How did this make an impact?

  1. The music of life is played on the tension of what is and what is becoming. Let the song of Christ flow through your tears.

    It’ll be okay. Just breathe.

  2. Thanks pastor Rick.
    It’s been 3years since certain people i had in key places in the church sabotaged me, caused members to dessert our church. We want through financial hardship, lost our building. We basically came to “ground zero”.
    I have struggled to get back up again all along since then. I have prayed, fasted, forgiven the perpetrators and people who desserted me despite all God has done for them through our ministry.
    I am grateful that God has kept my family safe all through this storm. Though the devil has been working hard to scatter us.
    Please pray with me.
    Pastor Samuel.

    • God bless you pastor Samuel! I am currently pastoring in Puerto Rico and can definitely relate! I will pray for you and your family! :)

    • Level ground under the cross my heart goes to Pastor Samuel, I seems your words are not encouraging to read.. At some point being a Pastor we might get wrong, but that does mean that members should capitalize on that and dessert the church and leave the Pastor bleeding. When Pastor Sam said OUR CHURCH, it doesn’t mean he is owning the church, he is just sharing the painful experience he had with some self serving people.. Yeah, we know that God is positioning His people on the battle ground, we can do nothing about that but to pray and trusts Him who called us.. But don’t school us, that the problem when people leaving the Church is on the Pastor, as if we don’t feed, love and serve them.. That is unfair words to say, because you don’t really know the real score, though forgiveness is already given, but sometimes the scars in there. That is we always pour our hearts to God to give us strength to go on.. SPEAK WITH LOVE MY BROTHER.. Chuck Swindoll once said, SO MANY PEOPLE STOP, BECAUSE TOO FEW PEOPLE SAY GO.. To Pastor Sam, my brother, keep serving, never lost hope.. The gates of hades will not prevail against the Church, keep in mind, we as Church is on the attacking side, the devil is on the defensive side, and the Church will always win the battle.. May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, shine on you, strengthen you, bless the church you are serving even more, and bless your family too.. In due time you will reap the harvest, stay faithful to your calling my brother..

      Pastor Roy Martinez
      Senior Pastor
      Jesus the Sure Foundation, Christian Community Church
      Valenzuela City, Philippines

    • @LevelGround – As someone who’s experienced more than 1 church division or split, as an associate rather than primary target of the unfortunate schisms, I empathize for & pray with Pastor Samuel. He needs support, encouragement, and love, regardless of his specific situation. It would’ve been better had your reply been condensed to a loving question like, “Did God reveal to you any contribution you had to the rift & any growth experiences as a result you can praise Him for?”
      Pastor Samuel seemed rather contrite in his post, and I trust God continues to work on, in, and through him as he does each of us who live to serve Him.

      In situations I’ve been upfront & close to, I can truly say the splitting dissensions were not orchestrated by God, and ended up hurting many people in a variety of ways. Sheep scattered as the shepherd was stricken, and in every case the end state of the dividers was much lesser than before they divided from the pastor.

      While we live in this body, the world, flesh, and devil will combat our every effort as we serve our Lord. Let’s lift up the arms of our fellow servants, knowing that it pleases Christ. Let’s also leave it to the Holy Spirit to bring conviction to people rather than veer too closely to His role, and in the process drive others further away from the healing God intends for His people who’ve been injured in service.

      I’m concerned the post above could’ve caused Samuel to feel more condemned rather than encourage him in the direction I trust God has been leading him in.
      That type of communication would’ve better mirrored the spirit of what you aimed to suggest he do.
      Please consider this for similar future communications.

      Paul (guided by the Holy Spirit) in his letters specifically named people who came against him.
      God permitted those names to stand for time & eternity to serve as an example of how not to be as a believer. Paul didn’t sin or err – he in righteous indignation & guidance by the Holy Spirit wrote about how he was wronged in his service of Christ & His body the church.

      Blessings in Christ

  3. Great stuff Pastor Rick Thanks so much!

  4. Excellent advice.

  5. Thank you