>From a church-leader friend in the U. S. :

(May 2002)

The voice on the other end said, “This is ___________. I’m sitting under a tree in a park near our home [many states away from Colorado} and you are my first call. I never thought I would have to call you with what I am about to tell you.”

Well…this wild olde man here (that’s me…WR) still has most of his mind and a very vivid imagination. My mind went all kinds of places, knowing this pastor for a number of years. What he shared with me startled me…BUT…hard truth be known, I am hearing more and more and more of this in very recent months.

It’s ugly. It’s wrong. It’s sad. And it eventually kills the spirit of churches that had good beginnings…but will most likely have mediocre endings (whenever in the future) at best.

My friend continued, “Two elders came in an hour ago and told me that I was being terminated with no warning. They called it termination without cause…whatever that means. I need to get everything out of my office by 8 AM tomorrow morning. And I am to tell people that I’ve all of a sudden realized that God is leading me elsewhere.”

How can supposedly bright men, elders in a church, lie like that? Fortunately, my friend told them he would not lie…since his resignation was neither his, nor possibly God’s idea. Good for him…in the midst of getting hit so hard! It’s amazing and so serious that this is coming from a large evangelical, supposedly Bible proclaiming church…that has little clue about relationship and community. All sizes of churches are too often facing these same kinds of issues.

In part, he further informed me, “When I asked what this was about, their only answer was that I don’t fit here any more and that I ask too many questions on how the elders need to better support the rest of our worn out staff…thus I am causing division.”

Wes speaking:…divisive is NOT what this man is. If you knew him…that is not how you would define him. In this calendar year I’ve sat in his office…and I’ve met with the church staff (he is an associate pastor, responsible for overseeing much of the major ministries of this particular large church), who, to a person told me that he has brought life and hope to the staff team as never before.

He is an excellent teacher, and has impacted hundreds in this congregation. He has one precious wife, and three adult, married kids and their spouses, and a first grandbaby…an excellent family. If ever asked to put only one word out there to define this good man…it would easily be FAITHFUL.

And now this…out of the blue…no warning…nada…nothing. Boom. Be gone be tomorrow…as this couple’s hearts break in bewilderment today.

When with this church staff in recent months, it was my very easy observation that everyone is over-worked, weary and tired to the max…barely holding on. But these “good elders” are telling them to “suck it up and stop whining. It’s a tough world out there. We don’t get the rest we need and want either.” Inside some churches and ministry organizations it’s tougher than “out there.”

Well…faithful prayer partner…what’s the next thing you would have said to this man who has just lost his job after years of faithful service? Intriguingly…this man and his wife also happen to be one of our WGL Prayer Partners.

Thus…this day began. And I now want to sing now…about those elders…

Open the eyes of THEIR hearts Lord…

Friends…this kind of stuff is more rampant that you would want to know…some times even in the “best of places.” Then we get the calls. I share all of this today so that you may know, afresh, we need your faithful, prayerful intercession more than ever.

Thanks for allowing me to vent a bit from the depths of my heart. And as you read this, pray that my own heart will move back to Him singing…

Holy, holy, holy IS the Lord.

Thankfully. Aren’t we all glad of that!??!!

If you doubt at all that this is war we are in, a significant spiritual war, a battle for the hearts and minds of our leaders whom claim to be Christians…then come and live with us for a month, or even a week, and experience with us what we hear, how we respond, what we do.