{"id":3171,"date":"2012-09-25T10:02:32","date_gmt":"2012-09-25T14:02:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=3171"},"modified":"2012-09-25T10:02:32","modified_gmt":"2012-09-25T14:02:32","slug":"shut-the-door","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/09\/shut-the-door.html","title":{"rendered":"Shut the door"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a>At Special Gathering, we don\u2019t often lose a member. \u00a0There are many reasons for that. \u00a0Yet when we lose a member, it is as difficult for us as any other pastor. \u00a0I meet with many pastors fellowship groups during the month. \u00a0The one enduring subject discussed is the hurt these men and women of God experience when a member leaves the congregation.<\/p>\n

That pain is multiplied when the member is in leadership or has been faithful for many years. \u00a0It doesn\u2019t matter if a pastor loses a member because of a death, a move to another city or state, or a misunderstanding, the hurt is there. And it is real.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>It may appear that rejection could be the overwhelming reason for this pain; and, of course, that is a part of the formula. \u00a0Another cause may be the finances. \u00a0A faithful member is almost always one of the\u00a0principle givers. \u00a0In one church where I was on staff, two families left suddenly. \u00a0This left a gaping hole in the budget of over $40,000. \u00a0The treasurer freaked but not the pastor.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Naturally, these are both burdens; but I\u2019ve found that it is seldom the primary worry of a pastor. \u00a0The focus of most pastors who lose members is a deep interest in the spiritual well-being of the person or family who leaves. I have often been surprised at the level of commitment found within these men and women of God who shepherd a flock.<\/p>\n

At one church where I worked, the laity on staff often joked about forming an Exit Committee\u2013a board responsible for asking difficult people to leave. \u00a0I noticed that the pastors never joined in the laughter and teasing. \u00a0They were serious about the spiritual health of all of their members. \u00a0I suspected that much of their prayer time was spent on the maverick, thereby, binding the problem sheep to their hearts with a greater degree of compassion.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Of course, I am generalizing and there are really bad pastors out there. \u00a0However, the Elmer Gantry\u2019s are few and far between. \u00a0While a pastor may not be a great orator, the cry of their hearts in prayer are almost unanimously pleading for the health and growth of their members.<\/p>\n

As their hearts yearn for answers to why people leave, there seems to be no accounting for men and women who one day get up and go. \u00a0At times, they are called away; and that is a situation that the pastors can reconcile. \u00a0But when the parting has been painful and disruptive, it leaves a deep wound and a longing to bring true closure for the sheep who have wandered away.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>In a few weeks, we will be beginning Pastor Appreciation Month. \u00a0If you are in a church body, remember to pray for your pastors. \u00a0If you aren\u2019t participating in a church body, maybe you should seek one out. \u00a0Perhaps, you are a part of a fellowship that ministers to people who are intellectually disabled, during this time of the year, these folks are often overlooked. \u00a0Be sure to give them a hug of appreciation. \u00a0No person will care as much about your soul as a undershepherd of the flock of Jesus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At Special Gathering, we don\u2019t often lose a member. \u00a0There are many reasons for that. \u00a0Yet when we lose a member, it is as difficult for us as any other pastor. \u00a0I meet with many pastors fellowship groups during the month. \u00a0The one enduring subject discussed is the hurt these men and women of God…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,20,3,40,186,49,16,8,85,4,41],"tags":[690,688,696,7,544,699,715,701,694,689,546,57,545,692,6],"class_list":["post-3171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christianity","category-church","category-developmental-disabilities","category-faith","category-hope","category-inspiration","category-intellectual-disability","category-mentally-challenged-community","category-prayer-2","category-simple-truths","category-spirituality","tag-autism-spectrum","tag-christianity","tag-church","tag-developmental-disabilities-2","tag-elmer-gantry","tag-faith","tag-hope","tag-inspiration","tag-intellectual-disability","tag-mentally-challenged-community","tag-pastor-appreciation-month","tag-prayer","tag-prayer-time","tag-religion","tag-simple-scriptural-truths"],"yoast_head":"\nShut the door - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Shut the door - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"At Special Gathering, we don\u2019t often lose a member. \u00a0There are many reasons for that. \u00a0Yet when we lose a member, it is as difficult for us as any other pastor. \u00a0I meet with many pastors fellowship groups during the month. \u00a0The one enduring subject discussed is the hurt these men and women of God…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/09\/shut-the-door.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2012-09-25T14:02:32+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/specialgathering.files.wordpress.com\/2012\/09\/sheep-in-pen-at-farm2.jpg?w=240&h=160\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Linda G. Howard\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Shut the door - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"nofollow"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Shut the door - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith","og_description":"At Special Gathering, we don\u2019t often lose a member. \u00a0There are many reasons for that. \u00a0Yet when we lose a member, it is as difficult for us as any other pastor. \u00a0I meet with many pastors fellowship groups during the month. \u00a0The one enduring subject discussed is the hurt these men and women of God…","og_url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/09\/shut-the-door.html","og_site_name":"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith","article_published_time":"2012-09-25T14:02:32+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/specialgathering.files.wordpress.com\/2012\/09\/sheep-in-pen-at-farm2.jpg?w=240&h=160"}],"author":"Linda G. 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