College & Career Class S.S. Name!

I really think I can help here.

We were in a church - a Presbyterian church - one of the few that was still sticking firm to Scripture and not allowing any of this other 'liberal' stuff that was happening in the Presbytery. We fought tooth and nail against so many things.

Anyway, there were people there who were believers, believed the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, who loved the Lord with all their hearts but there seemed to be no life there. I don't know what it was. We tried to do what we could (didn't want to abandon ship without trying to help everyone else too), but it just wasn't happening. We were losing people left and right for a variety of reasons. There were a couple of indicators to DH and I that we did not want to continue to attend this church but we loved the poeple there and were really struggling. Finally, a dear friend of ours said to my husband, "Do you think that there are true believers in this church?" and DH said "Yes". He then said "Well, did you ever think this is how they like it and that it's OK to leave it this way?" What a lightbulb moment!! That really gave us the 'permission', if you will, to leave the church and find another church home that would better fit our family, our worship style and our needs. So DH went searching and found what he thought to be the church for us. We became members a year later.

It's now 11 years later. The other church is still struggling but they stand firm with the Lord. Many families have left but there are others who are happy there. There was nothing more we could do. HOWEVER, since then, my DH and I started a college ministry, he began leading worship and 5 years ago, he went on staff as a pastor and was ordained in January of '06. We have seen no less than 7 marriages start out of the college ministry and now these couples are beginning their own families in the Lord. We have had 5 enter the ministry after discipling with DH, and we've seen countless begin a walk with the Lord. My children grew up in solid children's ministries and are now leaders in the youth group - and started a Bible club at school. We've made friends who will be friends for life - without a doubt - and we've been ministered to more than anyone else had ever done. We went through a very tough trial 2 years ago with my DH falling off the roof but we never felt alone - even after a misdiagnosis, surgery too late and now the long-term ramificaitons of that.

We did NOT give up on the other church. We prayed and struggled so much but God was leading us elsewhere - we were just way too stubborn to listen. LOL. So, my advice is to get into some deep searching prayer. As God to show you just where HE wants you to be. If you must leave, you are not giving up but moving on. It's OK to do.

Ann