Two years- ministry broke us, but the congregation healed us

Two years. It’s been two years since my husband walked through the door with an NDA in hand. One that I was held to for us to receive the next three months of income, yet I was not given the ability to read let alone sign. 

Decisions had been made and we had no voice in it. The next three months? Well, we were unable to communicate any truth as to why we were abruptly gone. Yesterday? We were surrounded by our flock, pouring our souls out at the alter. Praying over families as they wept from endless trials. Today? “We resigned and the church wishes the best for us on what God is calling us to next.” Everyone saw through the disconnect between the two days. Yet, if we wanted to keep food on the table and bills paid. We were silenced. 

We watched as our silence hurt our flock. Those previously close to us, who could trust us, were now being turned back to wolves in sheep skin to answer their confusion. We were placed between feeding our family or caring for the flock we had been anointed to care for. 

Two years ago as we wept for what God was removing from us, we had no clue we were stepping into a refining season. We would spend the next two years with him pruning us, refining us, continuing to sanctifying us. Because what he had ahead of us was FAR greater of a calling than we could’ve ever imagined. One we would have NEVER been willing to step into if we had remained where we were. One we needed equipped for and couldn’t be equipped where we had been. 

The pruning hurt. The refining burned. The sanctifying- well that required pressing into the Lord. 

Today? Church leadership broke us. Ministry became an idol that we had to surrender. But the healing? That came from the body, from the congregation.