New Beginnings

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11

Who would have thought that in the course of the last seven days we would have been faced with a life changing situation.

Last Monday night, our assistant pastor and his wife paid us a visit late in the evening and shared with us that they were leaving our church. There have been some issues that have been coming to a head and after going through the proper channels of addressing our church board and having no resolution, the Lord has lead them to leave the church. Three of our four elders were following.

After much talking and hearing the other side from our Senior Pastor, after much praying, and many tears, it is with great sadness that we have decided to leave the church that has been our home for 5 1/2 years.

A church where we have made many wonderful and caring friends. Friends who became more like family than friends, we had an awesome church family. We leave behind a church where many,many hours have been poured into ministries, a church where Rachel has grown up in.

We leave a place that was our home church as a result of how the leadership in the church was treated. For the lack of integrity and for sin. We can no longer sit under the teaching knowing the things we know and that resolution and restoration are not a priority.

So, yesterday morning was a time of new beginnings...

We had a Bible Study in the backyard of our assistant pastor with eight other families who've left the church, including the families of the elders. We had worship, a message, and a good time of fellowship. The children (although ours weren't there) had a time of learning on their own level in a place set aside for them.

It was a beautiful morning. And as we sat there outside, basking in the crispness of the morning, seeing the beautiful streams of sunlight through the trees, sitting in the very midst of what the Lord had created, it was a time of new beginnings.

While I am very sad, and still emotional at times that all this has happened, I'm excited about what the Lord will do in this Bible Study that will meet on Sunday mornings and on Wednesday evenings. I'm excited and willing to see how the Lord will use me and cause me to grow. I'm excited for the friendships that were already close to become stronger in the Lord...