I have a brick under my bed. My dad gave it to me for Christmas in 2004. It belongs to the old Ocean City High School. The year after I graduated the school was torn down and a new one built across the street. The brick is the only physical piece I have of the old school.
As I move to Kansas City another strange, yet similar thing has happened. Harvest, my church for over 6 years is splitting. The English speaking congregation (the Caleb group) will be disbanding at the end of May. The Chinese speaking congregation (the Joshua group) will continue on. The pastors are in one heart about the transition but I'm not really sure how to process this big change. It's sad that my church for so long will soon cease to exist. Part of me really wants to mourn the loss of Harvest as I know it but I am wondering if that's even the appropriate response. God is clearly doing something and I don't know if I can truly be sad about that. A lot of my close friends have already left the church so I can't say I am trying to hold onto something that is still there. In reality the church has been significantly changing for the past 3 years and much of what I was used to has changed anyway.
It's somewhat like a relief that I am moving out now to KC because I am not faced with this forced transition. The Caleb group is faced with 3 choices: Stay with the Joshua group and form a an English service, head out with Pastor Sam and help lead the church plant, or find a new place of worship altogether. Not an easy decision and undoubtedly not everyone will go in the same direction.
It's a good farewell to NJ. There really isn't much holding me back anymore. Bit by bit God has asked me to give things to Him. In his gentleness He asked me to go to KC before Harvest disbanded. He gave me an opportunity to give Him Harvest before it was gone. He is so gentle with me. I am convinced more and more that His leadership is kind--it is perfect--but it is not always easy.
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