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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Praise God for all things! They are for our good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sent this message to the friend who was also an Associate Pastor under the same abusive Senior Pastor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWhat a journey life took me on. I’m being received into the Orthodox Church on Theophany (Jan 6th). I have [name redacted<\/em>] (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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Praise God even for those who misuse us! It is all for our good.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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