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Junior Member
 
Group: Awaiting Activation
Last Login: 11/10/2008 1:02:04 PM
Posts: 13,
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When leaving a church, how do you tell the students?
Behold...Blue Steel
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Forum Expert
Group: Moderators
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 8:18:26 PM
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Maverick,
Let me say there is no easy way to make that happen. No matter what political angle you take, be prepared, you will crush some hearts....and make some people very very happy.
Our former pastor asked me to announce it to the church on Sunday morning. You could imagine how the visitors felt!!! Again I assured them of our love and needing to follow God's leading just like I had taught them for the past 9 years. There were a lot of questions, many of which I avoided, and a lot of damage control.
Be prayerful, speak gently.
Matt
Forum Moderator
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/14/2008 7:19:29 AM
Posts: 12,
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| Well, it's not fun and there definitely will be hurt feelings among the teens and parents especially. But if you're clear with them and honest (without giving harmful or hurtful details, info, or reasons) most will respect you for that. I still keep in touch with my last ministry's teens and that helps them understand I didn't "dump" them. Talk with your pastor and see what he wants. I still have kids who are angry or don't understand but if you do what is best, they will be the minority.
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Forum Guru
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/18/2009 7:13:05 PM
Posts: 68,
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Dear Maverick:
I have had to say goodbye twice.
I grilled a steak and ate it in front of the kids. I ate with much lip-smacking and yum noises. When they asked for some I pushed them a tray of baby bottles and baby food. I pointed to the easel on which I had written Hebrews 5:12-14 and said I’d give them steak if they could tell me the lesson I was trying to teach them. They were fairly confused but really wanted some steak so they dove into discussion to come up with the answer before I ate all the steak. With a little direction they eventually got to the point that they have to learn to feed themselves from the Bible and take hold of their faith. I allow the kids to discuss the verses and come up with the lesson together but make each kid tell me the lesson in their own words. It’s really neat to see them discover different aspects of the lesson. Then I brought out more steak and twice-baked potatoes for an Easter Feast. We celebrated communion with the loaf of bread and grape juice at the end of the meal.
I then told them I was leaving at the end of the school year. We cried. Some were angry. Many still keep in touch via Facebook. The Holy Spirit has led me to new challenges and ministries.
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