After leaving my denomination, and before a move to another city we found a sweet house of Prayer. Although they are not a formal " church" we were healed, trained an repurposed there. Once you have Acts 2 you never want to go back. So we look for Acts 2 fellowships. And wherever we go we want to be a house of prayer where ANYONE feels welcome .
This right here! I read about that beautiful, feral Bride in Scripture; where the Holy Spirit was firmly in charge and the apostles were scrambling just to keep up with Him and then I go to church. And it doesn't even remotely resemble what I just read in Scripture. I don't even call them churches anymore...they're just religious non-profit organizations. I long for a small, informal meeting of believers such as you describe!
I love it! "feral Bride...Holy Spirit in charge and the apostles scrambling to keep up". You are so right. (Can I quote you?) I used to leave church, educated....but sad, homesick. My article https://ifapray.org/blog/demolition-of-my-steel-house/ explains it. (I'm not trying to tout my work, the article just needs to get out there) I'm sooooo glad the Holy Spirit introduced me to another way. I have no anger against that old denomination or cold churches. I'm just sad for them. The words to this song "Don't you see that I'm doing something good, something new, I'm working for your good....get used to different" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdDttLJ2T-Q#ddg-play
You absolutely may quote me! And “educated but sad and homesick “ is just so perfect! If I go to a “Word” church, I thirst for the Spirit. If I go to a “spirit filled” church, I hunger for the Word. Yet somehow the early church had no such division between Word and Spirit.
And thanks for the link! I’ll check it out right now!
Vanessa I hope it helps. Blessings. I have a t-shirt from the Chosen I wear often. "Get used to different." Did you ever hear the song Mandisa sang on the 1st Christmas special? It's amazing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdDttLJ2T-Q#ddg-play
Thank you for speaking what my heart needed to hear. I have been in transition for awhile now, trusting Abba will show just the next step at the right time. Blessings to you!
Hi, Leslie. I’m sorry you’re in the middle of a church transition. That’s a rough spot. But I do believe God has something healing for you on the other side!
I relate to the heartache and tears of leaving the church home you’ve known most of your life. Thank you for sharing the way Jesus lead you deeper into his heart 🤍
Thank you for sharing this. I love the realness and rawness while still holding that church is important, even if it takes and entire season to find it again 🤍
I resonate with this so much. Currently in month 10 of being in a new church, after my husband and I transitioned out of leadership roles at our previous church. Still awkwardly turning up.
I wrote a story almost identical to this in my journal 25 years ago. I was a non-paid worship leader, single, and clueless as to how to have any “down time.” Our church had just gone through a split and more than two years without a pastor. Three years into the mess, I felt like you, only I described it like I was trying to pull a freight train up a hill that had jumped the tracks.
I left the church for about 4 years, then retuned. And while I never again became the worship leader, I wore lots of hats in that small church until finally the Lord spoke to me in 1998 and said “you’re done here!” I called and resigned the next day.
I wish I had understood the part about mourning as you described. I didn’t. What I did come to see was that I felt pulled between the two churches like a child does when they have to choose which parent to go live with after a divorce.
But what I learned about grace and resting in His love over the next 8 years before meeting and marrying my David in 2006 is priceless.
I’m in the process of sharing my story here now.
By the way, I scanned your posts and they go back to 2022 with quite a few gaps. Did you import some of them? I ask only because that’s what I did on some earlier ones. Just curious as to how long you’ve been writing here.
Sharon, thank you for sharing. And so glad you were able to receive grace and love (and find David!) after all that you went through. When we leave a church, God never leaves us. And he calls us back to a church home that will help us heal.
Yes, I imported old blogs I had. I’ve only been active here for about 2 months. My older blog posts didn’t have a home, so I decided to upload them here. I’m not sure that made any difference or that anyone ever sees them—but I know where they are!
