CLB Obituary
 | The signs have been pointing this way for a while, but it was still a wee bit unsettling to read the obituary of a church that Wendy & I had pastored in. We were part of the church-planting team for the first five years, and it was a wild and woolly ride, believe you me. |
"(Eastgate) Vineyard Christian Fellowship, worshipping in and serving from several different locations since 1992, held its last service April 29 (2007). _________ , the church’s administrator, announced the closing on behalf of the congregation of 50, in a letter widely distributed in May. Several pastor couples have served the church, including... Rob and Wendy McAlpine.I remember:
...The letter did not specify reasons for the closure – suggesting, rather, that 'we trust that as [God] has produced good seed in each of us... that He will plant these seeds in new places and bring growth and life through its members.'"
- when the church was a small group meeting in the basement of an art gallery
- the hey-day of GodRock when over 100+ youth and young adults were rocking out in a rented rec centre
- the church growing rapidly in the early days
- sorting through the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Toronto Blessing
- pastors' retreats (as couples) where we laughed, hung out, drank beer, and dreamed about the future
- feeling like we'd finally found our "home" in ministry
But I also remember that, unlike many churches who go through tough times, the leadership did some things right, including reaching out to reconcile broken relationships with several former pastors, six years after it had become Wendy's and my CLB.
Several people I know have commented that it's for the best that the steadily-shrinking and struggling fellowship shut down, and they're probably right in saying so. But it's still a very strange feeling in my gut, when I think about a church that Wendy & I were once pastors in, and had helped get off the ground in its early years, which simply doesn't exist anymore. Maybe that's for the better, but it still feels weird.
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posted by Robbymac at
5:26 PM
11 Comments:
"Leaders leave their fingerprint in their area of passion"
It is not so much the CLB you have to mourn, but rather the PLB - people left behind - that may never experience the fingerprints again.
Wow, Rob. Didn't realize things had declined that much. otoh, 50 people is more than twice the size of my "church." Oh well. Alas, I remember when...
Pax, dude.
PL,
Yeah, whenever I think of that church, it's faces and memories of friends that comes to mind. And that I do mourn.
Bro. Maynard,
Yes, of course, you visited us out there once upon a yesteryear, as I recall. Sleeping on our living room couch.
The number 50 probably represents everyone coming out to hear the announcement of the dissolution. I had heard recently that there were about 13-ish people still there.
And 13 friends developing communitas would feel far different than 13 people looking around a place that once had 300+.
Thanks for the info Rob. I had no idea the church was officially closed...And I live here! You probably already know my thoughts about it! It's a wierd sensation for me too...Having gone there and loved the people and then the whole way everything went down...hmmm...well we did have some good times! Thanks again for everything Rob!
hey....i read the post but don't necessarily have anything to say about it. but i wanted to say hi to you because i feel like its been awhile.
how are ya? you should get facebook. its totally the new myspace =) haha
This is like an accident scene where everyone driving by slows down to gawk at the carnage, it feels yucky but you just can't help yourself, you just have to look, and look, and look...
I've wondered to myself what I will feel if my CLB dies, what would the mix of emotions be? Sorrow for several of the people, especially some dear friends & family, pity mixed with resignation for many others, a significant lack of feeling toward several of the leaders, and a bunch of regret for what could have been. No joy though. Definitely no joy. For all it's faults, I really hope my CLB succeeds.
Christina,
Yeah, mixed emotions, to be sure. Still being contact with people like you, Jules, etc. reminds me of the richness of friendships, and the many God-infused times we shared while there.
Hannah,
Yes, it's been awhile! I'm supposed to be in Vancouver teaching at your YWAM base this fall, so I'm looking forward to reconnecting with the Frozen Chosen Tour crew again!
KSG,
I really resonate with "a bunch of regret for what could have been" -- my feelings exactly. And also, in agreement again, no joy whatsoever at a church closing.
Dude, what is CLB. I see this now and again online and I confess I have no idea what it means.
As in "mine and Wendy's CLB"
Thanks,
Pete
Pete,
A thousand apologies. Didn't mean to jargonize you.
CLB is a phrase Brother Maynard started using a while back, and it kinda just caught on with a bunch of us.
It stands for Church Left Behind.
Maybe I should post a glossary of terms in the sidebar?
Rob, I think the truth is...they're just a few miles down the road, different buiding, different name " Lion of Judah "...and a former pastor. It is a small world
Ron,
Yes, many refugees have ended up at Lion of Judah the past five years or so. Like me, the pastor there had been forced out of Eastgate, but that happened two years after I left.
I know the pastor there wasn't wanting to plant a church, but his house group kept growing, and one thing led to another and...
I'm glad that people are finding a safe place to go. It was a sad story all around.
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