of '06) about finances and to try to cut back in areas. The Senior Pastor (as suggested by the Bishop) suggested that we let the Associate Pastor go because he had been there for 5 or so years and he seems ready to find his own church. Pastor Wes (the Senior Pastor) gave his sermon on Easter morning just like any other morning.
Then a couple of days later my mom told me the news. The board had the Bishop come and they got Pastor Wes fired! I cried...he had been there for 14 years...and so had I. I couldn't remember having a different Pastor. The Bishop said that it was 5-7 people. He also said that it only takes 7 people to get a Pastor fired...my thought was that it only takes one to keep him. Then what had been happening in secret started being shown to my eyes. Once I was at a regular even when I saw three of the board members (that I knew had been one of the few to get him fired) talking about 10-15 feet away from everyone else. They were having secret meetings (I know this because a close family friend was on the board). After Pastor Wes was fired about half of the church attendees left...or at least almost half.
Most scattered but some started a new church...Freedom Community Church. Finances dropped even further. Just before I left for TX and NYC (missions trip) we were told that finances were getting worse and worse. Most peoples pay was cut by half...including the Associate Pastor and the Youth Pastors pay. We were also told that if finances didn't improve that money would run out mid-August. One more thing. They have holded off on paying a Construction Company...well, my dads Excavating Inc. was hired by the as part of that job so they haven't paid the business and they don't really plan to pay.
After I got back from the missions trip I spoke at that church...along with a couple of others. I got back July 15th...and since then I spoke at 2 other churches and have visited a couple more. But I did end up going back partly because I still have so many ties there and my parents went there. Well, a couple of weeks ago my parents decided they aren't going back there again. I know that more people will leave now because my parents left.
I'm quite shy and don't really like going to places by myself...although I don't have anyone that will go with me pretty much. Don't know if any of you actually read all of that...but it's nice to get it out...because I just don't know where to go. I live close to Jackson, MI and not far from Lansing...if anyone knows of a good church that's in the area...or maybe even a little ways away let me know please.