I suspect that some of you who read Monday’s post on connecting at your church did so with a sizable grain of salt. While it’s usually a good idea to try to work through the awkwardness, a few valid objections may make it very difficult to stay. We can relate, which is why even before writing that article, we decided to write this one. We know that sometimes, just as in most other relationships, the shoe just doesn’t fit anymore. Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do for both parties involved is to gracefully bow out.
Maybe you were in a situation like we described, where–for whatever reason–your sending church wasn’t ideal when you returned. It’s possible they didn’t have room for what you had hoped to accomplish when you got back, or maybe their expectations of you haven’t matched up with who you are now. Maybe your theology no longer aligns with theirs. Hey, it could even be that you’ve just been gone for a while and don’t know anybody there anymore. There are a lot of reasons why finding a new church may be a better option than staying.
Life After Missions 