Missions, Ukraine »

Five years ago Living Word church was founded in L’viv.  It was founded with a strong and healthy vision to teach the word, and to reach out in a very active way to Jewish people.  The church was not a Messianic Christian church, but there were strong elements of Jewish life and culture within the church.

Five months ago, the founding pastor, Mark Blessing, and the church board asked me to take over as pastor of Living Word.  After considerable prayer and counsel, I agreed.  At the time, we had a clear agreement that with a new pastor there will also be a new vision and direction for ministry.   We also agreed that Mark would play no active role in the ministry (teaching and/or decision making) for six months to one year, in order for the people to embrace the new vision. In addition, Mark agreed that any future involvement would be solely at my discretion.  I accepted this opportunity with the understanding that the church leadership and membership would fully embrace and support the new vision without conditions.  I have served as pastor for three months. As the new vision for ministry has unfolded there has been a general excitement in the church.

However, ten days ago Mark approached me with a list of four or five complaints.  The first was that he and some others were missing the more Jewish style of ministry.  I have a great love for Israel and God’s people, but do not express that love in the same way. In addition, contrary to our agreement, Mark expressed a desire to be more actively involved in teaching and leadership.   Upon listening to the list, I quickly recognized that the previous vision for ministry for Living Word had not been fully released to embrace the new vision; the one that I brought to the church as the new pastor.  As long as Mark and others held on to the old vision and refused to embrace the new vision, conflict would certainly erupt, as evidenced by the list of complaints.  It was also obvious that the healthiest thing to do was for me to resign as pastor so those who served in leadership before could once again serve and pursue the old vision.

One of the things I have learned in ministry is just how truly precious people are to God, all people.  He sent His Son to die for us.  It is essential that all of us who are part of the family of God recognize how truly valuable and precious each person is, and treat them accordingly.  We must never, ever say or do anything to hurt the people.  We must guard them, protect them, provide for them, love them, serve them, and forgive them.

We are hurt over how things have been handled.  They were not handled in a very healthy way.  But, the most important thing is not us, but the people; to protect them, love them, and serve them.  So, rather than engage in a “vision struggle,” which holds the potential for people to be hurt, I have resigned as the pastor.  We have peacefully and quietly left the church to pursue our original vision, to plant a Calvary Chapel in L’viv.   I was reminded this week of what a close friend often says during times of discouragement, “What a wonderful opportunity for God to work!”  That is the right perspective and one we are prayerfully asking God to help us embrace.

Please pray for Living Word, the people, and the leadership.  You know how the devil loves to destroy people, families, and churches!  Pray for us too, that we will learn what God wants us to learn, and will grow in our love and faith, and for God’s guidance in establishing a new church in L’viv.

“By this they will know you are my disciples, by your love for one another.”

John 13:35