A Note On Church Transition
When going from one church to another you will be very surprised by two things. People who you would have never expected will bathe you in prayer and floor you with their spiritual maturity. People who you would have never expected will curse you and floor you with their spiritual immaturity.
-Carlos Whittaker – August 20th, 2007
Wow. I have never quoted myself before.
Maybe because I just SCREAMED it out loud in the car on the way to work this morning.
That was fun.
Los
RAIN IT DOWN
been there man. I feel ya. It was good meeting you the other night on iChat.
people are stupid, yet still worthy of grace.
bah. sorry. been there. take the high road. i know you will.
Gah. While I’ve never been the one moving churches, I’ve still seen this happen. It’s saddening when certain people can’t/won’t accept changes like these as something from God… that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t TOTALLY bummed when our Pastor left in July. TOTALLY BUMMED. But he’s still in our prayers as is our New Dude. And really? New Dude ain’t too shabby.
Always in our prayers, Carlos. Always.
About 4 months ago the Senior Paster at my church took a call to another congregation on the other side of the state. The same thing happened to him and his family. It surprised me which members felt “betrayed” and “abandoned’.
Good luck with the move and the whole sell the house/buy the house process. Is there an air date for your LA Ink episode?
Oh man…this is true. Quote worthy! I just moved from a church in Portland, OR to sunny Los Angeles last week and I am going through exactly what you said. Again…quote worthy!
Los-
been checking your blog for the past few months. awesome stuff. i am a student pastor in GA and loving it!
just wanted to say, thanks for stepping out in faith and following God’s lead. His approval is what you really want at the end of the day. People will let you down. Grace to you!
Los-
been checking your blog for the past few months. awesome stuff. i am a student pastor in GA and loving it!
just wanted to say, thanks for stepping out in faith and following God’s lead. His approval is what you really want at the end of the day. People will let you down. Grace to you!
People are going to miss you like crazy, and some of them respond in unfortunate ways. When I told one of the guys at Centre that I was leaving to go to Berry, his response was, “Well, f**k you.” For a moment there I had a flashback to “Coming to America”, and it almost made me laugh. By the time Aly and I had the truck packed to leave, he was sincerely wishing us well. There were several cases of that. And then there were others who seemed to understand when we first came out with the news that we were leaving, and when it came time to really do it, they had pretty much written us off. We liked where we were…there was nothing driving us away. But it was clearly God’s direction for us to move here to Berryland. It’s even MORE clear now that we are here and about ready to have our son. That sense of grace and purpose is a mighty thing. In any case…know that we are praying for you guys and ready to receive you with open arms!
that is a quote that is timeless and will last forever – it’s FULL OF TRUTH!
When I see you at church you seem rather melancholy, distracted. If this is why, my heart goes out to you. I have to line up with Anne here, except to amend that no one is worthy of grace, which is what makes it “grace.” You, under that understanding, are a gracious man because of Christ in you. It’s not easy giving grace to humans, which, again, is why it’s called “grace.”
I find that I am feeling the loss of you and your family more deeply as the ETD approaches. But as much as your ministry at Sandals blessed me, you weren’t here for me, you were here for Him. And your leaving is not a betrayal of ANYBODY no matter how they’d like to stack the guilt.
I pray encouragement for you guys. You’re doing what is right instead of what is easy. The people who understand that bless you. The others can only discourage you as much as you allow them to. So I pray for you protection emotionally from them. You pray for them, and He will sustain you.
Thanks Les. I should add that 2500 people are the praying ones and 1 or 2 or 3 are the distractions. It is always that way huh? We focus on the 3 naysayers instead of all the love. Well that is my battle. And sorry if I have seemed distacted, last night was one of the most special times of worship leading I have had in years.
Love you man.
Los
You rocked out last night Los, but I must admit, I kept thinking, “He can’t be leaving, he just can’t be”.
That’s my selfishness seeping through.
I’m praying for you.
I just left a youth pastor position to become a worship/arts pastor and I had some students bless me and understand my leaving. But I did have one student cuss me out. I know where you’re coming from.
Leave well.
Word.
We’ll miss you in SoCal. Enjoy the adventure in the South!
its true..
but i am really excited about your move across the country. you will be closer to where i live….
Carlos, as a guy who has had 3 big transitions in the last 3 years (I’m in the midst of one as we speak) I can feel you. It is crazy how people from both sides come out of the woodwork! I pray that the Lord moves in the midst of it all as you guys transition to the ATL!
Carlos:
We love you guys and praying for you and Heather. People don’t know how to express their sorrow and pain. Many times they feel it’s just better to be mean and not deal with it. They also forget you are following God’s direction not your own – I mean do they really think Heather would choose to move from CA?
Focus on the love being extended and realize that you see a different side of people when you move.
Kathy
We are all called to transition, adapt, and be molded through out our lives. We cannot escape. . . nor should we seek to escape it.
Carlos, my friend, it is never easy to “leave” the ones who have loved us and we, ourselves, have loved. Seek to pause, reflect, and take stock of what God has done through you to others and TO you from others. It is so amazing to watch the body of Christ, the bride (which is STILL imperfect and selfish, but still loved by God) love and impact others that have taken leadership roles within them.
You will have people who are $#@%@ and they will be, not because they hate you but because to let go is never easy. Take time to respond in love and be reminded my friend that many people respond out of loss and pain than anger.
Enjoy the move and enjoy the closure of one chapter in your life and the beginning of another.
I look forward to reading and hearing all about it!!
continuing.on.the.journey.
tim
True dat.
It’s sad when people see a decision you make as a personal attack against them and what they are doing by staying… and when you try to walk with them later, they use their feelings of that “incident” in their mind to validate themselves not feeling safe with you any longer…
Why does loyalty in churches mean bodies in stead of the Kingdom?
Dude, you do what God calls you to do.
God totally rocks, however sometimes His people just really suck.
Your in my prayers.
good stuff.
chin up, bro. don’t let ‘em get to ya. in their own weird way, they’re just telling you how much they’ll miss you.
My wife Sarah and I love your blog and we have been following your journey for a while now. We are holding up you and your family in prayer. Rock on my brother, rock on!!
You will truly be missed – you have been such a blessing in my life and I know you will continue to be in the lives of those in the new church and state. Blessings!!
Carlos; You have been such an inspiration and have “brought tears to my eyes during worship many times” May God Bless you and your family in your upcoming move and endeavors. You will be missed.