So our church did not split, but it did close up shop and our pastor asked us to join him in attending another church with him that he is now on staff of. This situation we all knew well in advance and all of the congergation now attend our new church. God is moving and we are very excited about the new things He has for us. However, there is a former prayer leader who heard about how the church is no more and has a big heart for the area we were in. She e-mailed me and asked me if my husband and I would consider pastoring a church plant. She also asked that we bring people with us from the new church (who were part of our old one) to help us.
She feels like we abandoned the area (but we have not, we actually still continue our children's church and bus ministry on Wednesday nights and are going to start with plans for an outreach center to OKC), and wants us to plant a church with her. She wants to be the prayer leader and have control over teaching classes and such. She is an ordained minister with a non-denominational denominaiton (go figure with that huh? I am sure that is a whole other topic!).
In a way she is asking us to do a church split, she has already said she was going to start calling people who are not "grounded" in the new church yet. How crazy is this! My hubby and I are not on staff at this new church, but we are talking with the pastors about what areas we can become involved in. My husband and I have pastored 2 churches and been on staff at a couple, and we have never had to deal with this issue personally. We have dealt with people who were hurt over a split or had a church that was recently split, but now we have this personal friend wanting us to do it! Her heart for this area is real, but the idea of taking people away from a congergation to start a new church makes me sick to my stomech. It would be one thing for her to be under some leadership, trained in church planting and have a team to go with her that is supported by her denomination, but she does not.
I spoke with my husband and he said what I thought, "The lady is crazy!". Needless to say, this lady has called my parents and convinced my mom of this idea. Now I have my mom asking us to join in her plan. My poor mom is very..uh shall we say, "innocent" on such matters. So here are my questions ladies...
One: What would you do in this situation?
Two: Have you been asked to do such a thing or seen it happen?
Three: Will you keep us in your prayers over this matter?
Thanks so much. I am going to speak with this lady about this, but prayer support is needed. It is one thing to read about it in graduate school and write a paper, but it is different when you experience it.
Two: Have you been asked to do such a thing or seen it happen?
Three: Will you keep us in your prayers over this matter?
One: I wouldn't get involved in a church split. I believe there's always bad DNA in a church split - no matter how many year's it's been since it started, there's always that split at the core of the thing, and God doesn't bless disunity.
Two: Yes, my dh and I were asked to do this once when we were associates. We were asked to pastor the church (behind the pastor's back, some board members asked us) and they were planning/trying to get rid of him. My dh told them that they were never to entertain the conversation with him again - that he (dh) was a man of God and men of God wouldn't do something like that no matter how appealing it looked. (And believe me, it looked appealing in some ways, living on the poverty level, and wanting an increase, just for that reason alone.) But we knew it was not right and God would not bless. Also, I have been on the other end of it. I have been the SP where the church split and it's the worst thing you could ever go through. I wanted to die. It's so painful. It's like you are being ripped in two...and you are, really (spiritually).
Three: Yes, of course!!!
I would advise you - START FRESH. Don't do a split. Get your own core group - make it yours from the get go. If those people left another pastor - they will leave you. You don't want somebody else's problems. They will bring their history with them. Start fresh is my opinion.
Having gone through a church split when we were still babies in ministry we had just taken over a church our first as senior pastors the one elder spilt the churh 6 weeks after we arrived! when we left ministry we where asked to take the people and plant a new work. My dh said no way its rebellion and rebellion is seated in witchcraft. How can God bless something that steams from sin!
We are not even considering a church split. In fact we know we have a LONG way to go before we plant our own church and are willing to wait for God's perfect timing. We are being mentored and are willing to pour ourselves into someone else's vision at this time, and in due time, somone will pour into ours. Invenstment is not just about money, it is time, heart, relationship, etc.
It would be different of this lady was a part of a home church or denomination and had support to plant a "fresh church". However, she has already started calling others who now attend a different church to come to hers. Anyway, we will be talking with her later this evening...
Would it be wise to go ahead and tell the pastor of this plan??
We are not even considering a church split. In fact we know we have a LONG way to go before we plant our own church and are willing to wait for God's perfect timing. We are being mentored and are willing to pour ourselves into someone else's vision at this time, and in due time, somone will pour into ours.
Be Blessed!
~Autumn Rose
You are willing to pour yourself into someone elses vision...Sweetie, you need a national platform to teach that nugget of truth.
I agree - that's a wonderful attitude that you are to be commended for.
And yes, I think the pastor should know. One of the main things every pastor wants to know they have is loyalty - and that their staff will give them NO SURPRISES.
I admire your heart for this whole thing...you're going o be greatly blessed.
Thank you so much! Wisdom is a rare diamond that I search and pray for constantly. Those diamonds are usually wrapped up in human flesh and sent to others in divine timing! Thanks so much ladies for your heart for God and the obedience that shows through your words! I will keep you all updated!
