Still Where the Lord Planted You?

[theoldpaths]

I was just wondering how many apostolics are still where the Lord planted them? By that I mean, are you are still under the same Pastor that you were when you got faith, repented, was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and rec'd the Holy Ghost?

Also, if you've left, did you leave with your Pastor's blessing?

[RandyWayne]

Oh my no. I have personally gone through several changes over the past 20+ years, and again since we got married. Most recently we moved almost 2000 miles and are currently still searching in our new city.

[rgcraig]

I was just wondering how many apostolics are still where the Lord planted them? By that I mean, are you are still under the same Pastor that you were when you got faith, repented, was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and rec'd the Holy Ghost?

Also, if you've left, did you leave with your Pastor's blessing?

First, do you believe that you have to stay where you got the faith, repented, was baptized and received the HG to be planted?

[Esther]

First, do you believe that you have to stay where you got the faith, repented, was baptized and received the HG to be planted?

2nd is it a requirement that the pastor blesses your move?

[Mrs. LPW]

First, do you believe that you have to stay where you got the faith, repented, was baptized and received the HG to be planted?

That's not possible sometimes. Some people start out in a church and learn only of the Lord and repent, sometimes not even... and God leads them along to another church to hear about Jesus name baptism, or that the infilling of the Holy Ghost is for them. Not always does every part of faith, repentance, baptism and HG start in one church.

Also, if you are called to a ministery which takes you to other churches to serve, it's impossible to stay in one place. The call of God can lead you elsewhere.

Marriage and jobs will often move people as well.

I moved for all three, marriage, jobs, and ministry.
I'm back in my home church where I started right now, but under a new pastor.

So I doubt OP would be saying you'd have to stay put where God first planted you. (at least I hope not)

[Mosby48]

I was just wondering how many apostolics are still where the Lord planted them? By that I mean, are you are still under the same Pastor that you were when you got faith, repented, was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and rec'd the Holy Ghost?

Also, if you've left, did you leave with your Pastor's blessing?
Right where we started 33 years ago. Moved off for 8 years due to work but came back when able. Preacher understood.

[Pragmatist]

Not even close. And I can pray on my own to know if it's the will of God for me to go or not.

[Rico]

I was just wondering how many apostolics are still where the Lord planted them? By that I mean, are you are still under the same Pastor that you were when you got faith, repented, was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and rec'd the Holy Ghost?

Also, if you've left, did you leave with your Pastor's blessing?

There was a time when what you are describing was more commonplace than today. It used to be that people were born, lived, worked, raised families, the whole nine yards, right there in the same town. Them days are long gone. The average career length is somewhere around 5-8 years, people move around from one part of the country to another, etc. These all factor into whether someone stays put in any given church.

Also, pastors seem to move around more than they used to too, so it isn't uncommon for a new pastor to come to a church, make changes some people don't like, and people find another church to go to.

[Carpenter]

When I hear of people being planted I think of cemetaries.

Being planted somewhere has less to do with the church and pastor. I know folks who uprooted themselves and followed the guy or they lost their walk with God altogether when the pastor left.

On the other hand, if you acknowledge someone as being your pastor, you should have the expectation to talk with him at a minimum about a move.

I am not sure about this pastor blessing a move stuff, sometimes people, saints and pastors are too self serving to make an honest decision.

[RandyWayne]

There was a time when what you are describing was more commonplace than today. It used to be that people were born, lived, worked, raised families, the whole nine yards, right there in the same town. Them days are long gone. The average career length is somewhere around 5-8 years, people move around from one part of the country to another, etc. These all factor into whether someone stays put in any given church.

Also, pastors seem to move around more than they used to too, so it isn't uncommon for a new pastor to come to a church, make changes some people don't like, and people find another church to go to.

We were just transitioning out of this age when I was in my early teens (the 80's). There was still an attitude that said people need to stay in the same town and church that they were born in. Your dating choices were the couple of girls/guys who happened to be part of your congregation, and the local factory was hiring for a lifetime of shift work.

