Thanks for the thoughts so far. An elderly gentleman called yesterday while I was at my presbytery meeting and talked to my wife. He said he was a member of such and such church and that he likes their new pastor except he doesn't preach from the bible. He asked/or had heard that we do preach from the bible and so he said he was coming to visit this week. He didn't leave any contact info - so I guess I will just meet him if he shows up. Interestingly enough - I have heard this before - in the past two years we have had a few sheep stray from other folds all with the same concern (each from different churches). One was a 75 year old woman who has attended for about a year now - she frequently comments about the bible based preaching. I am beginning to wonder whether this is an epidemic in our area. Peace, Steve Miguel wrote: > > *Forgot to say – that after we have made these efforts – no I do not > believe it is sheep steeling.* > > * * > > *IMHO – sheep steeling would be the sin of covetousness – I purposely > led people away from another church in order for them to come to ours. > I made the initial contact and I may even had said things about their > pastor in order to sway them our way.* > > * * > > *Just some thoughts* > > * * > > *Because of Calvary* > > * * > > *Miguel*** > > * * > > * * > > * * > > * * > > *It is our policy to contact the previous pastor and let them know > they have visited us – several times we have found that the ones > coming have come due to personal problems (often their own pride). > They were hurt – they felt they were not fed – they …. Not once has a > pastor not shared in order that we could minister to them. * > > * * > > *Do we suggest reconciliation – always. Do they return to their former > church – several have – some have stayed – one was full of wroth that > I would even contacted their prior pastor – he of course was under > church discipline and now in prison being held accountable for his > crime of Child Molesting.* > > * * > > *Has God blessed us – yes.* > > * * > > *Miguel* > > * * > > * * > > > To subscribe, send a message to: pastorsforum-join@... > > To unsubs > cribe, send a message to: pastorsforum-unsubscribe@... > > > > -- ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pastor Steven G. Rockhill Lisbon Reformed Presbyterian Church PO Box 88 Lisbon, NY 13658 315-393-9041 revrock@... http://lisbonrpc.port5.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++