This article was very helpful to me. I've been pastoring a small church for 5 years. It went through a very difficult conflict. Three previous pastors battled a very divisive man who managed to run them off. When I came, he attempted the same thing, but I refused to be driven out. He eventually left, but the toll cost us about 30 people. Today the church is at peace for the first time in 10 years, but our attendance is under 20. I'm experiencing discouragement and a sense of failure, even to the point of not sleeping well at night. I have printed off your article and will be reading it over and over as a reminder.
This article was very helpful to me. I've been pastoring a small church for 5 years. It went through a very difficult conflict. Three previous pastors battled a very divisive man who managed to run them off. When I came, he attempted the same thing, but I refused to be driven out. He eventually left, but the toll cost us about 30 people. Today the church is at peace for the first time in 10 years, but our attendance is under 20. I'm experiencing discouragement and a sense of failure, even to the point of not sleeping well at night. I have printed off your article and will be reading it over and over as a reminder.