| Author |
Message |
Randyg
Registered user
Username: Randyg
Post Number: 296
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 12:30 pm: |     |
Susan,
Welcome to this wonderful family of seekers. I( and the collective we) are very happy to have you join in.
This is a fun place to share the freedom God has given us through His Son Jesus.
When you can, share your journey with us.
Randy
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Timmy
Registered user
Username: Timmy
Post Number: 78
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 12:52 pm: | |
Susan, Welcome! I would like to hear your story when you are ready. I believe the personal stories carry much more weight than any theology.
Walkonwater... I must say, I still admire you for hanging in there. You kind threw yourself into an interesting situation here. But you are taking it in stride and with great spirit!
ts |
Susans
Registered user
Username: Susans
Post Number: 2
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 12:55 pm: | |
Thank you, Randy. I will share my journey for sure when I have time to sit and collect all my thoughts in one place.
I have been out of the SDA church since 1998, but still remain on the books, mostly because I love my best friend so much and know it would be throwing my salvation away in her mind to request my name be removed. Since I live hundreds of miles away, it's not been an issue, but in reading through this thread I'm faced again with the idea of intellectual honesty that Colleen and others have brought up.
I suppose the Lord is dealing with me on this issue, now. To leave my name on the books implies that I still believe the doctrines of the SDA church, which is not the case. How might this keep those I love in bondage? I may have to answer for that.
Just as an aside, I used to post under the name ashygirl on the Adventist tomorrow (can't remember the exact name) a few years back and have been blessed by LoneViking as well as Dennis Fischer both there, and (with Dennis) in SDA chat when I first began my final journey out of the church (I had left once, years ago, and came back).
Susan |
U2bsda
Registered user
Username: U2bsda
Post Number: 233
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 3:07 pm: | |
Walkonwater wrote "The Lord has opened doors in an amazing way. I have been able to preach at my church a number of times. In fact I have been asked to preach at several other Adventist Churches in California and Oregon. My subject matter is almost always the walk of faith. What is it and why is it important and how it can change ones life totally?
In addition, for the last 5 1/2 years I have led a prayer fellowship at our church. God has worked in amazing ways through this fellowship but the most amazing is seeing people who were laden with legalism, or discouragement, or fear break free in Jesus.
I have been allowed to do many vespers programs in which I have presented the simple gospel of Jesus Christ. I did one series which I called "The Five Habits of Highly Effective Christians". It was focused on how to become a real Christian and how to live a life of victory and hope and courage in Jesus"
That is great that you are able to do that! I think the Adventist church needs so much more teaching along those lines. I am presuming that you hold to many of the 28 fundamental beliefs, is that correct? Do you believe there is any connection between salvation and our works? Do you believe that Sabbath keeping is connected to our salvation either now or in the end? I am very interested to know what you believe the simple Gospel of Jesus to be. I can't imagine an SDA church allowing a person to preach and teach if they didn't consider themselves SDA.
Thanks for being here Walkonwater!
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U2bsda
Registered user
Username: U2bsda
Post Number: 234
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 3:13 pm: | |
Susans,
Welcome! I don't know if my name is on the books out there or not. I moved around a lot and don't know where my membership ended up. It is just a name on a piece of paper to me. Honestly, I don't care if my name is out there or not - it has no meaning. The break from Adventism didn't happen on a piece of paper it happened in my heart. I think the more important issue is that our friends and family understand that we have left and are not going back. Maybe to some that means getting your name off the books, but it wasn't an issue in my case. God will show you what to do. I would love to hear your story! |
Dennis
Registered user
Username: Dennis
Post Number: 844
Registered: 4-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 3:18 pm: | |
Susan,
It is great to see your presence on this forum. I still remember your telling me how shocked you were when you visited Andrews University. As a public nurse educator, you noticed the calcium deficiency in the older women at Pioneer Memorial Church. Obviously, many of those older women drank only soymilk that was not calcium fortified years ago. The sheer number of older SDA people at AU with serious spinal curvature really amazed you in comparison to the general public.
A hearty FAF welcome! We look forward to your posts on this forum.
