Why are COGOP Overseers leaving to pastor in denominations?

[RamboPreacher]

Why are former State Overseers like Jerry Smith and Lanis Lewis leaving COGOP to pastor in different denominations?

I have seen or heard from Bishop Lewis in several years. I heard he was pastoring a cogop in Florida.

Your posts are conflicting. First, you ask why Lanis Lewis has left the COGOP, then you state you hear he is at a COGOP in FL? Which is it?

pa

the question was "why". secretary didn't say they didn't or hadn't heard from them or that they didn't know where they were, only "why overseers..."

I see no contradiction/confliction.

[klc]

For my husband and I it's been nearly ten years since we left COGOP, and no one really asked why. The reason we left the church was simple ... The pulpit only had room for one pastor ... not two.

Every O.S. we served under actually pastored the church through the pastor. If the decisions you made were not agreeable with the O.S. you were subject to being moved, if he had a pal he wanted to move close by so they could visit more often you were moved, if the numbers weren't up every year you were moved, if you didn't increase the membership you were moved, if you didn't please the O.S. you were moved. And you never had time to set up roots, be known in your community, or establish friendships because you were always moved.

It appeared to us that O.S. was only interested in sending a warm body to a cold place, without giving any thought to us or our children. We gave over twenty years of faithful service to the church without complaining, took the meager wages that never supplied enough food for our children, and barely kept shoes on our feet. All the while we kept hope in our hearts and a smile on our face.

We were under the assumption that we were we called to be ministers of the gospel, not politicians. We tired of being a game piece on the COGOP monoply, and knew we had to make a choice to keep us sane and saved.

As I said, it's been nearly ten years since we have left, and our only regret is ... the price we paid for staying so long ... our children. They have been so bruised, battered, and bashed that it breaks our hearts. We have recovered ... but sadly they did not.

Currently we are pastoring in Illinois, we have been at the same church for almost ten years and it feels wonderful to be rooted, grounded and established. ~ On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand ~
Yours truly for His Service
Kathy

[paul]

.

As I said, it's been nearly ten years since we have left, and our only regret is ... the price we paid for staying so long ... our children. They have been so bruised, battered, and bashed that it breaks our hearts. We have recovered ... but sadly they did not.

Currently we are pastoring in Illinois, we have been at the same church for almost ten years and it feels wonderful to be rooted, grounded and established. ~ On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand ~
Yours truly for His Service
Kathy

Kathy, your story has been repeated so many times. Thank you for being willing to share. My prayer is that the seed you and your husband planted in your children will one day be reaped and they will recover.