Some of you may or may not know that we are leaving church in a few weeks. It has been a hard decision but a decision we have been thinking and praying about for over a year now and we have decided the time is now right. We decided at the beginning of this year to leave but had a few commitments including Bible Study that we wanted to continue with until the end of this year. We love our Bible Study and have so enjoyed these past couple of years learning more about God with them.
I have really enjoyed my time at CIM and I have learnt so much about ministry, God has grown me in so many ways for which I am enormously thankful and CIM has given me the opportunities to do so many new things that I would have never tried before.
It hasn't been an easy decision, I have been going to church there since I arrived in Australia over 3 1/2 years ago and SP joined me about 8 months after that. Most of my friends go to CIM and although I know leaving churches doesn't stop the friendships I know it will change some of them a little so it will mean really making the effort to catch up and hang out, which we are very keen to do. I will miss seeing everyone so much each Sunday.
There are a few different reasons why we are leaving, one of which is we are keen to go to a morning church closer to home. We have checked a couple of churches out over the past few months and are swaying towards one church in particular but we haven't totally made up our mind as yet. Both of the churches we have tried have been amazingly welcoming and the word of God was preached clearly and with conviction, we also felt looked after, but we can only go to one.
Please pray for wisdom as we think through what church we go to next, we want to be godly in our decision, we want to go to a church that is community/outward focused where we can use the new skills and gifts God has given us to build and grow God's kingdom and of course we want a church that preaches Christ crucified.
I am going to try and organise a little get together before we leave so keep posted and I will let you now about it when I have the details.
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6 comments:
Wow. that's a tough decision...and a BIG one. I wish you well. God's family is sooooo big!
Wow! I had no idea that you were going to change churches. I think it sounds like a great idea though to go to one nearer to home.
Hi Nixter, I had no idea! That really makes me sad. But I can understand you wanting to attend a closer church - you can be much more involved that way.
Quite a few of the "veterans" are leaving at the end of the year, for various reasons. The church is very different to when I joined 3 years ago. Probably the nature of inner city churches though - people are there for a time then tend to move out to the suburbs.
I pray that God will bless you guys richly. I look forward to hearing where you end up...
Thanks so much for the prayers Craig - it is sad but it is exciting too, I look forward to using the gifts God has given me in another church.
Church certainly has changed, you must have joined not long after me!
It is a tough decision. I have made that one (apparently incorrectly) 3 times in the past 2 years. Anyway, I know that it is not easy and I hope you find a really great new church to call home.
Thanks heaps Kristina :)
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