life after LC

KSA · 07-09-2008, 02:10 AM

After we left LC, my wife and I were for some time alone. Then some other saints in my city left LC and we established a group meeting. This group meeting still smelled much like LC - we knew nothing else. I was asking the Lord to give us some fellowship with those who had no LC background. It was the only way for us to become healthy.

When I was about to leave LC, one brother told me that I wouldn't be satisfied in Christianity. "Recovery spoils us for Christianity", said he. And to a certain extent he was right. I attended several traditional churches, and never was quite home there. I was "spoiled" for sitting on the pew and listening sermons. It does not mean that I judge these churches. In fact, I have friendly relationship with different pastors and regularly attend prayer breakfast with different pastors. However, I felt that the Lord wants something else for me.

Gradually the Lord got us together with some believers who had no LC background, but who were interested in non-traditional church setting. We really did not know how to move on. We were (and still are) very different. We read a lot of materials on house/simple/organic churches. And though many ideas were appealing, we could not really find our own path. Eventually we decided to drop all our views and knowledge, and just prostrate before the Lord and seek Him personally.

In the beginning it was slow and difficult. But eventually the Lord started to take over these prayer meetings. We have been learning to recognize His presence and voice. Right now our prayer meeting is the most enjoyable meeting we have. I've never thought that I can enjoy prayer so much (prayer meeting in LC was with rare exceptions a nightmare). This prayer meeting began to attract other believers who were hungry for prayer and deeper walk with the Lord. Right now the Lord started to lead us in some practical service. It is so exciting to spend time in the Lord's presence and learn to hear directly from Him.

Another thing is that we do not try to attract people to our fellowship. When the Lord allows us to meet with other hungry believers, our main concern is that they would learn to hear from the Lord. So we have regular fellowship with believers from other churches without trying to pull them into our fellowship. Actually we do not see church as some kind of formal meetings anymore. We do church everywhere - in cafes, in gyms, in homes (and meal is a big part in our church life

).

This August our meeting will be one year old. I would say that during this last year I had the most exciting church life I ever had. So many good things happened - it seems like I left LC years ago. It was not always smooth and dandy. We all have difficult characters. At times I thought that it will just not work out. But the Lord knows how to work in our hearts. We are all becoming not just "church members" now, but real friends - sharing common life in Jesus.

God bless you all!

07-09-2008, 02:10 AM	#1
KSA Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Russia Posts: 173	life after LC After we left LC, my wife and I were for some time alone. Then some other saints in my city left LC and we established a group meeting. This group meeting still smelled much like LC - we knew nothing else. I was asking the Lord to give us some fellowship with those who had no LC background. It was the only way for us to become healthy. When I was about to leave LC, one brother told me that I wouldn't be satisfied in Christianity. "Recovery spoils us for Christianity", said he. And to a certain extent he was right. I attended several traditional churches, and never was quite home there. I was "spoiled" for sitting on the pew and listening sermons. It does not mean that I judge these churches. In fact, I have friendly relationship with different pastors and regularly attend prayer breakfast with different pastors. However, I felt that the Lord wants something else for me. Gradually the Lord got us together with some believers who had no LC background, but who were interested in non-traditional church setting. We really did not know how to move on. We were (and still are) very different. We read a lot of materials on house/simple/organic churches. And though many ideas were appealing, we could not really find our own path. Eventually we decided to drop all our views and knowledge, and just prostrate before the Lord and seek Him personally. In the beginning it was slow and difficult. But eventually the Lord started to take over these prayer meetings. We have been learning to recognize His presence and voice. Right now our prayer meeting is the most enjoyable meeting we have. I've never thought that I can enjoy prayer so much (prayer meeting in LC was with rare exceptions a nightmare). This prayer meeting began to attract other believers who were hungry for prayer and deeper walk with the Lord. Right now the Lord started to lead us in some practical service. It is so exciting to spend time in the Lord's presence and learn to hear directly from Him. Another thing is that we do not try to attract people to our fellowship. When the Lord allows us to meet with other hungry believers, our main concern is that they would learn to hear from the Lord. So we have regular fellowship with believers from other churches without trying to pull them into our fellowship. Actually we do not see church as some kind of formal meetings anymore. We do church everywhere - in cafes, in gyms, in homes (and meal is a big part in our church life ). This August our meeting will be one year old. I would say that during this last year I had the most exciting church life I ever had. So many good things happened - it seems like I left LC years ago. It was not always smooth and dandy. We all have difficult characters. At times I thought that it will just not work out. But the Lord knows how to work in our hearts. We are all becoming not just "church members" now, but real friends - sharing common life in Jesus. God bless you all!