Around the same time we were seeing the success of the after school program we began in Lethbridge, as well as the excitement of new possibilities in Edmonton, things in Lethbridge had begun changing in ways that would end up very seriously rocking our life, our relationships, and our faith.
I had been involved in helping establish the creative, young, and free church we attended in Lethbridge. The pastor had been a mentor and close personal friend of mine for over ten years. The church had graciously risked their facility and reputation for the mercy based program we'd begun and run for two years. The pastor along with the church had been supporting Kate and I to move to Edmonton since 2004. It was a church willing to serve, to live differently, to take a risk for the sake of love.
We didn't recognize the changes as they first began to happen. Basically, as we were pulling away, the church was undergoing a major shift in philosophy toward a far more traditional, conservative, fundamentalist core. As it did so, support of the after school program, and the team organizing it quickly diminished. So too did the support for Kate and myself moving to Edmonton.
Only as we were beginning to realize these changes and their potential consequences, the pastor of the church, our biggest personal support, took a sabbatical (an extended vacation). The sabbatical was to last six months. We were to move away from Lethbridge in six months. He had been the pastor since the church began, so his understanding of our position in moving to Edmonton to establish a church community was unmatched. Though he never stopped supporting us personally, his influence in the church, and his ability to support us in that community was gone.
While on sabbatical, the church asked him to step down as pastor because of major differences between his original vision for the church's direction, and the new core beliefs and values that were beginning to represent the church as it was.
Soon after this, the church asked the organizers of the after school program to stop, and disallowed the use of the building. Soon after this, Kate and I were told that we would no longer be supported as a church plant, or sent with blessing to move to Edmonton.
Within a week, Kate and I, along with our friend Joshua were graciously given the opportunity to be "released" from the church, to go and do as we pleased in Edmonton. They continued to support Kate and I financially every month, no strings attached. It was very strained, but all three of us wanted to leave the best we possibly could. In the spirit of reconciliation and redemption, we wanted to trust our relationship to the church and the direction of the church to God
As we were released, we also chose to release this community. We left every opportunity for future forgiveness to be possible. This was probably one of the most difficult things I've ever done.
One week later we moved away from Lethbridge. We were now ready to enter Edmonton without the support of a church or pastor, no home, no job, just enough income to buy ourselves groceries modestly each month, with our faith and doctrine turned upside down and inside out, and our hearts broken.
We took two months off (ha) at Crowsnest Lake Bible Camp, and moved to Edmonton in September of 2008.
---
Since our move to Edmonton, Kate and Joshua and I have remained in contact with our former church in Lethbridge. As we were broken and hurt, in many more ways than I've shared, so have they been since that time. We've also seen healing in that community, and evidence of growth as they've picked up pieces. Our relationship with them is healing, and their understanding of us and support of us is returning. We continue to bless them as they seek truth, love, and freedom in Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment