This is a wonderful place for new believers and for fresh starts. But there is also a big hurt behind the closed doors. There is so much negativity, gossip and people quitting or getting let go left and right. I know there is not a perfect church, and I still love and pray for this one. But it is hard to stand in that water for too long there, it feels like there the same amount of people walking in as there are walking out.
We were members for three years. In that time we had a 200% turn around in staff. That includes ministers, admins, and more, that is a very hard thing to explain away to your children as their youth leader changed three times in three years. Teenagers need stability, especially since so many come from a broken place.
The truth is you can not expect to have a relationship with your Pastor here. The statement we were told by his wife is that ""God wants you to have a relationship with him, not your Pastor."" So you can not go there expecting that, although he does have a select group of people he has that follow him, if not guard him around the building. These people, have a relationship with him.
If you need any extended care, you must be a member of their connect groups and have the support of you connect group leaders. There are no elders, so it is very difficult to reach out if you are not deeply plugged in.
It is hard to write anything negative about our former church home, and like we mentioned, we love them and we pray for them. You just need to know you can not go in that building expecting to have a relationship with the Pastor or his staff. And it becomes very clear that everyone takes issue with it. People just do not feel good enough to be a part of his select crew and that makes it difficult.
It is a great place to serve and connect groups are wonderful. beyond that though, it is hard to see past the repeat sermons, and all of the staff drama and gossip.
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