| Author | Message | ||
| Busymom Registered user Username: Busymom Post Number: 35 Registered: 4-2004 |
This spring it will be one year since I decided to leave the Adventist church. A new Adventist Pastor has just started pastoring at the church in town. He called this week asking if he could visit with me. Last year I had sent a letter to the church board asking to have my membership removed. I still see people from the church. The woman who babysits for me every week is an Adventist. She has said to me that she thinks it isn't right that I didn't meet with the Adventist Pastor when I left. Most people who have contacted me say I left because of hurt feelings, which wasn't the case. Anyways, my first reaction was to go ahead and meet with the new Pastor and discuss my problems with Adventist theology. We really enjoy the nondenominational church we go to now and I have no intentions of going back. My husband feels since I have no intention of going back I shouldn't meet with him. Does any one have any positive stories of having met with Adventist Pastors? | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1587 Registered: 11-2002 |
Dear Busymom, Do you really want to spend your time visiting with the SDA minister? Your name is Busymom and that tells me right there a bit about scheduling free time. If you want to know the response former SDA's get from SDA's about leaving then read the Bucky site. I'll pray you make the right decision on this for your situtation. And, yeah, for some reason SDA's always get back to the hurt feelings line. I guess they know there are a lot of rude SDA's but they are unaware of how goofy the religion itself is. Go figure. | ||
| Esther Registered user Username: Esther Post Number: 145 Registered: 5-2004  |
Busymom, I'd pray about it and ask God to take control. He alone knows if meeting with the pastor would be worth your time. If there's a seed to be planted, He will put you where He wants you, if not...He still knows best! I will pray for you this weekend that He will make it clear for you. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1478 Registered: 12-2003  |
Busymom, I echo Esther's response. I will pray this weekend that you'll know whether or not to meet with him. If God wants to plant a seed or nudge this man's conscience, He may want you to visit. On the other hand, you see that there's really no point. There's really not a formula for this dilemma. Each pastor is different. I'll pray for you. Meanwhile, I "predict" that this Easter will be completely new a meaningful event for you. It has become such a reverent, wonderful, holy time--I love the week leading up to Easter, thinking of everything Jesus did during those days before His crucifixion. The Good Friday service is always moving, and Easter is just a celebration. It has completely new meaning! I finally understand why Christians have always made a BIG DEAL about Easter! Colleen | ||
| Loneviking Registered user Username: Loneviking Post Number: 320 Registered: 7-2000 |
Well, I have a friendly relationship with the new SDA pastor where I live. Both he and his wife were converts to Adventism. His dad is Assembly of God---which he was before converting over to Adventism. We've had some very frank discussions on the problems with Adventist views of inspiration; interpretation of the Bible; various SDA beliefs. He see's some of the problems and agrees that the traditional SDA culture of legalism needs to be changed. Still, he's a diehard EGW fan (used to work for Amazing Facts)and totally supports all of the doctrines---but he's not obnoxious about it as some pastors can be. So, we agree to disagree and get along pretty well........... | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1095 Registered: 3-2004  |
Busymom, I have put your name and situation in my prayer list and will pray for you each day. I celebrated an anniversary in January. That is when I decided not to rejoin the SDA church by baptism or any other method. That is when I discovered the web site about EGW and her plagiarism and decided to study SDA doctrine. God has been so good. When I decided not to rejoin and decided that EGW was a false prophet, I felt this burden taken off my shoulders. I did not even know it was there. I know my Savior now and I know I am saved. Praise God we are saved. He is awesome. Diana | ||
| Tealeaves Registered user Username: Tealeaves Post Number: 216 Registered: 5-2004 |
If you feel strongly about your faith, then maybe a visit with you could do the SDA pastor some good. Perhaps it could give HIM a blessing, and some insight into the real reason why people leave the SDA church, that it isn't always because of hurt feelings, as they often like to believe. I would certainly consider talking to him if it were me, because I'd welcome the opportunity to share with him. But that is my personality. So do whatever God leads you to do, -tanya- | ||
| Busymom Registered user Username: Busymom Post Number: 36 Registered: 4-2004 |
