An interesting phenomenon is happening with Riverstone Church. It's not a bad thing but just kind of weird. Something I definitely would not have expected. We have had hundreds of people come through our doors since the launch of our church. Many of whom came for some time and then decided to move on.
Typically they don't tell me they have left. I think it is an unwritten assumption that if you leave a church the pastor would be ticked off. Not so with me. My ministry philosophy is that I don't try to hang onto people. If someone believes God is calling them onto another church I won't argue with them. I'm about building God's kingdom not mine.
Anyway, I will call people who have left to find out how they are doing, if there is anything I can do for them or if there is something I can pray for them. If they tell me they have decided to go to another church then I will talk to them about that. I like to do exit interviews so that I can get a handle on why people don't want to stay. I want the good, the bad and ugly.
Anyway, that is where it gets weird. Everyone I have talked to said they love what we are doing. They think it is a great thing and greatly needed in Claremont. But they felt God was moving them on for one reason or another, not having anything to do with the church. I have yet to hear someone say anything bad. Typically they say they have learned a lot and grown in their faith and feel they need to move on. They love the preaching, the music and the ministries but it was time for them. It amazes me because I am looking for anything we may be doing to repel people and they say no, that's not it at all.
They all tell me to keep doing what we are doing. We plan to. Just thought I would share this weird observation.
Typically they don't tell me they have left. I think it is an unwritten assumption that if you leave a church the pastor would be ticked off. Not so with me. My ministry philosophy is that I don't try to hang onto people. If someone believes God is calling them onto another church I won't argue with them. I'm about building God's kingdom not mine.
Anyway, I will call people who have left to find out how they are doing, if there is anything I can do for them or if there is something I can pray for them. If they tell me they have decided to go to another church then I will talk to them about that. I like to do exit interviews so that I can get a handle on why people don't want to stay. I want the good, the bad and ugly.
Anyway, that is where it gets weird. Everyone I have talked to said they love what we are doing. They think it is a great thing and greatly needed in Claremont. But they felt God was moving them on for one reason or another, not having anything to do with the church. I have yet to hear someone say anything bad. Typically they say they have learned a lot and grown in their faith and feel they need to move on. They love the preaching, the music and the ministries but it was time for them. It amazes me because I am looking for anything we may be doing to repel people and they say no, that's not it at all.
They all tell me to keep doing what we are doing. We plan to. Just thought I would share this weird observation.
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