Before I moved to Chicago (to attend NorthPark Seminary) I was an assoc pastor to an abusive Senior Pastor in So Cal. It was a difficult situation, but I was obedient. After I left, I reached out to one of the previous assoc pastors and learned his story was like my story. I had a chance at NorthPark in a ministry class in part to work through some of what happened at that church but it was still an open wound.
I can see the good now. The Pastor assigned me to give a short messages on Communion (the crackers and grape juice were distributed once a month, and everyone partook together). Over many months of studying for the messages, I went from a Memorialist to believing Christ was really present in the Body and Blood. NorthPark supported all views (and none at the same time).
After I was fired from the Church in MN, I was never able to take Communion at an Evangelical Church. It just wasn’t “right” and I knew it.
Praise God for all things! They are for our good.
Closing the Loop
Sent this message to the friend who was also an Associate Pastor under the same abusive Senior Pastor.
What a journey life took me on. I’m being received into the Orthodox Church on Theophany (Jan 6th). I have [name redacted] (in part) to thank. He assigned me to preach a short message before communion every month and looking closely every month at the communion passages took me from being a memorialist to seeing communion as much more than just a reflection on the Body and Blood to believing the Eucharist is really the Body and Blood.
Praise God even for those who misuse us! It is all for our good.
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