[Worship] prayer request follow up

[Brent and Jill Richardson <brichar@enteract.com>]

Hi all.  I have been absent for quite a while.  I am sure there must be a 
thousand messages for me to go through, but I'm avoiding it.  I am deeply 
grateful and humbled by all of you who have been praying for my church 
situation.  Some of you wrote that you are still praying, even though I 
have not updated you in so long.  I greatly appreciate that.  Because of 
the workload and stress that situation has placed me under, and also 
because of vacation and surgery in the past month, I have not exactly been 
current on my e-mail.  Sorry.

As I said earlier, several key members of my church have left following the 
pastor's departure.  The remaining people were left to decide whether to 
carry on or close.  There has been no real decision, as of yet.  After I 
wrote that note, I felt the Lord letting me know that things were going to 
get worse before they got better.  That was not what I wanted to hear.  I 
spent one Sunday morning shut up in the copy room crying until there was 
nothing left.  Some of you have been there.  It did indeed get worse.  Two 
other families are gone.  Ian asked exactly how small was a small 
church.  A valid question, since I myself have had a few chuckles from my 
American brethren who talk about their small churches of 2 or 300!  At this 
point, we are left with about 18 adults and a few kids.  (By the way, I 
appreciated the humor Ian, I needed that!)
The sentiment is not for going ahead.  Please continue to pray, as we have 
some decisions to make regarding whether we will move, share a facility, or 
quit.  God has not made it totally clear yet, but we need to combat the 
discouragement that is coming from the pit, not from God.

Good things are happening too, though.  As a result of the departures, I am 
again leading worship after four years instead of just planning it.  I 
wasn't sure I wanted to do that, but now I find I love it again.  And God 
has released some of my inhibitions.  With so little to lose and only Him 
to hang onto, I no longer care what anyone thinks if I raise my hands or 
whatever.  He has been so good that my love for Him is pouring out in ways 
I couldn't show before.  We have had some good worship, despite our numbers 
and sadness.  Better, I think, than in a long time.  Our interim pastor, 
too, is a man of God and just what we need at this time.

Whatever happens, the pastor and I are feeling strongly that this work is 
not done.  If we are the last two standing, so be it.  We are interested in 
replanting the church, if that is what God wills.  I told him I would ask 
around on the list if there is anyone in the western suburbs of Chicago 
with a similar calling and an interest in joining us.  Needless to say, 
it's starting from nothing, but with God, nothing is all you need.  If you 
or anyone you know is interested, and feels called by the Lord, please let 
me know.

Having said that, can I make a general plea?  I have read a lot on this 
list about people being dissatisfied with their churches, angry, tired, 
etc.  Can I beg you to not leave the church God has placed you in unless 
you clearly hear Him calling you to do so?  We in this country have so 
gotten into the consumer mentality of church.  "It's not meeting my needs; 
I'll go elsewhere."  Folks, that's not what church is all about.  It's 
about being part of a family God has placed you in to serve Him and 
them.  In the last few weeks, I've heard a lot of "God is leading me to 
go," but these people's actions and words have not squared with Scripture 
and the way God acts.  I love them and continue to be their friend, but 
"God told me" is sometimes an spiritual sounding excuse for "I'm not 
happy."  Please, please, remain where God has placed you until He releases 
you.  The pain of those left behind is great, and you won't really feel any 
better either in the long run.  Work out the tough stuff.  Kind of like a 
marriage, huh?

I guess that's the update for now.  Thanks for the prayers.
Jill

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