Healthy Churches

[bjerwin (bjerwin)]

I just came back from church, and I wanted to share how wonderful it is to belong to a healthy Christ church.

After coming out of TBS/GGWO, after for years being taught that we were the BEST, the ELITE, the most loved of God, the best taught, I am so glad to have found out that that was all BULL****.

For those of you you have left TBS/GGWO, when you are ready (and sometimes it does take a while) I guarantee you that there are many many good healthy churches out there where you will be preached the "glorious gospel" and fellowship with folks that actually live like Christ.

My church is currently in James, and specifically today James 2. While there are about 5000 adults in our church, and the offerings total about $70,000.00 a week, it is a church that gives most of what they take in to the poor, the helpless, and other ministries that minister directly to these less fortunate folks in our neighborhood and throughout the world. We bought a Walmart a couple of years ago, because we had grown out of our 1/2 large strip mall church house. It is the most beautiful church I have ever seen, mostly because of the folks that sit in the pews and the message that comes from the pulpuit. I don't miss the stained glass at all, nor the plush seats. This week specifically all the offerings of the whole weekend, every time was going to others, none to the local assembly.

I just wanted to encourage those of you who are discouraged with churches now. When you are ready, healthy churches are out there, where Jesus walks among us, where we can learn, grow and love others. Churches where the gospel is not just preached, but lived.

Love you all special!!

[bosubey (bosubey)]

I want to echo bj's post. My wife and I have been called to a church of about 40 adults. I am the worship pastor and I teach the mid-week bible study. As a church we pay our bills and just barely pay our pastor. He is barely making his own mortgage payment and his wife and he share one vehicle. Yet he is contantly looking for ways to bless others even if it comes out of his own pocket. Our people get saved, grow, get blessed and then answer God's call and head out to do His service. My wife and I have also been called to serve overseas. Our pastor and the church are the least likely to support us and yet the pledge has already been made. When we were on the mission field for TBS we never heard from anyone or received a penny in the 3 1/2 years we were out there. Go figure.

[arron (arron)]

we have a small church but is is growing. we all love THE LORD and worship as HE says. there is shouting ( i am pentecostal ) speaking in tongues and other gifts. we be sure we base everything in our church on THE BIBLE. we use the kjv only in our church. we have prayer for the people and for others who do not come to our church. we feel the power of GOD there

[jayso (jayso)]

Bosubey, your testimony is inspiring. It always seemed to me that TBS/GG missions were run like "franchises". The missionaries earned and spent their own money to start a "branch ministry", then they bought CHS' tapes and video classes to run an "extension Bible College", THEN would tithe 10% of all their offerings to "home base".

A healthy church has the mind of Jesus.. who came to "serve, not to be served".

Arron, nice to see your posts on the GGWO board. I'm with you brother about basing everything in our churches on the BIBLE.