Church Hoppers
 

Are you one? Do people view you as unstable? Have you had to live down the reputation of being a church hopper?

Do you know any? tell me about it

How many churches have you been in in your life? why did you leave? Did you feel justified in every case or, if you reflect back now, do you admit you was wrong in some way?

Is "church hopping" worse today then in years past? It's seems harder to raise up good pillars in a church then in years gone by. anyone else feel this way?

In your opinion, What is the proper protocol for leaving a church?
Is there a biblical set of guidelines?


Give me some thoughts on this

Re: Church Hoppers
 

You have touched on a very serious subject.
I know there are reasons sometimes to leave a church...however we live in an age where many do not care for discipleship...they had rather do their own thing.
I have noticed on the mission field and most missionaries I talk to have had the same problems. Even people that come from the states most do not have a REAL calling they did not buckle down in the states and live in a dream world...when the going gets tough they back out. So it is with the American church. Not every day will be pie and icecream when the real work begins...faithfulness, tithes and offerings, church work, helping, putting the shoulder to the will...it is easier for some to join the forever discontent group or the revolving group that just goes from church to church.
Some people cannot take correction as long as you baby them, pay their bills, help them all is well but correct them and they are gone...
and like I said sometimes there is a real reason to leave but most of the time there is not...

Re: Church Hoppers
 

We have been pretty bad for over a year now but that is because we have known for that same amount of time that we're moving. It's hard to find a church and call it "home" when you know you'll be gone soon.

Re: Church Hoppers
 

another example...say you pastor someone and give them advice...they do not like what you said so they go to another pastor and he gives them different advice...usually becauses he does not know the real situation...so they run over there...but in time something happens over there and the cycle of a church hopper begins.
If we stay anywhere very long there will be times we think of leaving...grass always looks greener on the other side...
Sometimes the excuse is given that the church has changed...I belong to a church and have belonged for 50 years...has things changed? yes...many things for the better.

I can remember a time when the do and do not list was much longer...I really appreciate a pastor that sees things and confesses he was wrong in certain areas...a wise man at least changes his mind a fool never does.

Re: Church Hoppers
 

Maybe if you go to a church and you know you will not be long there it would be best to let them know that fact...

Re: Church Hoppers
 

I'm not one. I've been at the same church all my life.

I do know some that have been to every church in the country though.

Re: Church Hoppers
 

It's almost moot at this point since we'll be gone in almost exactly two months, but over the past year a big fear of ours is attending a specific church regularly and having to deal with "words of knowledge" claiming we shouldn't go. Past experience has shown me that this usually happens -especially if you become a big contributor.

Re: Church Hoppers
 

I believe that "birds of a feather flock together", so to speak.

Not every personality is going to work together. Therefore, each person should be allowed to find their church of choice and with God's leading.

A pastor should never hold a person. He should allow them to go and find out where they would be happy. If he holds on to them it's only going to cause stress for all involved.

We have had a couple that runs the gamut of churches in our area. We just let them come and do their thing. They will eventually burn out and go somewhere else. Why get concerned over it? There are other things we need to be doing.

If they are trouble makers, God will bring it to an end, eventually.

Re: Church Hoppers
 

rats jumping ship thats what they are.

my saints are born, borned again, married and burried right here.
if they want to leave i give them a list of approved churches in the area.

below is the list of approved churches you can go to if you leave here.












btw i will accept people from other churches if they will line up walk right and spit white

Re: Church Hoppers
 

I would also add that we strongly desire to have a single home church and we don't particularly enjoy not having one.

Re: Church Hoppers
 

And I would Whole Heartedly agree!

Re: Church Hoppers
 

I guess I'm one right now. I have 3 churches I visit, a 4th online that I regularly attend and fellowship with. That will be my church when I move. I'll be doing that at some point here soon so I'm not really getting involved in any one church right now.

I've attended way too many churches in my life, but that was a search for God. I left on good terms, or as good as possible, every time. This last church I left was probably the worst terms I've ever left a church on and for me, it wasn't a big deal. Difference in beliefs, parting of ways, but the parting conversation left me stinging for awhile.

