I got a lot of tough questions in Monday night’s workshop, but it’s still particularly difficult for me. Here is the nature of a pastor’s question:
How do we serve our church and I to a man who seems radically converted, who wants to come to our church, but who for a long time has been a paedophile and a convicted sexual abuser?
Here are some thoughts
We must try to serve such a man, especially if he is converted. No one should be far from our doors, for Jesus was seen with the most vile of sinners. The gospel is about this! However, you cannot ignore ‘the elephant in the room’. Here are some suggestions, having treated it in a comparable way before:
1) Name one?Host? For him while he was in church. Choose a very reliable man whose only task that day is to find him in the parking lot, walk with him and be with this man. Choose a host who is spiritually mature, kind, who understands the importance of his role, but does not make him feel like a prisoner in the church.
Explain to the offender in question that this is the role of man and that he should be seen with him at all times. Choose a host who will make you chat with others and it will be a good way for this visitor to meet and chat with people with who you would not otherwise feel comfortable and vice versa.
2) Inform the church in one way or another of what is happening (email, member meeting, etc. ), so that you know that you are taking strict precautions to protect the safety of people, especially children. Church as a whole to “be careful”?in a loving way.
3) Inform all those who work with children weekly and who is the host during the current week. Give them the freedom to ask questions because they feel they have a responsibility to protect their own children, as well as the children in their class this week.
4) A bug and you delete it. There is no grace period for this man. If you’re alone without yours?That’s enough. He needs to be loved by people, but he must be aware of his responsibility as a shepherd before God to protect sheep in the first place.
5) Remind your people that this is the purpose of the gospel: Jesus died for the most miserable of sinners and we deserved the same punishment for our sins from our just and holy God that this man deserves for his rebellion against God and his crimes Against If he’s truly converted, you want your people to rejoice in the hope of the gospel instead of being afraid for your children when they see this man coming. Worshiping by teaching and example is how God, through His Spirit, will shape this culture in your local church over time.
I praise God for the opportunity you have to remind your people of the gospel and how sufficient, powerful, and glorious God’s mercy is in Christ!But also be wise, dear brother, do you know for sure that the enemy is prowling like a lion among you, wanting to use this situation to divide your church?Or worse. I ask the Lord to give him great wisdom, insight, and grace as he trys to care for this man and his people during his arrival.
By: Brian Croft. © Practical Shepherding, Inc. Website: practiceshepherding. com. Translated with permission. Source: How does a church serve a hidden sex offender?.
Original: How to serve a convert who was once a sexual abuser?© Faithful Of the Department. Website: MinistryFiel. com. br. All rights reserved. Translation: Camila Rebeca Teixeira. Review: André Alosio Oliveira da Silva.