Acts20.com

Try to be as brief as I can, I don't have the fortitude to go into too much detail.I've heard the comments in church for years & read the verses in scripture about (what summarizes to be) the lack of love & may I even say, 'a falling away', but the times, these current days, are crazy at best.Sunday morning attendance has become a mere option to way too many of our regulars.We can't get enough people to even show up to have a Sunday night service ...so thats a bygone era.Wednesday nights are not too bad, in fact we maintain close to 60% of the attendance of a strong Sunday morning.But I'm concerned on a whole new level. Young to middle age people who have gone into CoG ministry & that I've helped, sponsored & even financially provided for have no problem launching personal attacks against me & my family.Over the last 10-12 years I've helped several of these individuals & families & I can't believe the viscous attitude & attacks toward the church & myself.In some ways they're actually perched & waiting like a vulture to scarf up a single morsel of bad news or to help spread a lie.Two this past week alone.

Thanks Dave,This is how good the Lord is, it has taken a little over 18 mo to make it all add up to this pattern.If it was all at once I might start to feel like Job lol Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!

I think this is the way it is in many places. It is usually a sign that you are doing the right thing and God has something great in store for your church. It seems sometimes like the people who try the hardest are attacked the worst. And the people you try to help the most are the ones who turn on you.Rodney Mullins (who has posted here) posted in a FB group that he & his church have been openly attacked on social media by someone he doesn't even know, and it's been horrendous. (He is in OH.) The pastors who responded advised him not to respond to it and just let the Lord take care of it.A pastor that I worked closely with (work & church) was so viciously attacked, you just wouldn't believe it. Attack after attack after attack. Very devastating on a church and personal level.Keep your eyes on Jesus. Don't let the lies of the enemy destroy your faith in God and in continuing to doing the right thing. I imagine you have them already, but work on developing an intercessory prayer team if you don't. Some of this stuff can only be fought in the Spirit realm.The enemy is trying to stop you. Keep fighting, my brother. Will be praying for you.. More of Him...less of me.twitter.com/camiracle77www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=691241499&ref=name

I am not sure about across the nation, but our church pastor is a great guy and having his own problems. He was brought in as an assistant by our former pastor. I and several others 'assumed' the former pastor had brought him in to groom him as his relief at retirement. Every indication was exactly that. But at retirement the pastor seemed to keep 'Danny' at arms length. It was a tight vote but Danny did win and I was very happy. But when the overseer announced that several people broke out into loud sobs. Some left the church immediately. I was shocked.The church is doing well, but we are struggling with the loss of many members.I haven't talked to the pastor about it, but I know there is stress. Sorry to hear the down side out there, but I am praying that you see an up turn.BUT on the down side, YES there is a falling away. Yes Sunday night is closing in many churches. Personally I would like to see ours dropped or changed to the fellowship hall for coffee and cookies for a round table discussion OR teaching by the pastor for the 10-20 that show up.Hang in there my brother. God is Good and things within the religious world are a changing, that is for sure.Love form the 'First Coast' Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

Praying for you Dean! I have had my share of stuff but it looks like you are getting yours and someone else's share as well. The biggest problem I had during these kind of times was my own attitude. Looking back I can see where I magnified the negatives and minimized the positives. Trust me good things are happening...sometimes they are happening to us and we can't even see it.Wish I was close by, I would buy your lunch🙂

Ministry is transforming and I'm in (perhaps we are) the process of aging out. Yes, I try to keep my eyes and ears open to new trends and methods, but my ability to incorporate them are hindered by the years of experience. We in the ministry need an exit plan, after all, God's Church is not on our shoulders. I believe He will raise up a generation that will learn the hard way (the right way) what it takes to keep a ministry/church operating with a consistent witness.When I have my perspective right, there is a certain peace in my soul. If God is not done with me, He will anoint me in the moment, but the future of the church is in His hands. This thought process has led me to realize we don't need to leave large trust funds for the operation of the ministry in the future and we don't need to provide a paid-off state-of-the-art church campus for the next generation. They need their own challenges.

Make your connections with your folks in new ways. Attendance at services is optional to young folks - but they still connect online - and like to connect online to services. Make sure they have the option to give online.Offer electives on parenting or money - everyone won't come- but you will be helping those that do.As for those that leave and/or attack you - as much as it is up to you - live at peace with all of them. Perhaps you can check how you respond to issues online - what seems normal responses to our age - may inflame the younger folks - who knows. But we can all do better there.Praying that God will reveal himself anew to you during this time

Dean, fortunately we have not had people come against us like you described. However, I believe we are in a great falling away time in the American church. I will share more in a later post when time permits.

Thanks for all of the responses.I'm not the type that complains & makes my business everybody's biz ...at times we just have to air out those aggravations with like minded folks; hence why I'm here.The idea of re-instating the intercessory prayer group is high on the list as of right now & so deeply needed. We've used it many times but I feel like it needs to be a permanent ministry rather than something we use occasionally for important needs. I agree with the notion of it's not my duty or responsibility to leave the church flushed with cash & no need looking for bills cause they're all paid up 6 months in advance lol. This place is fully paid for but it needs a few things to be better equipped for current technology.We just began making a way for people to give online. We've been doing live ministry via social media & that segment has grown quite well.In relation to how I respond, the temptation is there to open up that can & let them have it lol, but I'm way better off just letting them have their say & let them make fools out of themselves. Wiser folks have taught me to let people call me a fool than for me to open my mouth & remove all doubt hahaOnce again thanks for the encouraging words of wisdom.Dea Empty nest syndrome is for the birds!Email me at: [email protected] planters are focused on just one thing ...introducing people to Jesus!