Question? Do you like the town you live in? Does it make a difference in ministry?
 

Hey any of you that have a church or a ministry-do you like the town you are in?

Do you think it is important to like where you live?


Just wondering what others thought, sometimes I don't care for this town I live in very much! Ha ha!

It absolutely makes a difference. If you feel it is the will of God, and feel the call to that particular city then you need to fall in love with it.


I was in love with Clearwater, maybe still am...and felt and prayed for healing for my community on a macro scale, as well as a micro/individual scale.

You can minister more effectively if you love your city/community.:igotit

Shall I pray for you to fall in love with your city or pray that God move you elsewhere?

Blessings, Rhoni

No I do not love the town I live in but I love the town where our new church campus is located. It's the town nextdoor and is only about 10 minutes from where I live. I grew up there and have such a heavy burden for that place. I know that God is getting ready to pour out His spirit in the denominal churches in the area and I want to be a part of it!

I think your words made my day! Thanks for your input!

I have been praying about it for awhile now.

At least you are close to it, that must a wonderful feeling! I want to hear what God is doing through you all.

I am excited about the new campus ministry. We were in the town that I live in for many years. We are starting a new campus church across the river from where we had always been. Alot of folks won't cross that boundary to go to church - like going to the other side of the tracks or something. The town we are starting up in is so ripe for revival. We live in a small town in the Bible Belt so there is literally a church on every corner, but there are still not enough to reach the people. We know that there are 150,000 people within a thirty mile radius of our campus and the majority of them are unchurched. If we just reached a TENTH of that, you're talking 1500 people. I'll take that percentage for starters - then we can talk about raising the goal!!

Bump.....

I'd love to hear how some others feel.........

It does make a difference.If you begin to dislike it then you are less apt to stay
and begin to be discouraged about the progress of the church work.I hated the town we did work for Jesus in until He called us there to start a church then I
knocked myself out doing things in the community and began to be an integral
part of things like National Day of Pray and the Dedication of the Memorial Wall.
We also joined in other ministries and took part in the city wide Thanksgiving
service.The more I got to know the people the more my burden developed.Its
got to be on a more personal level.Other things helped as well such as the praying in of certain industries and the praying out of certain spirits and industries.
God knows and He is faithful.Hang in there things change from day to day.

It matters. I wish I was back home.

Where is home, Ferd?

Louisiana. I have lived in Dallas since 1995. I have loved being here, but of late, really feeling like going back home. My dad is elderly and not in good health.

I understand. My mom is not old (63) but with her having been diagnosed with Breast Cancer last fall, I am glad that I live close. She lives in the town nextdoor to me - we're about 20 minutes from each other.

Love the town, as in love the "people"..... absolutely YES!
Love the town, as in love the "location"..... no

Good comment. There is definitely a difference.

I really love where I am in this little town of ours. But honestly I have loved everywhere I have pastored with the exception of one place but that is a LONG story and NOPE I am NOT telling.

We HATE the place we live now (don't care for the state either). But will be moving early next year as well as actually buying our new home around December of this year.
Since we're not there yet I can comment 100% but we have visited many times and have relatives there who love it.

We love Jackson!! It's a great place, just large enough to have conveniences, but small enough to not be scary.

However, before Jackson, we grew a church from 35 to well over 600 in a town that we really didn't like. In fact, Eddie NEVER liked living there, and we were there for over 20 years!! He does not like small towns, and this one had only 1500 people. But we knew that was where God had called us, and He prospered it, I think, because of obedience.

I've disliked more than one of the towns we've pastored in. Some places have a culture that's a little different - even in the same state or province - than what you're used to, but even so we ministered in those places successfully.

There were a couple places in particular that I wasn't very excited about going to at all and never did really like the town or village but I grew to love the people. :)

Yes, pretty well.

Yes, I don't think you could have a continued burden if you weren't happy. Actually, I think you could, you'd just have to stay renewed and focused. It's just part of ministering - staying renewed.


