For Those Burnt-Out on the Church
An invitation from Pastor Joel Wentz
There’s no use in pretending otherwise: the institutional church in America has hurt many people. I myself, in one season of life, nearly walked away from the church completely, and in my capacity as a pastor, have also walked alongside so many through their own processes of questioning, deconstructing and healing from emotional, relational and spiritual wounds from the church. If you are reading this, perhaps you have been through this yourself, and I’m deeply sorry. These experiences are very real, and very painful, and I wish I could issue an ironclad guarantee that Missio Dei is the kind of church that will never wound people. Unfortunately, that’s not a guarantee I can offer in good conscience, as I believe people are flawed, and what is a church if it’s not a collection of (flawed) people? Joining any collection of people is a risk, but I do believe the risk is worth taking.
What I can offer instead of a pain-free guarantee is a hopeful and confident invitation. We are a community that intimately knows what spiritual wounds look like. Many of us have recovered from our own wounds, and are able to offer sincere compassion and empathy. We are a community that is comfortable offering ample space for individuals and families to simply be, and to rest and receive, while journeying towards healing and wholeness, which I stubbornly believe is possible, no matter what your story is.
So if you are hurt, your wounds are raw, or you are simply burnt-out, exhausted from the churn and pace of previous church activity and commitment, I want to invite you to attend a Sunday gathering (or reach out to grab coffee or a meal). I’m confident that you will experience a nourishing community that will extend a gentle welcome, a community that may play a vital role in your own path towards healing.
**Interested in learning more? Check out other short writeups like: What is the Gospel? What to expect on a Sunday morning; Our Purpose and Values; or reach out to admin@mdchurch.org if you want to connect with someone in-person.
An invitation from Pastor Joel Wentz
There’s no use in pretending otherwise: the institutional church in America has hurt many people. I myself, in one season of life, nearly walked away from the church completely, and in my capacity as a pastor, have also walked alongside so many through their own processes of questioning, deconstructing and healing from emotional, relational and spiritual wounds from the church. If you are reading this, perhaps you have been through this yourself, and I’m deeply sorry. These experiences are very real, and very painful, and I wish I could issue an ironclad guarantee that Missio Dei is the kind of church that will never wound people. Unfortunately, that’s not a guarantee I can offer in good conscience, as I believe people are flawed, and what is a church if it’s not a collection of (flawed) people? Joining any collection of people is a risk, but I do believe the risk is worth taking.
What I can offer instead of a pain-free guarantee is a hopeful and confident invitation. We are a community that intimately knows what spiritual wounds look like. Many of us have recovered from our own wounds, and are able to offer sincere compassion and empathy. We are a community that is comfortable offering ample space for individuals and families to simply be, and to rest and receive, while journeying towards healing and wholeness, which I stubbornly believe is possible, no matter what your story is.
So if you are hurt, your wounds are raw, or you are simply burnt-out, exhausted from the churn and pace of previous church activity and commitment, I want to invite you to attend a Sunday gathering (or reach out to grab coffee or a meal). I’m confident that you will experience a nourishing community that will extend a gentle welcome, a community that may play a vital role in your own path towards healing.
**Interested in learning more? Check out other short writeups like: What is the Gospel? What to expect on a Sunday morning; Our Purpose and Values; or reach out to admin@mdchurch.org if you want to connect with someone in-person.