I am in my 4th year of church revitalization in the church I grew up in actually. God gave me a burden for the area I grew up in and gave me a unique platform through the church to gave me the foundation of my spiritual roots. However, I would become the 3 pastor in 5 years. Due to hostility between the deacons and Pastor because each of the two pastors identified the church was dying and some things needed to change. With many… many… MANY details to skip, I was so sure of my call back home that my wife and I knew it would be ugly, honestly we’d rather go somewhere else, but our Joy would not be in that “somewhere else.” As we begin ministering in this hurt, hostile environment, I predicted the choice of music, the surrendering of a tie in the pulpit, etc would be the FIRST tip of the iceberg that would lead to my abuse however, God revealed how unhealthy this church was as I was placed on the seat due to the city schools back back program asking for peanut butter donations. So, like a pastor with a heart to reach the community, “what better way and easy way to get our name back in the community in a positive way than flooding their need with tons of peanut butter.” WRONG! It was a big mistake… deacons were never consulted…. I am dictator…. I don’t listen to anyone, the criticism only grew and apprehension towards my leadership began to take root in the older generation…. Why? Because of peanut butter? But why? Oh, Timothy, “the backpack program is lead by three LIBERALS! We must stay away. The church has no place in helping with that. Why did you do that!”
Only a snapshot of the amazing journey of the AMAZING revitalizing journey this church is currently on! I wish I could say I learned my lesson, but We volunteered our church to paint an elementary school in our neighborhood for free… well… then it all began again…
I have people asking me to write a book later in life and to title it… “it stated with the peanut butter”