Who Would You Invite?

[NotforSale]

There's been talk amongst the converts of the first Apostolic Church I attended in the late 70's about having a reunion. The Church was basically started by this small group. We became very close in those early years, and some of us have stayed in touch since then even though we are miles apart. I thought the idea was OK, but nothing has really happened yet. Still waiting for someone to put the event together.

But I've been struck by one very important thing regarding this gathering of the faithful; "Change". I asked my wife, "Who should be invited and are we going to leave those out who we feel are no longer with us?" I feel all should be welcome, regardless of how they've changed because this is the reality of human beings and the way of Religion. (I don't think I'll get my way on this; below is why)

The Pastor; after about 5 years he fell into adultery and lost his marriage. He remarried and so did his wife. I've been in touch with both of them. He no longer is Apostolic and the wife is deeply engrained by Rev Hightower's strange ideals.

The Assistant Pastor; He got married, had 4 children. He is divorced.

The following Assistant Pastor; He is still married but has had affairs with other women. He also started another Church, not Apostolic. A few years back, 2 out of the 3 children were considered backslid.

Another man, who was one step down from an Assistant and used in platform ministry; He is divorced. His wife and 4 children moved on. She is still attends a Pentecostal church. At this time, 1 daughter is no longer attending church, 2 of the other children had babies out of wedlock, and the ex-husband has remarried with kids from his new wife. He attends some kind of Church.

Another man, who Pastors a Pentecostal Church has been married as long as my wife and I, 30 years. 2 of his 3 sons are backslid.

My own children, 2 are divorced and backslid (no longer attending Apostolic Churches).

The point is this. We all started out with ideas about living for God, but much of what we presumed ended up not happening. Change hit us all right between the eyes. I've only addressed just a few of the folks that were a part of that Home Missions work.

I told my wife, no one should be left out. If we don't extend an open invitation to all, we continue with our denial of what really happens to people, and, we only feed the fire of building hatred by excluding people that need forgiveness and healing.