Transition Team.....

Sometimes you can look back and say “Ohhhhhhh….THAT is why this happened!” Sometimes you never know why. But I DO have some insight into our church woes from the past. I wondered, “God, why would send me away from a church I love, only to send me TO a church about to go through a split, then when I really love THOSE people….send me away to another state!” But sometimes God does allow you to get a glimpse of the big picture and how you fit in…that is a special privilege when it does happen.

I love Macedonia Baptist Church. And when doctrinal differences arose, I had a feeling God didn’t want me there anymore, but I fought it. Family advised, “Just go!” But I held on and cried till finally we felt we had no choice. Then the church search began. Don’t get me wrong - I love visiting churches. It is so much fun to see the different ways people worship…to get ideas about different ways to handle programs and services…to meet new people. But I hate church searches. I always feel I am turning up my nose at people when I visit and then DON’T choose their church. Seems sorta like saying “You are not good enough for me!” I know that is NOT what I’m saying, but I’m afraid THEY think I am. As a matter of fact, the next church we chose after Macedonia was NOT the church I wanted…..it was the church where God wanted us!

I already had a church in mind when we started our search….I wanted to go to Rock Springs Congregational Methodist. I loved Brother Benny and already considered him my pastor. I loved the music, the people and already had friends there. But, just to be fair, I would visit other churches with my family. My husband did point out that my policy was to always try to find a church in the immediate community that we were living in so we would be serving in our own community. Ok, ok…we’ll keep looking…but not too hard.

We had visited First Baptist Church of Jackson 8 years or 9 years previously but had felt it very cold and sorta “uppity” and did not want to visit it at all. So we visited several other churches…nope…they weren’t right for us…ha! One church – no young people at all. Another church – dead. My friend, Bambi, begged us to give First Baptist another try; she swore it had changed BIG time in those 8 or 9 years. Reluctantly we went – uh, oh…she was right…they HAD changed. This was not the cold, uppity church anymore. The Spirit was here. But, the Sunday School was going through Rick Warren’s 40 Days stuff….I was no fan of that program, having already gone through it once and found people fawned over his programs WAY too much. But I did let Rebecca go to Awana’s that Wednesday. Uh, oh….Becca fell in love with the program and people there and they fell in love with her. No, no, no….I want to go to Rock Springs!

We visited another church, then revisited Rock Springs. None of us could get a peace about joining Rock Springs. When we revisited First Baptist, we began to see that our talents – Rodney’s Videography, my drama ministry background, my library ministry background, Vickie’s bass playing, all our drama skills for the “Walk through Bethlehem” production, etc – fit perfectly into what First Baptist needed. I also began to see that what my teen girls needed was not a perfect youth group but a youth director and youth group that would love them. They had been badly hurt by the last youth group and this was more important than a “deeper” program for them at this time in their life. The youth director’s, Scottie’s, strongest point was loving his youth. God started making it clear to Rodney and I that First Baptist was where He wanted us. I started relenting, “Ok, Lord, wherever you want us.”

So we joined First Baptist knowing it was where God planned for us to be. We jumped in with both feet and immediately became, not just part of the church family, but almost like part of the staff! Rodney started a Videography ministry. I took over the drama ministry. I lobbied to keep the library from being dismantled and started revitalizing it. I became the assistant Sunday School teacher for my class. Vickie immediately joined the youth band then got to go on a trip of a lifetime – Zambi, Africa – which changed her life! Michelle loved the youth and started integrating into every program. And Rebecca…well, let’s just say I was known as “Rebecca’s Mom” to most there. The “Walk Through Bethlehem” production was just up our alley….drama…that’s what we do! And then…..the church split. WHAT! We just got away from all that…no way! What are you DOING, God?!

(continued in part 2 tomorrow)

Below: My daughter, Vickie, and a group from First Baptist of Jackson in Zambia, Africa