Rising From the Rubble of Institutions
What happens when everything we know falls apart? We redefine ourselves and seek a new path through life.
In 2005, I began working in local church ministry. I was an assistant in a youth ministry at a large, downtown church with a 150+ year history that also happened to be the church where I grew up.
For over 15 years, I made a career out of building community inside the church. I began working with teenagers, then their families, and eventually, people of all ages. As the Minister to Children, Youth, and Families, my mission was to help people explore their faith — not spoon-feed them what I or the “church” believed. I loved my time there and am proud of what our team of volunteers built. I even got married and built a life. I was happy, secure, and felt connected to something bigger than myself.
As of this writing, however, I’m on the other side of a separation which sadly led to divorce, and I haven’t worked for a church in three years (or regularly attended one, either). When your former life crumbles around you, it’s natural to question your stability and faith. Difficult times force most of us to redefine ourselves, our lives, and the religious institutions we might have once held dear.