Personally, I think one of the best things to happen in human history is the trend of people moving much farther away from their families after moving our or marriage. Certain ties need to be broken.... For the family as well as the church family.

[Rico]

When I hear of people being planted I think of cemetaries.

Being planted somewhere has less to do with the church and pastor. I know folks who uprooted themselves and followed the guy or they lost their walk with God altogether when the pastor left.

On the other hand, if you acknowledge someone as being your pastor, you should have the expectation to talk with him at a minimum about a move.

I am not sure about this pastor blessing a move stuff, sometimes people, saints and pastors are too self serving to make an honest decision.

I used to have a pastor who literally thought you were out of the blessing plan of God if you didn't consult him on things like buying a car, going to visit unsaved family members, moving to another house, etc. I finally told him I wasn't going to come ask his permission every time I wanted to spend $50. He told me it was fine but not to be surprised if God stopped blessing me. It was another step in my leaving that church. lol

[Rico]

We were just transitioning out of this age when I was in my early teens (the 80's). There was still an attitude that said people need to stay in the same town and church that they were born in. Your dating choices were the couple of girls/guys who happened to be part of your congregation, and the local factory was hiring for a lifetime of shift work.

Personally, I think one of the best things to happen in human history is the trend of people moving much farther away from their families after moving our or marriage. Certain ties need to be broken.... For the family as well as the church family.

I wish I was closer to my family. We all are in the same state (my side of this marriage anyway), but it's still too far to see each other very often. My wife's family is in California. She hasn't seen some of them since she was a child.

[stmatthew]

I must be a potted plant, because I am mobile!!

[Jermyn Davidson]

I was just wondering how many apostolics are still where the Lord planted them? By that I mean, are you are still under the same Pastor that you were when you got faith, repented, was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and rec'd the Holy Ghost?

Also, if you've left, did you leave with your Pastor's blessing?


Am I saying something bad by stating that I can't remember where it was that I spoke in tongues for the first time?

I got faith, repented, was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ as a child in my Dad's Apostolic church.

I joined the USMC and my Dad refused to sign the release papers for me-- my Mom did so instead.

He bid me farewell before I left for bootcamp so I guess I had his blessing...

That was back in 1995.

[tstew]

On a related note, how does this apply to staying in the organization where God planted you, if at all?

[Sister Alvear]

On a related note, how does this apply to staying in the organization where God planted you, if at all?

bet that hit a nerve with some...

[Mrs. LPW]

Where did OP go?

[tstew]

bet that hit a nerve with some...

Oops, I didn't mean to kill the thread with that one. :evilglee

[theoldpaths]

First, do you believe that you have to stay where you got the faith, repented, was baptized and received the HG to be planted?

I'm currently in the church where I was baptized in the NAME and rec'd the Holy Ghost back in 1988, however I did not always stay there. In retrospect, it would have been better for me to have always stayed there and not left to go to a different church in the same city.

My pastor has always taught that for MAJOR decisions in life, it is good to ask for counsel - in the multitude of counsellors, there is safety. However, he also teaches that he doesn't believe God cares which brand of toothpaste we use and that we should bother our pastor about LITTLE things like that.

My personal opinion is the same - MAJOR decisions, I think it would be safe to talk to the pastor about - LITTLE decisions, it does not matter. I think this is wisdom.

In my life, I was a charismatic (for about 1.5 years), full-gospel, easy-believer, single young man around 20, when I noticed that I kept falling into a certain sin and couldn't get the victory over it. Also at that time, I had made a decision to enroll in a college outside of the province where I was living with my family and going to a charismatic church (not oneness). So one night after giving in to sin AGAIN, I went to my room and repented and part of my heart-felt prayer to God in tears was that if I wasn't believing the right things and was not going to the right church, then when I move to the new city I prayed that God would lead me to the church that HE wanted me to go to. Within my first week of moving to the new city after I had gotten all of my wordly priorities accounted for, I determined the next w/end to look for a church to go to. Well before that w/end came, while cashiering at 7-11, a man bought something and gave me an invitation on paper to come to his church and he started to walk away. So I told him, wait I'm looking for a church to go to and so we made arrangements for me to visit his UPC apostolic church.

