Is it time to go?

This is just one observation, but to me, 2 years does not seem to be long enough to see true effectivness. If God has given you no indication to leave, who else are you asking?

Just some thoughts.

 

I understand how you feel and I know my wife does too. It's very difficult to serve when you don't see God's blessing or changed lives.

But - and you knew that was coming :laugh: - as Lagardo said, 2 years is just the beginning. I have been here 9 years and only now seeing some vital spiritual changes and impact.

Sometimes we look at the explosive growth of other churches and think that it doesn't happen here because of _______________ (fill in the blank). But sometimes solid growth takes time. If the church has had a succession of pastors in the recent history, they may be weaiting to trust you because they're certain you will leave also. Gods will is a relationship. Deepen your relationship with Him and if this is the right time for you all to leave, He will let you know clearly.

One last question: Does your husband feel this way also?

 

Ex. 3.1 " Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law," His sheep were dumber than your hubby's :laugh: and God left him there many years -- till he called him away.

As Lagardo indicated don't follow no leading ya ain't gotten.

 

You have your answer . . .

And as God once said to Samuel, "It's not you they are rejecting, It's me!" (Bitsy's paraphrase) Just remember who you are beating your head against the wall for!

Be patient. Everyone has already said everything else I could say

Bitsy

 

Mc's right!

Don't move until God opens a door no man can shut....
At that point you will know.

But if you jump ship now, it may have eternal repercussions....
Who knows who you will reach for Christ next week, next month, next year....

Church growth done right is slow...

 

May I encourage you with Proverbs 22: 10 to 12---Cast out the scoffer, land contention will leave; Yes, strife and reproach will leave.{{ Hello, this is God talking to us and you and Tom}} vs 11: He who loves purity of heart and has grace on his ( you and me as well) lips, {{ This definitely describes your husband== Tom}} The king will be his friend. Amen. vs--12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the faithless. Again --Amen.
Point that all posters are saying by the up lifting of the Holy Spirit is that the person talking to Tom about growth and complaints needs to recheck their hearts and soul--they have let lucifer decieve them. It is all about the faith --thru it all Phil 4:13 Tom is doing it all thru Christ. Amen. Thank you Tom! Also the folks at the table talking to Tom have not read about John 4: 9 and 10== The Samaria girl at the well. vs=10 "IF you knew the gift of God!!! etc. Seems part of the congregation lost the fountain by not praying to God and went thither and lost the everlasting LIFE!! Bye..

 

Jesus himself couldn't satisfy some people!
As a matter of fact, that was the same type complaint they used against him....

He didn't move fast enough in a military revolt against the Romans.

 

A little story:

There is a Primitive Baptist Church down in Corpus Christi, TX. They are the only PB church within about 100 miles. I went down there this past Sunday to preach for them. There were 5 little old ladies there, and that was it. They do not have a pastor, and it would be very easy to identify them as a "dying" church. Yet, they still wish to meet and they still wish to sing, and hear preaching and prayer.

It would have been easy for me to say it wasn't worth my time to get up at 4:30am Sunday morning, drive over 200 miles, and preach to just 5 people, but, as long as there are people there (even 2 or 3) who want to hear the gospel preached, we should be more than willing to go there and serve the Lord by preaching to them.

That little group of old ladies needs to hear the good news about their Lord and their salvation just as much as a church of 500 does.

Numbers do not amount to much. David thought they did, but God said differently.

Your husband should serve that church as pastor until he feels that the Lord is done with him in that place. Then, and only then, should you all move on. The spiritual health of a church is not necessarily indicated by numerical growth. Spiritual growth, how one feels during the service, is a much better indicator of the Lord's blessings on a church, imo.

I pray that the Lord will make you to know His will in this matter, whatever it may be.

Bro. James

 

Bi-Vo pastors and their families are the real heroes! Praying for God's encouragement, grace and strength to pour down on you during this weekend!

 

Read 1 Samuel chapter 14...
And pay especially close to the verse below.
While Saul and his humongous army were goofing off... (Most probably drunk and partying...notice they didn't notice David was missing... and they were under a pomegranate tree... which the fruit was made into wine)

David takes just a handful of men and takes on the enemy.
God can use a church full of 2000, or he can use just a handful...
The power is in God anyway...

1 Samuel 14:6
(6) And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for [there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.

 

Apology acepted. Remember: We are all partners in Christ Jesus--Phile1:17 and all our prayers are for this situation. I concur with the others in their posting to you to help Tom. Thank you for letting us all participart in your journey. Bye.

 

Well, you you try to "grow the numbers", I think you will be frustrated, and in most cases, unbiblical. Most things used to fill the pews a little fuller have to water down the message to keep from offending or to entertain or something else. Let God grow the numbers (or shrink them) as he sees fit.

However, spiritual growth is another thing. Do people want to grow? Are they eating the meat or do they want to stay on the milk?

That might be a concern.

God blessed me recently in an odd roundabout way. There were a growing number at our church that were latching onto very popular, but very unbiblical, beliefs. It became very unedifying.

I resigned after being interrupted while speaking and when I replied, "The Bible says..." he interrupted again with, "I don't care what the words say..." which I interrupted with, "and that's the problem."

Silence.

"You don't care what the Bible says and unless something lines up perfectly with exactly what you want to believe, it must be wrong. You say let the Spirit guide you? I agree. But, when the spirit guides you to believe something that even you admit is contrary to the written words, that's not the Holy Spirit."

Well, this led to me being asked to speak at several other churches and to several other groups. It upset me greatly because I am closer to them than to many of my own blood relations, but I think it was the right thing, and I think the fact that God led this to an expansion of ministry supports that.

Sadly, many churches (not just of the Baptist persuasion) have begun to let traditions of man and denominational doctrine trump the Scriptures.

So, pray hard. Are they just immature Christians that just need nurturing or are they something else?

If they need nurturing, I think it would be wrong to abandon them.

If they are something else, let God guide you.

 

Didn't Jesus say something like "if they don't accept you or your teachings then shake the dust off and MOVE ON."?