Thirteen years ago I left full-time ministry. I did my darndest to make Jimmy Swaggart look good and did a pretty good job of it. In the process I discovered how the church often treats those who are paid not to sin and do so anyway. It wasn’t a pretty picture. It left me stunned, alone, broken, bereft and afraid. Though God was never in question, his church certainly was. The gospel was not meant for me. I was a sinner. I had no place among the people of God.I was thrown out. ONe of my staff even wrote me, "I will not go and eat from the pig trough with you."
My story is too familiar to too many pastors and Christian leaders. We often feel like we are in a “no win” situation. The system more often than not works against real authenticity in our lives. We are almost required to keep large portions of our lives hidden. If those hidden things are discovered, in all likelihood we will lose the mechanism that enables us to use our gifts to expand the Kingdom of God. Because of these threats to calling in the Kingdom, we find ourselves lonely and isolated, caught and trapped by a job that we love, to which we are called, and which is slowly costing us our very life.
I betrayed my children's mother. And I was betrayed by a woman I loved and married. I hurt, and was hurt. When I think of God's positioning of me to help others who are hurting, I don't think He could position me any more strategically. One day, sitting on my motorcycle in my driveway, feeling sorry for myself, I realized just how carefully God laid out my story to walk with the betrayer and the betrayed. That is a gift not many know. Walking through the pain of betrayal either as the betrayer or the betrayed hurts. Most of us want a companion on the journey. I can be and want to be that companion now. It is the resurretion life God has given me the opportunity to live.
The Clergy Recovery Network exists to support, encourage and provide resources to Christian Leaders in crisis. We are a non profit, non-denominational ministry working outside normal institutional structures to provide safety, healing and growth for Christian leaders and their ministries. We do this because current systems are not providing the resources clergy and their congregations need and we long to see the Church a more graceful and honest community.
What Does the Clergy Recovery Network (CRN) Do?
- We mentor ministry professionals and their boards all over the world by “meeting” face to face, on-line via Skype, and on the phone to guide them toward biblical hope, help and healing out of the maze of their secret lives, sin, and deep pain into vibrant connection with their Creator. (Rural and international ministers and ministries use us constantly).
- We offer counseling referral for ministry professionals who need it. Clergy referral is a difficult and challenging endeavor.
- We consult with Christian ministries finding themselves in crisis with one of their leaders.
- We speak at church staff and denomination retreats to prevent the common clergy crises, and help them to create ways to help rather than hurt their hurting clergy.
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