That was the church where God lead me to truth and I was born again of the water and Spirit - baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of my sins and the supernatural baptism of the Holy Ghost; incidentally, God gave me the victory over the sin that I could NOT get the victory over being a charismatic.

I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that God heard and answered my prayer by leading me to the church that HE wanted me to go to.

I believe changing churches is a MAJOR decision and not a minor one.

[Baron1710]

I was just wondering how many apostolics are still where the Lord planted them? By that I mean, are you are still under the same Pastor that you were when you got faith, repented, was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and rec'd the Holy Ghost?

Also, if you've left, did you leave with your Pastor's blessing?

When my parents moved they didn't ask me if I wanted to go, they ripped me up by the roots and hauled my behind out of state. :tic

[MissBrattified]

I believe changing churches is a MAJOR decision and not a minor one.

As a married woman, I would leave that major decision to my husband--not my pastor. Not that we wouldn't consult with our pastor, or discuss it with him--we would want his advice, and it's courteous to inform him of any changes, since it does affect the church when any family leaves.

But ultimately that decision would be made prayerfully, between the two of us. My husband is the head of our family, and has the final say in MAJOR, life-changing decisions.

[Brad Murphy]

I would have to first believe that any pastor was qualified to counsel me.

[Cindy]

I am where I am at, and I have no plans to go anywhere else.

[theoldpaths]

2nd is it a requirement that the pastor blesses your move?

My pastor has always taught that for MAJOR decisions in life, it is good to ask for counsel - in the multitude of counsellors, there is safety. However, he also teaches that he doesn't believe God cares which brand of toothpaste we use and that we should bother our pastor about LITTLE things like that.

My personal opinion is the same - MAJOR decisions, I think it would be safe to talk to the pastor about - LITTLE decisions, it does not matter. I think this is wisdom.

I believe changing churches is a MAJOR decision and not a minor one.

I think a big question would be, is it the will of God for you to move?

[theoldpaths]

That's not possible sometimes. Some people start out in a church and learn only of the Lord and repent, sometimes not even... and God leads them along to another church to hear about Jesus name baptism, or that the infilling of the Holy Ghost is for them. Not always does every part of faith, repentance, baptism and HG start in one church.

Also, if you are called to a ministery which takes you to other churches to serve, it's impossible to stay in one place. The call of God can lead you elsewhere.

Marriage and jobs will often move people as well.

I moved for all three, marriage, jobs, and ministry.
I'm back in my home church where I started right now, but under a new pastor.

So I doubt OP would be saying you'd have to stay put where God first planted you. (at least I hope not)

Agreed. I've heard stories of people getting baptized in 1 church and rec'g the Holy Ghost in another.

I believe if one is called into a ministry, it will be done underneath the man of God in your life and that the man of God will help you and use you to develop your ministry; in which case one waits on their ministry. When you are ready and God wants to send you out from under your Pastor, then you will leave with your Pastor's blessing. I believe where ministry is concerned, it is very important to leave with your Pastor's blessing.

Agreed with marriage as well. Most of the time or traditionally, but not all of the time, the woman leaves to go to the husbands church.

[theoldpaths]

Not even close. And I can pray on my own to know if it's the will of God for me to go or not.

I believe that if God will speak to you and let you know, that He is big enough to speak to and confirm it with the man of God in your life as well.

[Sister Alvear]

I DON´T THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE CHURCHES FOR EVERY LITTLE THING THAT COMES UP...however there may be a time and a reason for change. I think the pastor should be consulted but common sense has to prevail also...

[Sister Alvear]

I have the same pastor I have always had...