I started out in a Reformed church. Went to an Assembly of God church after that. Then I left home and went to an independent charismatic church. I left there with the pastor's blessing. I went to talk to him and he told me he already knew God was leading me somewhere else. Then on to another independent charismatic church..that was a trippy experience. Accountability is a good thing folks.... I didn't stay there long. Remained good friends with the pastor and friends I already had in that church after leaving. Went to a Church of God in Christ from there. Did remain friends with some from the church after we left, but it was a strained parting. Went to an independent church again after that, beautiful place and only left because we moved. From there, I visited but never belonged to a church again. Got a bad taste in my mouth from a few places and quit going all together.

I've attended the church I recently left (not UPC, but UPC raised pastor), and the several I visit since being back in church. I'll likely stick pretty close to the one I'm attending online right now.

I've never left a church because of correction given or any sort of personal slight. Difference of beliefs is the biggest reason for leaving.

Re: Church Hoppers
 

I'm really feeling this right now. I'd really like a home church. Internet church is cool, but it's not an in real life, living breathing church home. I look forward to that, being part of a church family again.

Re: Church Hoppers
 

I have attended only three churches in my life until 1 year ago. I was raised up in an ALJC church then I moved to IL for a short amount of time and went UPC. Then when I came to AZ I stayed UPC. In the past year I have been through many things. I felt God was transitioning us the another place. Now I attend a Independent Charasmatic/Pentecostal Church. The pastor was UPC for years and the church has a good Pentecostal feel. I enjoy it. I would not say that I am a church hopper, but I would say that I have not made CLC-current church- my home as of yet. My wife still attends the UPC church where she was raised up. She feels like she can leave, but actually doing it is another story.

Re: Church Hoppers
 

church "Menlo Park, CA" Bro. Brackett 1st Pastor:girlyluv , (Church now in Mtn. View pastored by the Grandquists) - I went there from an infant to about 5 years old.

2nd. Church "San Jose, CA" Bro. FV Shoemake and then Jimmy Shoemake Pastors:girlyluv1st , I went there from age 5 yrs till about 28 yrs old when I moved.

3rd Church - Northern AZ. went there for 17 years until about 3 yrs ago, now attending an independent Church.

Not a church hopper, never have been, don't ever want to be with God's help. Last church I left, well.....St. Mark:shhh knows why and I'm trying to move on so I won't rehash it here.

and yes i'm old, so don't bother trying to add up all the years :toofunny

Re: Church Hoppers
 

My history:

Birth to 18 years old - First Apostolic Church in Aurora, IL (My dad was pastor!)

18-21 - JCM - 1st Pentecostal Church, Jackson, MS

21-22 - UPC - Oaklawn, IL (minister of music)

22-24 - 1st Pentecostal Church (ALJC), Anderson, IN (minister of music)

24-34 - Bethel Church (ALJC) Marion, IN (minister of music)

34-38 - Christian Life Tabernacle (UPCI) Memphis, TN

38-43 - Christ Church, Nashville, TN

44 - World Outreach Center, Nashville, TN

45 - 1st Pentecostal Church (UPCI), Nashville, TN

45-present (52)- Christ Church, Nashville, TN

Re: Church Hoppers
 

my granpa always said changing geography dont change you, you wont change till god gets into your heart, so no matter where you go, there you are, lol,dt:tvhappy

Re: Church Hoppers
 

Since THE CHURCH is the body of believers... How does one "church hop"???

Aren't they actually just mingling???

Re: Church Hoppers
 

Well said! You can 'You can hop from 1 congregation to another, but you can not church hop, because we all are the church.'

Re: Church Hoppers
 

From what I have observed only a Pastor can feel that God is moving them to another location.

Re: Church Hoppers
 

maybe a preacher said that, but i have been around oneness pentecost for almost 40 years, god moves people sometimes for various reasons, most of the time it is the preachers who fight about it, lol, dt:toofunny

Re: Church Hoppers
 

i have been in the same church for 32 years. there was reasons why people leave. if you see that pattern in ones life...yes i would view them as unstable. that or they have REALLY bad luck with churches :-)

Re: Church Hoppers
 

To be quite honest, I have only seen this once or twice, but it sure does stick in my mind! Permission to leave was directly (inversely) proportional to how much money you brought in to the local church. Meaning, the more you brought in, the less likely you were to receive permission.

