tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650900400282023195.post8623616645735799281..comments2023-04-05T04:26:56.712-05:00Comments on What Really Matters: Your Voice CountsSet Freehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02297157352927686694noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650900400282023195.post-91923572263120376402008-07-19T09:16:00.000-05:002008-07-19T09:16:00.000-05:00To anonymous,You are ABSOLUTELY right! I think we ...To anonymous,<BR/>You are ABSOLUTELY right! I think we lose a sense of who WE really are because we are so focused on someone else. You really thought you were helping, but you realize you were helping build an image for someone else. I know God has so much more for us to do in our communities and in the world.Set Freehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02297157352927686694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650900400282023195.post-58983979115648556142008-07-19T08:43:00.000-05:002008-07-19T08:43:00.000-05:00This is such a good post. I was in a controlling c...This is such a good post. I was in a controlling church and you described it perfectly. You are told to "dream big". Then if you do get the courage to tell those in charge your "big dreams" (especially if it's ministry), you are told that the timing is not right or that you should submit to the "big dream" of the pastor. Has anyone noticed that no ministries are birthed in churches like this? The controlling pastor is only interested in growing HIS ministry--not the Body of Christ. As a result, many people who are called to the ministry in churches like this become frustrated and burn out quickly. <BR/><BR/>When you are in the middle of it all, you feel like if you stay faithful (to that church), that ONE DAY you will fulfill what is in your heart. Some even think that you MUST stay there to be in rightstanding with God. But what I've noticed, is that the very DAY you get the courage to leave that church, you begin to see more clearly what God has called YOU to do on this earth and things begin to work to get you where you belong. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing that you truly are doing what God called YOU to do to further His Kingdom! Everyone has a gift and a call on the inside. Don't let anyone tell you that you should ignore it to serve them instead!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650900400282023195.post-60491826967536897092008-07-18T14:49:00.000-05:002008-07-18T14:49:00.000-05:00I was also at a controlling church just like you d...I was also at a controlling church just like you descrbed. I felt like the only thing I was good for was to be a servant. Not a servant of God but a servant of the church and the people in charge there. I am so thankful that I saw the light before I lost any resemblance of the person that I really am.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650900400282023195.post-9286583288685357372008-07-18T11:30:00.000-05:002008-07-18T11:30:00.000-05:00To anonymous, I'm glad you said what you did about...To anonymous, <BR/>I'm glad you said what you did about self worth. It does tear away at your self confidence. You begin to feel that everything you think or would want to say will never be considered, or even worse balked at. It basically shuts a person down. It is sad, but I think over time it makes people develope an inner dialogue that says something like, "Maybe I'm just not good enough." I think people don't even realize it's happening, but one day they will recognize how they have been hurt.Set Freehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02297157352927686694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7650900400282023195.post-33214790773488383302008-07-18T11:05:00.000-05:002008-07-18T11:05:00.000-05:00I just started reading your blog and this is very ...I just started reading your blog and this is very good. A while back, I was an employee at a church like this and I have experienced these things first hand. It really can tear at your self worth and self confidence. I didn't realize that this was so common, but your story sounds very familiar to what I experienced. Since leaving that environment, I have experienced God's restoration in many ways. I look forward to reading more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com