[theoldpaths]

There was a time when what you are describing was more commonplace than today. It used to be that people were born, lived, worked, raised families, the whole nine yards, right there in the same town. Them days are long gone. The average career length is somewhere around 5-8 years, people move around from one part of the country to another, etc. These all factor into whether someone stays put in any given church.

Also, pastors seem to move around more than they used to too, so it isn't uncommon for a new pastor to come to a church, make changes some people don't like, and people find another church to go to.

The only thing that I would be careful of is not to put a career ahead of or over the will of God in one's life.

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

We are no longer our own - we belong to him - we have been bought with a price.

Not saying that was the case with you, by the way.

My Pastor has been pastoring the same church for over 30+ years so, which is a good indication of stability; not to say that those pastor's who don't stay that long were not called somewhere else though - that is between them and God. God has graciously allowed the church to grow over the 30+ years.

[theoldpaths]

When I hear of people being planted I think of cemetaries.

Being planted somewhere has less to do with the church and pastor. I know folks who uprooted themselves and followed the guy or they lost their walk with God altogether when the pastor left.

On the other hand, if you acknowledge someone as being your pastor, you should have the expectation to talk with him at a minimum about a move.

I am not sure about this pastor blessing a move stuff, sometimes people, saints and pastors are too self serving to make an honest decision.

When I think of planted, I think of...

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

I also think of the many times that Jesus spoke parables of seeds and trees and husbandmen.

As stated before, I believe changing churches whether to follow a man or not is a MAJOR decision.

The most important thing is to seek after the will of God. If you make a wrong choice, I believe the Lord will show you or you will come to understand that you did and so you will have an opportunity to do something about it.

I don't believe saints or pastors should be self-serving - I don't think that is a good sign; especially from the ministry.

[theoldpaths]

I used to have a pastor who literally thought you were out of the blessing plan of God if you didn't consult him on things like buying a car, going to visit unsaved family members, moving to another house, etc. I finally told him I wasn't going to come ask his permission every time I wanted to spend $50. He told me it was fine but not to be surprised if God stopped blessing me. It was another step in my leaving that church. lol

I don't believe a pastor needs to be consulted over every decision a person makes, but for MAJOR life-changing decisions, I strongly think it would be wise.

[theoldpaths]

I wish I was closer to my family. We all are in the same state (my side of this marriage anyway), but it's still too far to see each other very often. My wife's family is in California. She hasn't seen some of them since she was a child.

That's awesome.

I think if one has a good relationship with their family, then they would want to communicate and visit and perhaps not move so far away.

[Sister Alvear]

I would consult my pastor in any major decision. I don´t think I would bother him about what car I want or little things but something that might affect my life or walk with God I would talk with him.
Of course my pastor is not the abusive or nosey type...

[berkeley]

I would consult my pastor in any major decision. I don´t think I would bother him about what car I want or little things but something that might affect my life or walk with God I would talk with him.
Of course my pastor is not the abusive or nosey type...

Is your husband your pastor?

[Sister Alvear]

Well over here yes but I was refering to Brother Taylor where I grew up.

[Sam]

I was baptized in Jesus' Name and received the HGB in Wisconsin. A few months later went to Minnesota to Bible School with my pastor's blessing.

I came to Ohio from Minnesota for the summer in 1957 and the way things worked out have been in Ohio ever since.

I went to a UPC church in Ohio for about 7 years and then started going to an ALJC church for a smaller, less judgmental church. This was not with the UPC pastor's blessing. At the UPC church I taught Sunday School and occasionally filled in for the pastor by preaching.

I left the ALJC church after about 15 years because the pastor was preaching false doctrine. While there I taught Sunday School and filled in for the pastor by preaching.

I went to a Vineyard church for about 8 years. My wife did not care for that church because it was so large. I could actually go to a Sunday morning service, look around at a couple of thousand people and maybe only know one or two. While at the Vineyard, I was a POC (pastor on call) for about 5 years, did some teaching at seminars and small groups, did outreach and was on a couple of prayer teams. I told the pastor over the prayer ministry and other prayer team leaders why I was leaving and they had no problem with it. I told them I wanted to go to a smaller church that was more "Pentecostal." I still get calls to do prayer visitation and a while back preached a funeral for them.

