I always try to start this blog back up but life seems to get in the way. Well, I am going to try again but I will not make any promises to write on a regular basis. At this time in life, we all seem to be somewhat stressed due to COVID 19. We have been told to stay home, wear a mask, and keep 6t apart. Some have listened to those rules, others have not, and it really is each person's decision to do what they feel is right for their families. Church has moved to online services, and yes I firmly believe that the CHURCH is NOT a building but rather the people, so it should not matter how we come together to worship. I get others to miss that personal contact but it is not required in true worship.
However, it is nice to have, and I do miss it every week. In a sermon I heard today the minister mentioned sharing our burdens with the church (people) asking for prayers when in need and to pray for others. However, I know there are many that have felt that it all falls on deaf ears. This reminds me of a story I once read about a family who left the church and has not ever returned due to the actions of some members.
This is the story:
My name is Stacy, I grew up going to church every week and I loved every moment of attending this church. However, I have now left this church I once so loved. This was due to a variety of reasons and had been going on for a very long time. Every time I requested prayers for family members the church would at first pray but then when congregational prayer request were sent out their request were almost always left out. When I would ask for help with finding material to help our children grow closer to God and believe the Bible is speaking the truth, the Church (members) would say yes let me gather things for you or that they would ask someone they knew could help. Sadly, that is where it ended, no help ever came even after reminders were given.
One time my teenage son tried to commit suicide after my husband had left us. I could not afford therapy at the time and I asked for help from my church family. The minister said he would get with some people and find some help. However, nothing happened I even asked him about it a second time and third time, but nothing. I remarried a year later and my new husband was a great help in getting my son the help he needed.
Going back to prayer requests, I asked a group from the church on Facebook to pray for my family members who had been in a horrible wreck. My cousin and his wife had a bad accident that totaled his truck and could have taken their lives. The wife was driving at the time and lost control of the truck. The passenger airbag did not deploy and her husband ended up with head injuries. Of course, the post that was made had some likes and comments about praying but that is where it ended. I even mentioned the prayer request in the small group that we attended, the man leading the prayers forgot to mention my request. However, the following week when the church sent out the concerns of the church my prayer request was conveniently left off. That wasn't even the last straw. See, I was helping out an older gentleman in my church at the time. I would go and check on him daily, help clean his house, and prepared meals for him. Well, he had to be rushed to the hospital and I kept in contact with the hospital about him. When I mentioned on Facebook the request for prayers for my family, there were individuals that asked about this gentleman even though I had made a separate post all about him. Not one church member asked how my family was doing after the wreck.
So, my family and I no longer attend a church. We have decided to worship at home together and occasionally invite other families to join us. I still have a hard time even worshiping in my own home. I have lost all trust in the church and in god because of this church I grew up in and once loved.
Who Are "Your People""
2 years ago