Re: Church Hoppers
 

Rats? Your saints? Sorry, I'd get as far away from you as I could...

Re: Church Hoppers
 

I can't see even living in the same STATE for 32 years. LOL Seriously, I think it is actually a good thing for their to be some horizontal movement among saints as to what churches they attend. At least a few times in a lifetime to keep the spiritual equivalent of 'inbreeding' from getting hold.

Re: Church Hoppers
 

randy, that is an unfortunate truth, money talks, you know the rest, lol, dt:tvhappy

Re: Church Hoppers
 

i cant see moving! lol i have been VERY blessed to have had a strong pastor my entire life. he was the only Pastor i knew (not talking about assists). we NEVER had church problems until a few years ago. the problems didnt last either....the problem left...lol know what i mean? like i said, i am very blessed to have such a good church with the best pastors ever. i am also speaking of the one that took over when my pastor passed away. :-) he is GREAT!

Re: Church Hoppers
 

Yes, I always find it humorous when people have issues with every church they go to, it seems like after a while they would stop and look inward.

That being said, I am well aware that there are some very abusive and dysfunctional churches out there. Generally it seems like the more problems a church has, the harder they try to hold on to people.

My dad has always said, "if you don't feel like you are getting what you need from this church, run, don't walk, to a church that can help you."

Oh, and I have been in three churches in my life, if I were still married it would be a much higher number. My ex-husband was one of those "dissatisfied" people.

Re: Church Hoppers
 

Questions, questions, questions!
Were you like this with your mom & dad??

One Church for me!!
Almost 25 years!

Re: Church Hoppers
 

You are in a interesting place. You have a great pastor and great support group it seems. If I still lived in Knoxville, TN then I would be going to the same church I had went to for 20 years. But it is an uncommon thing to have a pastor you trust with every aspect of your life. Maybe it is the southern comfort we feel with these men and their families. Not sure. That church in TN I was talking about is more of a tight conservative standard church, at least preaching wise, and I am contrary to that, but there is no other church I would go to there. But I know people that have jumped from one assembly to another for various reasons, but I do not have a problem with cause it does not affect me.

Re: Church Hoppers
 

i agree 100%!!!!

Re: Church Hoppers
 

Will be holding you and your family up in my prayers. It is good to have a church home and be a part of it...

Re: Church Hoppers
 

I have been in the same church since I was 3 and my parents got saved! I love it!

Re: Church Hoppers
 

:girlytantrum

Re: Church Hoppers
 

I've tended to hang around until I get thrown out; so I guess that's not "church hopping" per se. Also, with the exception of brief out-of-state postings I've only attended three OP churches. One was a kind of out-of-town temporary location. The other I attended for a quarter of a century and the current one I don't really attend all that much because I don't want to get thrown out.

The only "protocol" I know of for leaving is to get called into the pastor's office and screamed at, quietly stand your ground, plead with the pastor and his clique to give their lives to Jesus Christ, get slapped across the face and told to "get out, just get out..."

I really can't imagine a better way to say "good-bye."

Re: Church Hoppers
 

Dear Jesus,

If I ever have to pastor please do not let this man come to that church. He must be a real trouble maker! :toofunny

Re: Church Hoppers
 

I've gone to a lot of different churches over the years, but mostly because of moving. There have been a couple churches that we only attended for a short time, hate to say it, but both of them were independents who had left the UPC and had gone a little too far from what I was comfortable with.

Re: Church Hoppers
 

Good grief! I hope this is a joke and didn't really happen this way!

Re: Church Hoppers
 

I knew there were some church hoppers on this forum but I didn't know it was this bad - good grief!

Re: Church Hoppers
 

Hi, my name is Chris....and I am a church hopper (exhales)....

I hop to the sanctuary, I hop to the platform, I hop while praise singing, then I hop over to the drums, then I hop over to my trumpet, then I hop down to my pew, then I hop to the restroom (during offering), back in time to hop to the choir loft, then hop back down to my pew, then hop during the "on fire" preaching, then hop to the altar. Afterwards, I hop in my car and go to IHOP.

I know it's disturbing...pray for me.:begging