I have not posted here much over the last several years and honestly only read occasionally, but a phone call this morning just frustrated me to no end and I needed to vent and honestly would like some feedback. Allow me to bring everyone up to speed. The last time I had really posted on here was 3 years ago when my hand was pretty much forced to leave the COG if I were to do what I knew God was leading me to do in going to work alongside a friend in an independent church he had planted. Not long after planting the church, his wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer and he needed help and honestly was not sure he could continue to pastor. I spoke with my then AB about the possibility of bringing that church into the COG and was told it was something we might pursue. A week later, after I had announced my resignation from the church I had pastored for 15 years, I was given the ultimatum to either NOT go to work with my friend or to turn in my credentials. I turned in my credentials and walked away. I’m not here to rehash that whole thing. I have no regrets. The only reason I bring all that up is because of how it plays into this conversation this morning. Long story short, my friends wife beat the cancer and is doing well, and eventually, it was time for me to leave that church and I turned down several offers to pastor existing churches as I felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to plant a new work. We began the leg work and started meeting with a handfull of people last summer. As we enter our 10th month it is time for us to take a bold step of faith and move away from meeting once a week in a motel and to rent a place that will be ours enabling a much wider field of ministry. We found a property on the busiest street in Galesburg right in the heart of the business area and we are trying to make this move. It’s going to be a financial strain as we must make changes to the building as well as furnish it to make it suitable for worship. With what we have saved, we really need in the neighborhood of $12,000 to make this move and do it the right way. So, I started a Go Fund Me campaign… and this is where the conversation comes in.
It is odd, very odd and little sick. The thing about WHO is the real Body of Christ.I say that from years of experience of looking from the inside and looking back inside from the outside. Just a Sunday or so ago our pastor was preaching saying we should pray for all churches in our area that they would grow, the Baptist, Methodist, 4SQ, Presbyterian, etc. WE ARE ALL GOD’s CHILDREN.How different from 50-60years ago when all those ‘nominal’ churches were going to hell. I feel for you my brother and understand what you are saying. In my short pastorates I associated and visited the ‘independent’ and associated Pastors in my area. Just being around them I could tell they were interested in souls, I think that is and should be our goal.I love the COG but I would be foolish to think in a world of billions that we are THE WAY.Anyway prayers your direction… Love you bro________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/
It’s my business and the Lords________________
38 Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”39 ¶ But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.40 “For he who is not against us is on our side. Mark 9:38-40Apparently Jesus didn’t have a problem with someone from another group doing the work of the kingdom. Leaves me to question if the church of God is interested in adding souls to the kingdom if they aren’t coming in under the cog umbrella________________“Hell will be filled with people that didn’t cuss, didn’t drink, and may even have been baptized. Why? Because none of those things makes someone a Christian.”
Now we know in the past in Darrell’s case that some wrongs were done.But currently, a pastor(s) only suspects that he would receive pushback if he were to openly donate to Darrell’s church.I say that pastor should do it openly. We’ll never know unless he does. Hopefully, times have changed________________
________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/
I know that negative attitude exists, but I think the # is smaller and smaller every year, thank the Lord. ________________Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/
That is so great! I follow Rick’s blog and he is the real deal. I would love to see the Lord place him in a position where he could have a far greater impact than just Illinois________________“Hell will be filled with people that didn’t cuss, didn’t drink, and may even have been baptized. Why? Because none of those things makes someone a Christian.”
That’s wonderful to hear, Darrell (about the donation.) It means so much when there have been problems and the Lord makes things right with your brother. I am thrilled to hear that!Yours was not the only story I heard that went in a similar vein. So sad people lose focus about what it’s all about!I do believe Dr. Hill has a heart for souls, as do many in the COG. Of course, there are always some who have a different agenda, unfortunately. Praying God continues to open doors for you and provide exactly what’s needed________________More of Him…less of me.twitter.com/camiracle77www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=691241499&ref=name
Give me your adddress and I will send a donation.
If you are Facebook friends with Darrell, you can see his gofundme lin________________
If you are Facebook friends with Darrell, you can see his gofundme link I only mail old fashion checks
That is very kind of you. Please make a check to The Quest996 N. Broad Street
That is very kind of you. Please make a check to The Quest996 N. Broad StreetGalesburg, IL 61401
It is just the case that we tend to give most of our attentions to those who are in the Church of God. You may very well deserve FAR BETTER than that…and yet it is still the case.The same holds for fallen men of God and retired men of God. They are now on the outside looking in. A man can give a lifetime to the service of COG ministry, but when he retirees, he may be loved and respected, but, yeah, the phone calls go WAY down. Ideally, the Church of God would put an end to forcing COG ministers to give up their credentials if they remain in good standing. For instance, if I decided to go west, there are so relatively few Churches of God that if I would have to plant a church (something for which I am utterly unqualified) rather than use my ministry in the service of some other church outside the COG–even, apparently, if I would seek to expose them to COG understandings and perhaps bring them into the COG.
Centralized government! Ya gotta love it! ________________Charles A. HutchinsSenior Pastor SPWCCongregational Church of Godwww.spwc.church