In the summer of 2005 we returned to California because our 1 year visas had to be renewed. What I didn't write in my previous posts was how our first years was quite a difficult one. We expected that a new culture and new language would be the hardest trials to endure but instead enduring the trials that came from our sending church proved to be the toughest. I do have to clarify that SGA was an amazing organization and we did not experience any difficulties with SGA.
I have been pondering what to write for this final post and have come to the conclusion that all I will say is the pastor of our sending church was a man with no integrity. A few weeks before we were set to return to Novosibirsk we were told that we were not being sent back by the church. I was absolutely heartbroken and cried for days. Even though we endured some awful experiences with our home church, I still loved the ministry there! Thanks in large part to one of our biggest supporters, we were given the advice to leave the church. Without telling anyone, with the support of some of our closest friends and family, and with the financial help of our supporter we sent a letter of resignation. We returned to Grace Community Church after a 5 year leave and were welcomed with open arms.
We learned a lot from this trial. I am happy to say that our relationship with this church and it's leaders was reconciled a couple years later but unfortunately the pastor to this day refuses to seek our forgiveness. Looking back now I praise God for all that we went through, after all had we not gone through that trial we would not be where we are now!
I have been pondering what to write for this final post and have come to the conclusion that all I will say is the pastor of our sending church was a man with no integrity. A few weeks before we were set to return to Novosibirsk we were told that we were not being sent back by the church. I was absolutely heartbroken and cried for days. Even though we endured some awful experiences with our home church, I still loved the ministry there! Thanks in large part to one of our biggest supporters, we were given the advice to leave the church. Without telling anyone, with the support of some of our closest friends and family, and with the financial help of our supporter we sent a letter of resignation. We returned to Grace Community Church after a 5 year leave and were welcomed with open arms.
We learned a lot from this trial. I am happy to say that our relationship with this church and it's leaders was reconciled a couple years later but unfortunately the pastor to this day refuses to seek our forgiveness. Looking back now I praise God for all that we went through, after all had we not gone through that trial we would not be where we are now!
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