We could be twins! LOL! I, too, had an old blog with posts that no longer had a home, and that's why I imported the "best of" when I started here in late 2022. But Substack back then wasn't nearly what it is now. So, I jumped on the Medium bandwagon up until two months ago. Now, I'm back — mostly because of Notes. Welcome! Clearly, you're up and running quickly. And yes, having those older posts is a good thing. You never know when someone (like me) will show up and start snooping around to learn what you've been up to. 😊
Thank you for sharing that. I left my church more than a decade ago. My parents are buried there. I was married there. For a time I was part of leadership there. The church split over internal, prideful nonsense a decade ago. My heart and my faith were so broken that I’ve only returned once, for my mother’s funeral. It took years of God whispering for me to admit that I needed Him and that I needed fellowship with other Christians. That led me to start a Bible Study at the assembly plant I worked at. That lead me to a Men’s group which led me to a Celebrate Recovery group. I left the assembly plant and participate in a weekly study and worship at my new job. I don’t go to church in the traditional sense but I make worship wherever I am. Wherever I go, God is already there. He is always at work around us. It is good to have that fellowship, that community of church. I think many struggle like you did. They feel pain, loss, even fear of the unknown….of being disconnected. God is always at work, He is always on the move….we cannot both stay where we are and follow Him at times. Moses, Abraham, Issac, David, Daniel, any of the disciplines….especially Paul. God prompted changes that led them all to experience God more profoundly and serve Him greatly.
I've been through a church transition, too. Not because there was anything wrong with the church, simply because God called us to move. I didn't know how much we would need this new community in our next season, but I'm so grateful God did. 💛
“But in the meantime, while we try to find our sacred footing he is there with us in the wilderness.”
Really loved this. My family and I have lived this out also. It’s not easy road.
Thanks for sharing.
It’s wild to know how many of us go through this similar experience. Thanks for the comment!
Absolutely!
Vanessa. I hear you. Which is why I wrote this. https://ifapray.org/blog/demolition-of-my-steel-house/
After leaving my denomination, and before a move to another city we found a sweet house of Prayer. Although they are not a formal " church" we were healed, trained an repurposed there. Once you have Acts 2 you never want to go back. So we look for Acts 2 fellowships. And wherever we go we want to be a house of prayer where ANYONE feels welcome .
This right here! I read about that beautiful, feral Bride in Scripture; where the Holy Spirit was firmly in charge and the apostles were scrambling just to keep up with Him and then I go to church. And it doesn't even remotely resemble what I just read in Scripture. I don't even call them churches anymore...they're just religious non-profit organizations. I long for a small, informal meeting of believers such as you describe!
I love it! "feral Bride...Holy Spirit in charge and the apostles scrambling to keep up". You are so right. (Can I quote you?) I used to leave church, educated....but sad, homesick. My article https://ifapray.org/blog/demolition-of-my-steel-house/ explains it. (I'm not trying to tout my work, the article just needs to get out there) I'm sooooo glad the Holy Spirit introduced me to another way. I have no anger against that old denomination or cold churches. I'm just sad for them. The words to this song "Don't you see that I'm doing something good, something new, I'm working for your good....get used to different" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdDttLJ2T-Q#ddg-play
You absolutely may quote me! And “educated but sad and homesick “ is just so perfect! If I go to a “Word” church, I thirst for the Spirit. If I go to a “spirit filled” church, I hunger for the Word. Yet somehow the early church had no such division between Word and Spirit.
And thanks for the link! I’ll check it out right now!
Love it, thank you for sharing. I can’t wait to read your post!
Vanessa I hope it helps. Blessings. I have a t-shirt from the Chosen I wear often. "Get used to different." Did you ever hear the song Mandisa sang on the 1st Christmas special? It's amazing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdDttLJ2T-Q#ddg-play
“Get used to different” is a GREAT line.
Thank you for speaking what my heart needed to hear. I have been in transition for awhile now, trusting Abba will show just the next step at the right time. Blessings to you!
Hi, Leslie. I’m sorry you’re in the middle of a church transition. That’s a rough spot. But I do believe God has something healing for you on the other side!
I relate to the heartache and tears of leaving the church home you’ve known most of your life. Thank you for sharing the way Jesus lead you deeper into his heart 🤍
Rene, thank you for sharing! It can be a tough road, but Jesus walks with us the whole way.