I don't either. The people are clannish, but they've been hurt by other Pentecostals in this area for years and not just from the UPC. We are trying to rebuild some trust. It takes time.

I would really like to hear the long story, but if you dont want to tell it-that is fine too.

Wow! God blessed you all anyway even if Eddie didnt care for the town, God is good! Some how I always thought the 2 HAD to go together.

:sshhh:sshhh She's talking about the same town I don't like.......:winkgrin

I am glad you responded Felicity, I know you have been many places, I am glad I am not alone, I am not a big fan of this town.

It is more or less an old migrant worker town, poorly planned in its design- but booming with new housing developments.

It consists of many people who work in the bay area which is about a 40min to over and hour away. So many people are not home during the day-and keep to them selves.

Ha ha! Is it because it is so small, not attractive? What makes you not like it??

Small, dead, and boring! Small town mentality. 1500 people - a small town is one where everyone knows who's check is good and whose wife isn't!! :roseglasses

The town is not unattractive - it's neat and well-kept. It's just very small and cliquish. And....:drama -- this sign sums up alot!!

LOL!!!

I think at one time that is how this town was until the bay area people moved here. They are ones that dont talk to anybody!

My mother grew up in a town like that called Newman Ca. My grandmother knew everything and everybody and was the grand dame of gossip! My parents moved to San Jose in the 60's and even thats changed a whole lot since I grew up there.

Oh girl, what I can tell you about knowing everyone and everyone knowing you! My kids laugh (now) because they have actually gotten in trouble for stuff before they did it because of small town gossip coming home to Mama. I would just look at them and say, "Be sure your sins will find you out!" :toofunny

I guess there are good things about people knowing you and bad--but its still nice going somewhere when people know who you are.

You know I lived in Stockton for almost 10 yesars although it is a large town (approx 250,000) I knew so many people where ever I would go, I would run inot someone I knew-made it nice living there.

But here, we have been here 3 years and I hardly know a soul and much as I try it still feels like we just moved here.

God has given me a burden for the town that I am in.

It "feels" like home. I grew up in the metro detroit area.... He called me to a rural town....different.

There are a lot of things that I do not like - but I have a desire to connect with the people of this area.... (I pray I don't have to like country music to connect).

I hate country music but I love the folks here! Believe me, Jeff Foxworthy probably knows where my town is - we are truly a sleepy little town in Tennessee!

Welcome to AFF. :choir:choir:choir

Thank you for the welcome.....


nice choir!

And thanks for your input! Glad to see you are somewhere you like to be :>}

We've been many places for sure. That's the truth! :)

Thing is Jeanie ....... you are where you are for a purpose and on a "mission". Just let the Lord use you. He's put you there for a reason.

Although not all the places I've been were that attractive to me or would have been my personal choice (where he leads I'll follow :) ;)) and even though I found some of the people not quite my cup of tea ..... still those people were wonderful to us overall and a bond was created and most importantly of all, people were born again and are now a part of the kingdom of God!

That's what counts. What I do and don't like matters little really. :)

I've been to the Buford Puser Museum there, tamor....I suppose it's still in operation, right?...I think the lady who gave us the tour was BP's cousin. She made it really interesting. I've never eaten at the Puser's restaurant. I ate at a little restaurant in downtown Savannah a year or two ago that was fairly good. I can't recall the name.

The museum is still open, but I have never been through it. Just not an interest at all for me. I guess I should one time just to say I've been there-ha. Dwana (Buford's daughter) sold the restaurant and it is owned by one of the Savannah restaurants (Toll House) and is called Toll House Too now.

YOU'VE NEVER BEEN??????? I only went once when Gary Greenwald was in town and wanted to see it. Not too much to brag about.

No. Why would I want to look at all his stuff? What's funny though, is there is a Police Museum in Pigeon Forge that has his car that he crashed and burned in. Kenny and I went in there once just to see the car. They know ALL about Buford in there..........:toofunny