Quote:
Originally Posted by ILG
Sarah, while I was in HM, I never regretted it. But and however, we left that work to take an established church. During that time it was much, much worse than anything I experienced in Home Missions and also a time where my husband and I were accused of stealing money and sued. After giving so much in HM, it was such a slap in the face as we COULD HAVE stolen A LOT of money if we had so desired. We could have also then stolen A LOT of moeny from the established church. In both places, we left much behind. In 10 years of pastoring, the only time we made any money was in the last two and that was only because we had a parsonage and the church paid the utitlites. We had all the records to show we were clean. We saved all those records, I believe my husband has them all, just in case anybody were to ever accuse again.
RevRandy's Dad took over the church we left behind in HM. He said we left it financially well. All the bills were paid and when they sold some property, the church is sitting right well now as far as I know.
Here is the kicker for me and something many here will not understand at all.
I had a revelation right before we were sued about standards and my husband agreed with me that standards are not biblical. So, after giving and pouring our hearts and souls into this, we left behind something we don't even believe in anymore. Yes, I believe souls will be saved. That is great, but it certainly is bittersweet.
We considered pulling the church out. We disaffiliated the church and the presbyter told the congregation to watch out.....we could steal the money and run with it if they disaffiliated. We disaffiliated.....and not only did we not steal the money, we did not even pull the church out of the org.
What we did was all honorable. I expect God to bless us for it. And He has done some of that blessing. But sometimes I think if we hadn't poured all that money into a church that we don't even believe in anymore, we might at least have a few things that we really wanted. We are good money managers, we have a decent house and are getting the cards payed off and are getting some money in savings again. We will have something at some point. But all our hopes and dreams that we built for the future.....everything we poured in, is like dust and gone.
Sorry if I sound bitter and angry. I do have my days. It's easy to say "Let it go" when it's not your life that was poured out. Most of the time, I'm just glad we got out when we did.
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ILG, I feel overwhelmed when reading your post. I'm so sorry you went through what you did, and I wish I, or someone could say something to make you feel better.
I believe you when you say that you are honest people, and good money managers. It seems the Lord is blessing you now, materially, for which I'm sure you are thankful.
You know, we never received a dime from the churches we pastored. When they begin to be self supporting, we would leave and start another one. lol But I can honestly say that I didn't regret it then, and I don't regret it now. We knew we were doing what the Lord wanted us to do.
I've been vastly disappointed in people, and circumstances. But I got over it (eventually) and did get on with life. That's what the Lord expects of us, Him being our example. Not only that, I don't want an ulcer!
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