Dr. Jay's Blog

One of the things that seems to be pervasive in all the circles in which I am privileged to travel is that healthy local churches are always in some level of conflict. More often than not, that conflict does not come from outside critics and government intervention, but rather internal dynamics and broken relationships.

I’ve observed this over the course of my ministry in so many ways that I know it must be grieving to God but even more, it seems to leave an indelible hurt on the people who experience it. Just recently, I was talking with a couple who had gone through a “split” in their local congregation and several years later had finally found another church where they felt like they could fit in.
However, in the intervening 5 years since the initial breakup they literally wandered around without a home church.

This is very common and happens particularly at times of transition and succession. It seems that when leadership changes people become somewhat insecure or perhaps fearful
about what may be taking place in the next season of the church’s life. It is then that they choose to turn on one another rather than to turn to the Lord in humbled prayer for a healthy time of
change.

Please pray for continued blessing in the transition here at North Way and also in the ministry that I feel increasingly called to address in some way through the partnership of good friends and the amazing support from my North Way family.

Let’s be honest, our church is our “other family.” It brings the enemy great pleasure when
people hurt each other and it brings God great glory when we grow in times of
change!

Blessings,

Pastor Jay

“16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for
us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:16-18