We know Lord that we have difference of opinions a lot of times with our own families, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, even among the staff, but this does not mean that we cannot have unity and have peace. Help us Lord that whatever we do again that you are the focus of our lives. Without you we have no hope of eternal life. Without you we don’t have the hope of the next minute. And, Lord, as the statement says we want to be united. We want to have peace. We want to be strengthened in your word. Guide us. Direct us. Give us the wisdom to see what we can do. Defeat us when we are wrong and hold us when we are right. Comfort us in your own hand as no one else can do.
For we pray this in Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Ben Jones: Amen.
(slight pause)
Ben Jones: We are asking (clears throat) this church body if you will stand and repent with us and if you will stand and show that you are committed to seeking men who will lead this church. Will you do that now? (pause)
May God bless us. May once again our light shine in this community. I pray it all in Jesus’ name.
10:00 A.M. WORSHIP 10/21/01 (unedited)
Ben Jones: I am going to read the same thing that I read to the early service because I think that it is important that we all stand in judgment of the Lord.
(apparently reading) Today I stand before you with a heavy heart. In all my 71 years I have never felt such grief. I am grieved by the obvious spirit of hostility and division in our church family. Families are divided. Church staff members are divided. And the leadership of this body is divided. The division is/was confirmed by the mediator who publicly stated that the division among the elders was clearly the main factor for the division of the congregation. After much prayer and searching of God’s word, I realize that I need to ask the forgiveness of this church family. If I have offended anyone by anything I’ve said or done, I ask your forgiveness. I have no ano, no animosity in my heart toward anyone. I have tried to act out of duty to God’s word as stated in 1 Timothy 5, 17 and 20. I believe it is time for those of us who are elders and deacons to repent for any part that we have had in contributing to this division. Proverbs 6 tells us God hates division. And I ask that those of you who would like to repent with me this morning for this division, I would like for you to join me right here on this stage. (no pause) In Matthew 12:26 our Lord tells us that a divided house cannot stand. I also recall that this church body needs to think of repentance also. Because there is so much antagonism in this body today that we have di…. We have dimmed the light of Christ that has shown in this community for over 60 years. Because of our inability to heal the wounds of division, it is time for this body of elders and deacons to step aside and yield to the church body who has lost confidence in them. I call this church body to repentance. I would like to for you to stand with us at this time if you feel that there is a need to select leaders that will lead this church out of this division.
Will you stand? (pause)