That certainly qualifies as a success story.
You church planted in Jackson in 2001? In 8 years you have grown that much? The church is hungry for discipleship? Kudos to you! I think you'd be a person to pick on a panel. I'm sure there are some stories regarding that transition with the older church.
God has been good to us. The transition we went through in the first church was completely smooth; I can't explain it except it was a divine move of God. His hand was definitely on that congregation. I have heard horror stories from friends, but we were just blessed through the whole thing.
God has been good to us. The transition we went through in the first church was completely smooth; I can't explain it except it was a divine move of God. His hand was definitely on that congregation. I have heard horror stories from friends, but we were just blessed through the whole thing.
Divine indeed! In your experience with others, what would you say, as a percentage, has been the case with churches in this situation.
Again, point-being, many are afraid to follow their inclinations to change because of the devastation of some of the churches that have taken that step. Maybe in 10 years, these churches will survive. I think churches that decide to change on things should seriously meet with others and talk about the best way to do that.
Good point! As I don't personally know any success stories, I have nothing else to add to your thread.
Good point! As I don't personally know any success stories, I have nothing else to add to your thread.
Wow.
That seems to be the case whenever this subject comes up in real-time conversations too. I figured I would throw it out there. Turns out Sherri was the exception?
That seems to be the case whenever this subject comes up in real-time conversations too. I figured I would throw it out there. Turns out Sherri was the exception?
For me, it's following after the will of God wherever that might be. My life and my church are not up for discussion nor evaluation. I believe in Acts 2:38 - totally - as the message of salvation. I've studied each element separately - repentance, baptism and the infilling of the Holy Ghost (speaking in tongues as the spirit gives the utterance) and don't see it any other way. I wouldn't attend a church that didn't preach that message.
I'm not sure all of them actively seek the changes that are made. And every church is different.
I am watching a church begin to change now. They don't know they are changing and would be angry if I suggested they were, but they are, none the less.
You could look to the AG as a sort of time machine: what happens to them will probably happen to you guys within a couple of decades. They've been liberalizing steadily over the years. Downside (or another downside, for some!): they're also losing tongues etc. So sad.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
You could look to the AG as a sort of time machine: what happens to them will probably happen to you guys within a couple of decades. They've been liberalizing steadily over the years. Downside (or another downside, for some!): they're also losing tongues etc. So sad.
Exactly what most of us don't want -- and what many inside the AOG regret.
You've got to be able to correct, but not to the point of over-correcting. AOG wanted the Evangelical acceptance for a LONG time.
Trouble is, I don't know the churches well enough to tell you exactly what happened. Was it because of standards? I don't know. Standards were dropped. But that may have been the result of rather than the propulsion behind the changes I saw.
The churches that I know personally which failed after standards were dropped.... standards were the least of their problems. Once the curtain fell, there was a LOT of hidden sin revealed. Rampant adultery, fornication, homosexuality, molestation. From the very top on down.
I do personally know of one former UPC church which now considers themselves non-denominational, and no longer have the UPC standards. They are apparently still thriving. Same pastor, same people, plus growth. The pastor basically just stopped enforcing the standards and over 15 years or so it transitioned. I have no information about the state of their hearts, and the true state of the church, I don't attend there. So whether they are truly successful or not is in the hands of God.
Hybrid Mode
