What happens when you try

A friend of mine has been trying to start a cell-group type church. She's got a list of at least 50 people who have left/been kicked out of a certain local group of churches, who are lost and lonely and want something spiritual, but have nowhere to turn.

So she and her husband thought "we've done this before upcountry, we can do it again!" and gathered the folk for a pre-meeting at their home to see how they should get going, where, what etc. Basic brainstorming.

Apparently it deteriorated into a heated argument that left everyone feeling worse off than before. No-one was willing to listen, they just wanted to push their own points.

And then, before they could speak to the church headquarters guy, he heard of it. He was down at their place of work in a flash and gave them an earful! They had been hoping for an appointment with him after their initial meeting, to if possible get his blessing for something new that could help a lot of people. He didn't give them the chance!

These two events have so scared them off, that they've abandoned the idea. She says if someone else starts something they're in immediately, but have received so much flak themselves that they're not willing to chance it.

It's sad - VERY sad - that something like this can happen. That folk so on fire and enthusiastic to help others and grow together in a new direction can be shot down without leaving the ground - simply because they're not going through "proper channels" to do it, or are trying something new!

They're so discouraged at the moment. And nothing's been solved. The 50 people are still lost and lonely and probably even more ostracized than before.

If I were able to "do church", I'd do something about it. But I'm in no state to at the moment. Not even starting a cellgroup or Bible study or weekly meal or anything. I would do more damage than good if I tried.

But I hurt for these guys. I've been there (spoke to the same in-charge guy years ago about a potential church plant, was also shot down). I know how crushing it is.

Please pray for them, if you can spare one. They need it.