| Author | Message | ||
| Bskillet Registered user Username: Bskillet Post Number: 900 Registered: 8-2008 |
They're after you: Operation Reconnect No mention that this is an SDA organization except for a little tidbit: Typical | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 1400 Registered: 7-2004  |
Interesting website. The 2 books on the website authored by the site builder both prominently feature information about "living the Christian life". Even the first interview on the video the "converion" back to SDAism was described as realizing that she wasn't living the right kind of life. Even when trying to lure people back into their clutches, they can't fully escape what they are, a religion that is about our works. I watched the entire video of those who returned. None were people who left over doctrinal reasons. None described being at another church and returning. All it did was perpetuate the myth that people leave: a) because they were hurt by the church, or b) because they want to live wild lifestyles. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 9535 Registered: 3-2004  |
Doug Bathchelor has a program starting in January 2012 for reconnecting adventists who have left. Look it up on a search engine. Diana L | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 9536 Registered: 3-2004 |
http://www.amazingfacts.org/publications/from-pastor-doug/id/593/reclaiming-faith-and-plugging-the-leak.aspx This is basically the same idea. Diana L | ||
| Kelleigh Registered user Username: Kelleigh Post Number: 312 Registered: 7-2011  |
Operation Reconnect, Friendship with an agenda won’t work. If people want really want to reconnect with an old friend who has left their church, please suggest that they leave any religious agendas behind. Here's a rewrite of the article "Connecting with Former Members" You used to be friends. You never meant to lose touch with him or her after they left your church. But life got in the way, and weeks turned into months, or maybe years. So how can you go back, and reconnect with you former Adventist friend? Is it even possible? 1. Make a phone call. Possible message: “I’m sorry I haven’t been in contact for a while. You know how life gets sometimes. How are you guys going? I heard you’re fellowshipping with our brothers and sisters at the Brooke Springs Baptist Church. That’s great! I hope that’s going well for you guys. 2. Schedule a connection. "Hey I’d love to catch up, how about we meet up coffee sometime. Let me know if you’re free". 3. Don’t Touch Your Prospect. Actually don’t even think of your old friend as ‘a prospect’. That’s plain creepy. 4. Keep asking questions—caring questions. It’s easy to forget how to be a real friend after spending years putting religious dogma before people. Here’s some basic friendly questions you could try, “How’s everything going in your life?” Areas to ask about: family and work. “How’s Hank? What’s up with Jimmy & Susie? Anything new at work?” 5. Maintain good eye contact, smile. But only if this feels natural. Don’t posture. It’s fake. Actually, if you don’t feel like smiling consider seeing/phoning your friend another day. Sales people are taught to ‘smile when they speak to a potential customer on the phone so their voices sound more winsome'. Remember, this isn’t a sales call. This is your old friend! Be yourself. 6. Keep listening & asking followup questions. Listen for new insights and joy. Most of all, be happy for your friend! Don’t be a wet blanket. 7. Pray silently. Pray for wisdom and grace and for God’s blessing on your connection while it’s happening. Jesus promises to be your adequacy. “You are complete in Him.”—Colossians 2:10. 8. Schedule a next time. “Hey, this has been fun. Let’s get together again soon, okay?” Then ask what time of the month or day of the week is better for your prospect (ah ha! That prospect word again. Just testing to see if you’re awake. Never think of your friend as ‘a prospect’. You're not trying to sell anything). 9. Pray before, during, and after your connection. Someone has said, “Prayer is not so much preparing for battle; it IS the battle.” But this isn’t a battle. It's just a phone call. Put down your sword and repeat to yourself, 'I’m just connecting with an old friend'. If you parted on bad terms however, making a reconnection can be a little tricker, but if you are willing to accept any lingering blame on yourself and leave the past behind, your chances of success are good that your friendship will resume. This can be hard but it's a pretty good litmus test of how genuine you are about continuing the friendship. If you have any bad feelings about your friend, pray that God would remove them from your heart. Then pray for your friend. 10. Back off if your prospect shows no interest in connecting. I mean, back off if your old friend shows no interest in connecting. Your common sense will guide you in such matters. PS. Never leave cakes with a bite taken out of each one on your former friend's front doorstep. That's just weird. (Message edited by Kelleigh on December 15, 2011) | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 9537 Registered: 3-2004 |