Thank you everyone for your prayers. We had over a foot of snow dumped on New England last night. So, I won't be meeting with the Pastor today. I don't think I will reschedule. I know it would be upsetting to my husband if I went through with the meeting. When we talked further about it, he commented that I am a "happy" person now. Not carrying around all the guilt that I used to as an Adventist, has really changed my outlook on life. Even though my husband doesn't attend church with me regularly and questions at times whether God really exists, he has stated that out marriage is stronger now that I am not an Adventist. We both feel that the nondenominational church is excited and happy that we have children that we bring to church. Last sunday our pastor commented that he considers all the children at the church to be full fledged members and values each of them. The Adventist church didn't seem to be very child friendly (only the church school kids participated in the biannual childrens service). Every year at nominating committee time, people were very reluctant to volunteer to teach the kids. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1496 Registered: 12-2003 |
Busymom, I believe you can thank God for making your decision so easy to make today. Between the snow and your husband's opinion, I think you have ample reason never to reschedule the meeting. Isn't it awesom that your husband sees your marriage as stronger and you as a happier person? Praise God! He can now use your relationship with Him to witness to your husband. God never just takes care of one problem at a time when He acts, does He? His moving makes many things begin to fall into place at the same time. He is awesome! Colleen | ||
| Jeannette Registered user Username: Jeannette Post Number: 88 Registered: 3-2003 |
Busymom, where in New England are you? I have a cousin who pastors in New Hampshire and another cousin who attends church in Bridgeport Ct. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1112 Registered: 3-2004 |
Busymom, I am thankful you got all that snow. God did take care of your meeting with the pastor and you do not have to reschedule it. Isn't it awesome how God answers prayers. And I am so glad you husband sees you as a happier person. Keep studying your Bible and stay close to God. He is awesome. Diana | ||
| Skip Registered user Username: Skip Post Number: 2 Registered: 3-2005 |
Busymom: You're better off not dealing with any pastor who refused to see why you really left the church and if you took the time to meet I can just see it all being twisted around in Adventism's eyes. So if it's only been a year that you've been "OUT" of the cult, then give it some more time before you get your feet wet again. It's been a quarter of a Century for me since I left, and I am still not over it. Even today I sometimes have to stop and rethink some ideas to knnow if I picked them up from EGW or the Bible. I guess what I'm saying is "don't waste your time" because that pastor isn't going to change his thinking and accept the truth, or he wouldn't be the "New pastor" in town. If there was a chance you could "change his mind" it may be worth meeting, but I doubt that can still happen to Adventist pastors. Skip | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1518 Registered: 12-2003 |
Welcome, Skip! Glad to have you here. We look forward to hearing your testimony! Colleen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1124 Registered: 3-2004 |
Glad you are here Skip. Let us know more about you and how you found this site. Diana | ||
| Skip Registered user Username: Skip Post Number: 10 Registered: 3-2005 |
"Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 5:44 pm: нн Glad you are here Skip. Let us know more about you and how you found this site. Diana" "Hi Diana: Thanks for your kind words and welcome! I found the site after getting Proclamation from Dale Ratzlaff. Somehow I'd heard of his two books that he sent me along with a sub to Proclamation! Since Linda and I are disabled, we can't get out to any "church" so Proclamation! is just right for us and that's how we found this web site. I had met Richard Tinker years ago when he was working for the SDA Church. He did some of the design work for Adventist Currants that I was involved with Doug Hackleman back in 1984. Just think that was 21 years ago and it seems like it was yesterday. By the way are you a pilot? With a handle like "Flying Lady" I was just wondering. Skip skipbaker@cox.net | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1144 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hi Skip, No I am not a pilot. As a good mother I took my son to the things that interested him. He liked military airplanes and guns. At the age of 14 he joined the Civil Air Patrol, the civilian auxiliary to the USAF. They have a cadet program. They also need adults to help the teenagers so on my son's suggestion, I joined also. I liked to go flying with the pilots when they used the CAP plane for maintaining their skills. I would help pay for the av fuel. I learned to love flying and took flying lessons. I have over 60 hours as a student pilot. I quit the flying lessons when my son decided to go back to college. I was the only one to help him, so I put the flying lessons on the shelf. Now that he is active duty Air Force, married and with a son, I save my money to travel to where he is, so I can visit the family and my gorgeous grandson. So I do not have my license. Because I am a lady and have some pilot time, I gave myself the name Flyinglady. I used it first on the dating web sites to which I belong. When I joined here I automatically typed in the name flyinglady. So, that is how I got the handle. Diana | ||
| Busymom Registered user Username: Busymom Post Number: 39 Registered: 4-2004 |
