prayer request... First Baptist Concord

[rebel546]

I just heard about a local church in Knoxville whose youth pastor was just "forced to resign" ... that happened to my youth pastor this past year too, and I know how much it hurts. His name is Chris. Please pray for him and the youth group. Thanks guys.

-Mark

[PriestofDasani]

Taking a trip back in time I take you to a pool. It was the last day of the 2002 Mission Tour. We were by the pool having our daily end-day discussion. Chris told us that he had been at a youth leader conference around youth leaders talking about the growth they have had. Chris had to say that honestly, " [he] sure [had] shrunk our youth group good". He gave us what I guess now was kind of a going away speech. As long as I am telling you about Chris, I might as well tell you about me. At the beginning of the week Chris asked if anyone wanted to share his or her testimony. I wanted to but in my normal way, said nothing. That night beside the pool I had gotten up the courage to speak and was trying to be acknowledged. That is when Chris spoke. He said something to the people who had just been saved that weekend and it convicted me. After Chris was done I got up and told my testimony and said that it had been about two years since I was saved and I wanted to be baptized. Two weeks later my dad baptized me. Back at the pool. Many people that night and in the previous nights had said that that was the best mission tour they have ever been on, seniors who had been on three others in the past. Chris was upset that week because there were some things that didn't happen, but for us it was all about the things that did happen. Since mission tour was over Sunday nights are now being used for pool parties/ Bible studies. I went the first Sunday after we got back and thought the Bible study was better than expected. After that a few others and myself went to Chris's house to watch the mission tour video. The next Sunday (when I got baptized) Chris had to be gone, but nothing unusual. That night I choose not to go to the Sunday night gathering and I normally don't go to Wednesday nights so I didn't hear him announce this. I thought that there would be another time; a lesson by now I should have learned I haven't. They had thought about forcing Chris to leave before the mission tour, but I think I speak for all who went when I say we are glad they didn't. And that's the rest of the story.

[Vlad!]

I feel sad when a church feels that it has to force someone out, even when it's truly necessary (and in the case of Chris I'm sure it wasn't; I know that it wasn't for the pastor Mark mentioned). I'll be sure to remember him in my prayers.

[rebel546]

it's good that you're getting these things out, Nathaniel. There is a natural process of grieving and anger that happens...  

[turtlegal]

I also go to First Baptist with Nathan. If you guys would, pray that my age group, those who will be seniors this year, will have courage to step up and really set the example for our youth going through this hard time. I also was not there when Chris announced his retirement because I was in Hawaii on vacation  =D, so I don't know Chris' feelings or much of what is going on.
This news was shocking to me when I returned home yesterday. I knew that the number decline in our youth group was really bothering Chris, but never came out and told us why, and he didn't need to. I just don't know what to think of the church forcing him out. I don't think that the numbers had anything to do with Chris, I think it had everything to do with our youth group. Alot of the people that have left are way to busy in their lives and can't make it to church. They need to just get their priorities back in order. Okay, I'm going to stop, I don't want to start pointing fingers because I don't have the full story. However, I was highly upset over the news and still kinda am.
I have been through a youth pastor change before and once the new one came in, everything went down hill and I went to another church. I don't want that to happen to our youth group and I'll try to help that not happen, but I can't do it alone.

[rebel546]

We'll be praying.