In reference to #10.....if the sda never calls back then he/she did not really want to connect with the former as a friend. If the sda really wants to be a friend, he/she can be a friend and not invite to church or any thing and just be a friend. Another item to recognize adventists. Under the last book it says it can only be bought at the ABC. (Message edited by Flyinglady on December 15, 2011) | ||
| Gcfrankie Registered user Username: Gcfrankie Post Number: 844 Registered: 1-2007 |
As I read Kelleigh's ten rules this could back fire on the sda's and draw them away from their church. You know darn well they are going to bring up religion (EGW) and that is a good time to show them how wrong they have been taught. Gail | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 2286 Registered: 7-2007 |
Gail; that would be a perfect time to show them what the Bible really says! | ||
| Kelleigh Registered user Username: Kelleigh Post Number: 324 Registered: 7-2011 |
Just to clarify, they aren't my ten Rules. :-) I wrote a parody of an Operation Reconnect article to illustrate a point. If the friendship approach is to be taken, it should be genuine. Inauthenticity is not a good launching point for discussing religion issues. I agree, if Adventists are going to bring up religion it could be a great opportunity to share! | ||
| Lori Registered user Username: Lori Post Number: 140 Registered: 11-1999 |
Inauthenticity is the mode of operation by which they do everything!! You lie at evangelistic meetings if someone asks who is sponsoring the meetings--the approved answer is: non-denominational. You lie if someone asks you what to believe. The approved answer is: we are like baptist but we go to church on Saturday. Even Adventist to Adventist you have to play the game of false representation. Even though clean meats are "ok" everyone comes to potluck on Sabbath and pretends they only eat soy meat. hahaha My mother had a fabulous recipe for a Chicken Fiesta Pie. She always made it with real chicken at home and for our extended family. She decided to make it for potluck one Sabbath so she made it with Diced Chik. My cousin, who was five at the time, saw her put it on the table and she ran through the kitchen saying, "Aunt Betty brought real chicken to potluck!" My mother was mortified. It was funny then and it's still funny now!! | ||
| Kelleigh Registered user Username: Kelleigh Post Number: 337 Registered: 7-2011 |
Even the chicken is inauthentic. | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 2628 Registered: 5-2007  |
Even smells give away the real thing. Once at a Harris family reunion where we were camping my SDA cousins wanted to cook and eat together. I declined and setup my campsite down wind of the others and cheerfully set about having real bacon for breakfast. Somehow, from the smell, they knew I was having the real thing and 'all hell' broke loose. The cowards were unwilling to confront me but they bitched loudly to my dear Jan. I lost a lot of respect for my cousins except for one who later invited me over for a taste of his favorite scotch. Phil | ||
| Nowisee Registered user Username: Nowisee Post Number: 1018 Registered: 5-2009 |
Thanks, Kelleigh, for the parody! Hey, Phil, there's no fakin' bacon! Stripples just don't cut it.  I bet they were jealous, truth be known. | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 1414 Registered: 7-2004 |
Bacon is a gateway meat after all.... http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/02/02/133304206/why-bacon-is-a-gateway-to-meat-for-vegetarians | ||
| Kelleigh Registered user Username: Kelleigh Post Number: 341 Registered: 7-2011 |
If it smells good surely it has to be good for you? Apologies in advance... http://www.kfb.org/safety/safetyimages/maknbacn.jpg | ||
| Thegoldenway Registered user Username: Thegoldenway Post Number: 214 Registered: 5-2011 |
I have come to really enjoy bacon over the past 5 months. LOL | ||
| Freeatlast Registered user Username: Freeatlast Post Number: 824 Registered: 5-2002  |
If I told my never-SDA wife that I was going out to get injected with some grass juice and would pick up some Stripples on the way home, she'd think "drugs and hookers" and call a lawyer. | ||
| Nowisee Registered user Username: Nowisee Post Number: 1020 Registered: 5-2009 |
What an interesting article, Ric! See what you started, Phil? |
