We have been struggling to make a decision regarding whether to leave Dale City Baptist Church or not. Well, what happened this past Sunday helped make up our mind.

We have been without a youth pastor since he left last December. At that time, we were assured that the church was behind the youth of the church and the ministry. Since my wife and I are heading up the youth ministry, this was reassuring. Our youth group has been in decline since the youth pastor left, but we have worked hard at keeping the youth groups on Sunday and Wednesday relevent to the youth of the church.

Sunday, one of the elders told us that they felt the youth should be in the main service rather than have a service that is geared toward them. We have also talked to some in the church that felt that these youth need to “learn to listen”. I am unsure what that means, other than some in the church think they are dealing with 10 year old children rather than young adults that are making decisions that will effect their lives for decades to come.

Unfortunatly this has already had a impact on our daughter. She has told us that she does not want to go to church. We know that this has had a similar impact on other youth in the church, they probably will not come back. It concerns my wife and me that the “Year of Change” that the church is trying to begin, starts with the elimination of ministries. The alienation of those people that are at most risk to leaving the church.

We have an appointment with the pastor of another church in our area to talk to him about joining thier ministry. I think at this point, we know that we are leaving our current church… it is time.

It is time we find a church that has a ministry focus, time we find a church that wants to outreach, time we find a church that is more concerned about reaching people for Christ rather than whether people are in bible study or not.