Dennis Fischer |
Susans
Registered user
Username: Susans
Post Number: 3
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 3:29 pm: | |
My name on the books is just a piece of paperwork to me as well, U2...however, it's not to others. My best friend always speaks up when the board looks at inactive members and insists that mine be retained.
I hesitate to hijack this thread anymore, so I will start working on my story and post in a separate thread.
Thanks for all your welcomes. I am glad to finally be out of the shadows. Even though you don't know me, I feel as though I know many of you well, and you are indeed my family in Christ.
Susan |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 4802
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 3:31 pm: | |
Susan, welcome to the forum! We're delighted to have you here. We look forward to getting to know you!
Colleen |
Susans
Registered user
Username: Susans
Post Number: 4
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 3:39 pm: | |
Thank you for your welcome, Dennis. You are correct in your memory, and frankly I'm amazed! You were a great blessing to me, as were Elaine, Irene and others on AT.
I praise God He pulled me out of the deception and bondage of Adventism and into His glorious grace!
Please pray for me as those who know me may well see this and I may be thrust where I had not had the courage to be before, that God's glory will be shown and that veils from my SDA friend's hearts will be lifted.
Now, no more on Walk's thread. I'm glad you are here, Walk. Please stay around.
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Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 2913
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 5:29 pm: | |
Susans,
Another welcome to FAF. We are glad you here. It is so nice that you know others who post here.
God is so awesome in how he brings lurkers into the open.
Diana |
Ardyj
Registered user
Username: Ardyj
Post Number: 11
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 6:04 pm: | |
Colleen, your remarks were so wonderful and I can tell you put much prayer and thought into your reply in the above post. Many thoughts struck me but one,
"This issue of Adventism or Not Adventism is not philosophical or even theological. It is spiritual."
really hit home with me. For at least a year, if not longer, my husband and I thought we would stay within the SDA Church to help these dear people understand the Gospel of Grace. It was pretty much like beating our heads against a wall! Both of us remained in teaching and preaching positions praying desperately that somehow we could be used by God to bring the message of Truth. But, like beating your head against the wall really feels good when you quit, so we found much relief when we finally left.
Several months ago I had a visit from an old friend who moved far away years ago. When she came to visit this time, I asked her if she knew I had left the SDA Church. Yes, she knew that, and the conversation carried on from there; mostly about old times, but her bringing up some things she knew were not right with the SDA's. She would just smile and nod about them; and then she said something that really startled me, "You know, Adventists are now starting to really try to preach Jesus Christ." I had a hard time with that remark. What is a church supposed to do in the first place? I still just shake my head when I think about that remark. I gave her one of Mark Martin's Covenant books, and haven't heard from her since. Not that she hasn't read it, but she's not one to really keep in touch; so I just pray the Holy Spirit is working in her heart.
I praise God every day for leading me out of that church of deception. He is so good!!! |
Walkonwater
Registered user
Username: Walkonwater
Post Number: 14
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 9:48 am: | |
Several of you have asked me to share my story and so I have posted that as a new thread called "My Story by WalkOnWater.
I think you will see that God leads each person by a different path. I must not be judgmental as to the path He is leading you and I hope you will not be judgmental as to the path on which he has led me.
I sincerely apologize for not having the time to respond to the great questions many have asked. I will do my best over the next few days.
God bless,
WalkOnWater |
Walkonwater
Registered user
Username: Walkonwater
Post Number: 17
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 6:38 pm: | |
Just wanted you to know that I have moved over to the thread I call "My Story" by WalkOnWater".
As I have time I will try to answer some of your questions from this thread and ask a few of my own. (grin)
God bless,
WalkOnWater |
Jeremy
Registered user
Username: Jeremy
Post Number: 1561
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 5:58 pm: | |
Walk,
You wrote:
quote:4. Some cited narrow mindedness and a spirit of oppression that they found in the SDA Church.
[...]
Some mentioned hurts and slights and judgmentalness which resulted in them leaving the church.
I don't believe anyone said that those were the main reasons they left Adventism.
If you want to accurately understand why people leave Adventism, then don't twist their words and posts to make them say something they did not say. I sure hope this is not what you are going to be doing (intentionally or unintentionally) in your book.
Jeremy |
