Hello all:
Our church pre-school finally closed.
The teachers in the pre-school demanded that the church pay their insurance and workers comp. payments up front this year, which total about $6000. Since our church has a hard time even paying our small staff (of interns, who make very little), it was a ridiculous demand… but one that they expected us to meet.
The worship ministry met and prayed over it, and asked God to have his will prevail….and so, on Monday, we were handed the keys to the pre-school by one of the member-teachers who just left the congregation because we couldn’t come up with six grand. This was an interesting moment. Very few of us had ever been inside this part of the building, as it was always kept locked and only the teachers and the pre-school “ministry” (what a misnomer…) leaders had a key.
It was sickening to walk inside. Our Sunday school classrooms are bare…we can’t afford supplies hardly….but the pre-school had everything…. a brand new freezer…the only H-Vac system in the building that works….. school supplies everywhere…toys…
Its amazing that such a small, insignificant pre-school could control an entire congregation for years.
I’m glad its gone. Maybe we can start focusing on doing the work of Jesus, and not on keeping a pre-school running.
-Clarke
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July 26th, 2007 at 18:37
Hi Clarke,
I know it has to be heartbreaking to go through this kind of time–even harder in a small group where everyone knows everyone pretty well. Like you said, maybe this can be a turning point toward better days.
July 31st, 2007 at 4:12
By the way, I know you are busy these days… but if you have a chance, it would be great to submit a profile to to http://www.connect4change.net
Your background encompasses some parts of the Restoration Movement that would be valuable additions to the conversation they are trying to start.
Just a nudge of encouragement
July 31st, 2007 at 4:18
For some reason it seems you need the whole url right now (since it is a new site I guess)
http://www.connect4change.net/
August 1st, 2007 at 6:12
Careful. You’re sounding like an anti.
Even if I believed church-run or -supported institutions and businesses were doctrinally okay, I’d have to oppose them based on observation of their history. The tail always winds up wagging the dog, and the survival of the institution always eventually becomes paramount.
August 12th, 2007 at 13:04
So how does a church-pre-school work exactly. You hire unbelievers to watch your kids so you don’t have to make ‘em sit still during the worship?