Message #8753

[jackie]

I had just stopped by my IFB church that I left because one of their daughters came home from Michicgan and their daughters (the Pastors) and my daughter were /are good friends. My daughter ended up leaving with them to go for Ice Cream and shopping...which left me alone with the Pastor and his wife.
At first in was superficial talk then the big question eventually came. I looked at him, put my legs up and said, we'll lets get to it I knew this was coming.
He asked my why I left the church, really felt bad that he may have done something and offended me, it was my turn to respond. I told him I felt that there was no place for my in the body of Christ in that church, being a divorced woman I felt I wasn't taken seriously , I also said I felt that church was asleep, the same few people who have attended for 20 years or more still need the milk of the Word, they just don't get it. God wants us to know prohecy and what is going on in the world that makes us certain of the closeness of the hour.
He said what can I do to make you stay, what would you like to do...? oh no, this was a hugh question!
My respond was #1 I'd like to teach a weekly study group on prophecy and how the times we live in relate to scripture, adding, however, I know I could only teach the woman if I stayed in this church,
#2 I hate being made to feel guilty if I can make it to church 4 times a week,  #3, I don't want to participate in any church that celebrates Saturnalia or Ishtar. #4. I don't agree with your dress code and # 5. I don't like the fact that you call my 15 year old daughter out from the podium and rebuke her for liking the "Beatles". the Holy Spirit will deal with that...I also mentioned, "Do you realize what your daughter's listen to.....wrap music etc...I have been on their face book sites."

I may have been a bit tough on him, but I was not going to allow myself to be dragged back into a church that God brought me out of.I spoke the truth and said I wasn't sure where God wanted me and I was waiting on Him, not leaving my Bible study or soul winning.
The next flag went up when he said, and "about soul winning, you need to be with us when we go out on Saturdays soul winning"  I let him know that the Lord hasn't limited me to Saturdays and was giving me opportunities every where I went as He led.

Then he brought up the scripture forsake not the assembling of yourselves together.....  I said, I love you both very much, but I don't believe this is where God wants me to assemble and brought up the 501-3c churches....it got a bit crazy then...but I held my ground. Even said , when I left this church I felt a great weight lifted from me and a new freedom to worship in Spirit and Truth.

This is not gossip, I am sharing this mainly because it was a most difficult thing to do, especially considering the love I have for them, but my love for God and His truth far outweighs all else.

So I far as soul winning, there is a great harvest out there and many ways to reach others, it is God that gives us the opportunities and the Words to speak.  We may plant, another water, but it is God that gives the increase.                        Blessings, Jackie