Around Easter 2006 we started going to a much smaller church. I'm involved in outreach and have been teaching the midweek Bible Study.

Looking back, I do not think I have "missed" God's will for me and that for right now I'm where I'm supposed to be.

[jaxfam6]

I have heard all my life that we are 'planted' by God in a certain place and that is where God intends for us to stay. Well I can also say that those who I have heard that from have also been major control freaks. I say if we are planted by the River of Liviing Waters then it doesn't matter where at on that river we are planted and since we have the ability to move about we have the right to do so also. I saw no where in scripture that says we had to stay in one church or one place. As long as God is who we focus on and what we focus on he will allow us to move and do as he sees fit. If he does not want us some place he will make it clear to us. He may even let us go there but he will make a way for us to get to where he actually wants us.

I do think that advice is good in major decisions as long as you are getting it from someone who is God fearing. I do not think that has to be the pastor. Telling me that God will tell my pastor something before me is crazy. God lives in me and will talk to me. The pastor is the watchmen and if he sees something that will or could harm he is to cry out, but he is not the only source that God speaks to and through. If I hear from God then I am obligated to act on it rather my pastor hears from God about it or not. I think God will confirm things for us rather through the pastor or leadership or another person God will always confirm for you.

[theoldpaths]

On a related note, how does this apply to staying in the organization where God planted you, if at all?

Organizations change.

The Methodist church is a very good example of how organizations change. The Methodist church has changed so much since before.

My pastor stayed in his church where he was born again, was publically rebuked in his church but endured the chastening, was used to preach by his pastor, called into the ministry under his pastor, and went evangelizing with his pastor's blessing. He was asked to consider pastoring my church over 30+ years ago and ended up doing so; since then the church has grown.

My pastor's pastor was the late I. H. Terry who ended up putting out somewhere around 40+ preachers.

My pastor has not deviated from what he was taught by his Pastor. His pastor asked my Pastor to preach his funeral.

My pastor has been pastoring the same church for 30+ years and was the second longest member of the UPC general board before voluntarily stepping down this past year. Also, he was the district super for over 20+ or 25+ years. This speaks of stability.

If you know your history concerning the KJV of the bible and the Catholic's counter-reformation movement and what they planned and did to counteract the reformation movement; then you'll see that the enemy flooded England's churches, universities, etc with RCC's which resulted in getting permission to produce another bible other than the KJV which was the RSV.

Many other organizations used to stand for holiness, but were not able to keep up with those who have truth.

Liberalism has a way of entering into organizations.

Paul, Jude, and Peter all wrote about those who would creep in unawares, show an example of turning the grace of God into lasciviousness (lawlessness), some on the inside would rise up speaking perverse (distort, misinterpret, corrupt) things, drawing away from the truth disciples after them, not being able to endure sound doctrine; false teachers being among them on the inside causing many to follow their destructive ways by reason of speaking evil of the way of truth, using covetousness and feigned words making merchandise of God's people.

Sometimes purging and church-splitting is necessary. At some point, you have to come out from among them and be ye separate.

How can 2 walk together except they be agreed?

If one can no longer endure, then there are 2 choices - they either leave and do their own thing; or they stay and try to effect the changes that they desire on the inside. Either approach will eventually lead to a parting of the ways. Either the organization will stay strong and stand for what they have always stood for, not removing the ancient landmarks that their fathers have resurrected and not building again those things that they once destroyed; in which case the others will have to depart and start their own new thing. Or if the organization will NOT stay strong and stand for what they have always stood for, removing the ancient landmarks that their fathers have resurrected and building again those things that they once destroyed; then the others will have to come out from among them and be separate.

A house divided against itself shall not stand. How can 2 walk together except they be agreed. Its better to split on as best terms as possible, wish each other the best and each go their separate ways and try to win as much people as possible.