Thank you for sharing this. I love the realness and rawness while still holding that church is important, even if it takes and entire season to find it again 🤍
Thank you, Anna!
I resonate. Thank you for sharing your story. Great writing, too.
Thank you, Audra!
I resonate with this so much. Currently in month 10 of being in a new church, after my husband and I transitioned out of leadership roles at our previous church. Still awkwardly turning up.
Thank you for sharing!
Yes—awkwardly turning up. Perfect way to put it. I know your perseverance is inspiring to the people who get to see it!
I wrote a story almost identical to this in my journal 25 years ago. I was a non-paid worship leader, single, and clueless as to how to have any “down time.” Our church had just gone through a split and more than two years without a pastor. Three years into the mess, I felt like you, only I described it like I was trying to pull a freight train up a hill that had jumped the tracks.
I left the church for about 4 years, then retuned. And while I never again became the worship leader, I wore lots of hats in that small church until finally the Lord spoke to me in 1998 and said “you’re done here!” I called and resigned the next day.
I wish I had understood the part about mourning as you described. I didn’t. What I did come to see was that I felt pulled between the two churches like a child does when they have to choose which parent to go live with after a divorce.
But what I learned about grace and resting in His love over the next 8 years before meeting and marrying my David in 2006 is priceless.
I’m in the process of sharing my story here now.
By the way, I scanned your posts and they go back to 2022 with quite a few gaps. Did you import some of them? I ask only because that’s what I did on some earlier ones. Just curious as to how long you’ve been writing here.
Sharon, thank you for sharing. And so glad you were able to receive grace and love (and find David!) after all that you went through. When we leave a church, God never leaves us. And he calls us back to a church home that will help us heal.
Yes, I imported old blogs I had. I’ve only been active here for about 2 months. My older blog posts didn’t have a home, so I decided to upload them here. I’m not sure that made any difference or that anyone ever sees them—but I know where they are!
We could be twins! LOL! I, too, had an old blog with posts that no longer had a home, and that's why I imported the "best of" when I started here in late 2022. But Substack back then wasn't nearly what it is now. So, I jumped on the Medium bandwagon up until two months ago. Now, I'm back — mostly because of Notes. Welcome! Clearly, you're up and running quickly. And yes, having those older posts is a good thing. You never know when someone (like me) will show up and start snooping around to learn what you've been up to. 😊
I do love Notes just like you, and thank you for the warm welcome! I’m so glad we connected here!
Thank you for sharing that. I left my church more than a decade ago. My parents are buried there. I was married there. For a time I was part of leadership there. The church split over internal, prideful nonsense a decade ago. My heart and my faith were so broken that I’ve only returned once, for my mother’s funeral. It took years of God whispering for me to admit that I needed Him and that I needed fellowship with other Christians. That led me to start a Bible Study at the assembly plant I worked at. That lead me to a Men’s group which led me to a Celebrate Recovery group. I left the assembly plant and participate in a weekly study and worship at my new job. I don’t go to church in the traditional sense but I make worship wherever I am. Wherever I go, God is already there. He is always at work around us. It is good to have that fellowship, that community of church. I think many struggle like you did. They feel pain, loss, even fear of the unknown….of being disconnected. God is always at work, He is always on the move….we cannot both stay where we are and follow Him at times. Moses, Abraham, Issac, David, Daniel, any of the disciplines….especially Paul. God prompted changes that led them all to experience God more profoundly and serve Him greatly.
Thank you, Brian. I love that you started at Bible study at work—that is the church!
The church, the body of Christ, the Ecclesia is us. The church is wherever we pray and study together.
https://open.substack.com/pub/ianclantam/p/come-on-in?r=4ptwgh&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Thank you for writing that - it is so hard 💜🙏🏽
I've been through a church transition, too. Not because there was anything wrong with the church, simply because God called us to move. I didn't know how much we would need this new community in our next season, but I'm so grateful God did. 💛
I’m so glad you made it through—it’s a tough wilderness. God is good.