We love our little church. We love the people that attend there every Sunday. We love our Pastor and his wife. He is an honest man of God. His sermons always leave an impression on my heart and stick with me throughout the week. Because of all this, we are torn.For the past few months, my husband and I have had it on our hearts and on our minds to look for another church to call home. We have a few reasons why, but the main is for our children to be able to become more involved.
I am a firm believer that spiritual teaching should come from the parents first and foremost. As parents, we are to teach our children to live a godly life. {Prov. 22:6} Teach them about salvation and the sacrifice of God's only son. {John 3:16} But, I also feel that children need their souls fed in church just as much as we, the parents, do. Sadly, our little church does not offer such involvement for the ages of my children.
My husband and I have been praying about it and last Sunday visited another church not too far from our home that does offer a variety of options for our children to grow and learn in their faith as well as Bible Studies for my husband and I to attend as well. {my sister and her husband attend this particular church} We enjoyed the church, but heard a guest Pastor preach instead of the Senior Pastor of the church, so we decided to head back this Sunday to hear him preach.
We are uncertain of what to do and both of us have yet to feel strongly one way or the other. Our Pastor married us and dedicated both of our children. We have such a wonderful relationship with him, but is it selfish of us to stay when it feels like our family is unable to grow?
May I ask for your prayers as we seek God's will in making the right decision for our family?
Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. ~ Proverbs 3:6
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. ~ Hebrews 10:25
I am praying for you as we write. Our children are one of the main reason people change churches. Presently I attend a mega church as my husband is on staff. Many come to our church because of the youth program but are so disappointed at the lack of follow up with their kids. This is our second mega church where we loved the sermons and worship, even small bible studies for adults, but our kids have never quite fit in. There has to be a happy meduim.
ReplyDeleteSo I am praying for you family as i write and pray He will guide you to a church where the youth workers will love on your kids and where your kids will grow in Christ and feel accepted in the youth program.
My friend - what a difficult and heart wrenching decision to make! As a minister family, we always tell people that they need to find a place to worship where they are comfortable and the spiritual needs of their family is being met.
ReplyDeleteJust because you change churches doesn't mean that you can't ever attend a service there, or not contact the minister. Just be honest with your minister why you are leaving - trust me, it hurts a lot when we don't know why someone leaves.
Prayers and hugs to you, my friend!
Prayers. You got it! That is a VERY hard and difficult decision - and transition! - to make!
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