Hi Jeanette, I live in Massachusetts and have never attended church in New Hampshire. Skip, thanks for the post, I have decided not to meet with the pastor, I don't think it's worth having my husband be upset over the meeting. You made me feel better saying you have to still think about whether something is from EGW or the Bible. I need to continue to study, it is difficult with two small children to have too much time. I am going to start Grace Awakening by Charles Swindoll, Have you read it? | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 358 Registered: 7-2004 |
B-mom, You will love, love, love Grace Awakening! Have you ever checked into Bible Study Fellowship (BSF)? I may have already asked you that months back...it is a perfect study for a mom with young children. | ||
| Bob Registered user Username: Bob Post Number: 106 Registered: 7-2000  |
This morning at my church, I met another former SDA. A young married man responded to our pastor's invitation at the end of the sermon. In the counseling room, he told another counselor and me that he had been a baptized SDA, but had left Adventism about seven years ago. He said his mother had left also, and that she is now active in another Christian church. He will be baptized into Christ at my church in a couple of weeks. He has pretty much made the transition out of SDA confusion, but he was very interested to learn of formeradventist.com. Who knows, maybe he will be joining us here in the near future! | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1154 Registered: 3-2004 |
How exciting that he will be baptized into Christ and not into a churh. I get so excited when I hear of things like this. Hallelujah and Praise God. You are an AWESOME God. Diana | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1530 Registered: 12-2003 |
Bob, what a wonderful ministry you are doing with the new believers. You really do bring to your church a unique and deep understanding of Adventism and of what people who leave cultic religions experience. Colleen | ||
| Bob Registered user Username: Bob Post Number: 109 Registered: 7-2000 |
When I got involved in Crossroads Church's Decision Counselor ministry a few months ago, it was solely because of the call of God to my heart and the leading of the Holy Spirit. However, I have since discovered that if God wanted me to witness about my exodus from Adventism, He knew that this was an effective way to accomplish that. We presently have about 50 decision counselors. I have served with many of them. Some of them are former Roman Catholics, some former Mormons, etc. I am apparently the only former SDA to serve as a counselor in my church. Several of the other counselors have been asking me many questions about SDA doctrine and practice, and they now see me as a "resource" person if someone with an SDA background responds to a gospel invitation, or comes in for prayer or is seeking answers to Biblical questions. Counselors' responsibility, as the first people to talk with those who have just made a public declaration of surrender to the Lordship of Jesus, is humbling and awe-inspiring. What we share with them, and how we say it, is so important as they begin their walk with Christ. In several instances over the past few months, what I had previously clarified for other counselors about SDA beliefs has enabled those counselors to better understand and advise certain individuals with whom they were talking and praying. The counselor ministry is demanding, but we are blessed at least as much as the people with whom we counsel. This past Sunday, for the sheer joy of it, I volunteered for all three morning services. In the first service, I had the privilege of baptising a lady with whom I had counseled the week before. In the second service, many people responded to the pastor's invitation at the end of his sermon, and I met and prayed with a man who had given his heart to the Lord and wants to be baptized soon. In the third service, I got to talk and pray with the young former SDA, and to help arrange for his baptism in the near future. I am so excited about what I see God doing in the lives of men and women as they hear the Gospel of Christ and give their lives to Him! Please keep my church in your prayers. We are growing! After Easter, we will begin worshipping in our new worship center, which will seat 3,800. We hope to see at least 800 decisions for Christ in 2005, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Adventism was never like this! I wish I had known 35 years ago what I know today. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 1156 Registered: 3-2004 |
Bob, I can really identify with your wishing you had known 35 years ago what you know today. I feel the same way. Then I remember that God redeems our past, all of it and I can see where certain things that have happened to me can help someone else. So I thank God I am not stuck in adventism any more and can see what an awesome God he is. Diana | ||
| Seekr777 Registered user Username: Seekr777 Post Number: 79 Registered: 1-2003  |
Bob is Crossroads the church in Riverside that also has a large Christian Bookstore and "Coffeehouse" in a separate nearby building? Richard rtruitt@mac.com | ||
| Bob Registered user Username: Bob Post Number: 113 Registered: 7-2000 |
Richard, you are probably thinking of Harvest, on Arlington Avenue. Crossroads Christian Church, where I worship, is in Corona, at the intersection of Kellogg and Ontario Avenues. We also have a restaurant on the property, and eventually we will have a Christian bookstore. If you want to check it out, here is my church's website link: www.crossroadschurch.com |
