Week 2: Working through Difficulties
Whenever people come together for a shared purpose, they should acknowledge potential difficulties. Each person has ways of communicating, expectations, or baggage from the past. These might be traditions, or unspoken ways of handling problems. They might be differing communication methods, or past hurts that people have buried. What are the difficulties that might be facing the new church?
13. Pray that turf issues will be minimal.
“I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.”
1 Cor 1:10
One of the greatest areas of conflict, as well as potential long-term problems in Vital Mergers involves turf issues. People from one or both congregations try to hold onto “things” or “traditions” or “power,” resulting in turf issues.
• Pray that turf issues will be recognized, understood, and resolved early on.
• Pray that people will be willing to lay aside their preferences for the mission of the church.
• Pray for peace among the churches and people merging together.