Today, in the middle of his message, our pastor had made some reference to the year 2000, to which he replied "The year 2000 is just another year, the end of the century." His message in the beginning was about being prepared for situations in life. I sat there and was so frustrated that he had not said that the year 2000 was something that we REALLY needed to be prepared for! A few people from our church have approached him, but he has decided not to do anything about it, as far as I know. But, I think that several of us will now form a committee and start a food pantry and go from there. I had hoped that our pastor would have been motivated to get going on Y2k preparedness after the airing of it on the 700 Club recently. Just goes to show you that the scale of 1-10 is so different for each individual out there. We do not need the pastor's permission to get a food pantry started, just willing people! Blondie

-- Blondie Marie (Blondie@future.net), October 11, 1998

Answers

Blondie,

Too bad. But don't feel so all alone. Last month there was a church- oriented y2k conference featuring Alan Hyatt as the keynote speaker in my home state. I paid for his ticket and gave my pastor a copy of Hyatt's book (sorry, Ed, already gave away my last copy of yours to someone in my family) as well as some other material on y2k, three weeks before the conference was held.

He didn't go.

Siiigghhh.

But I hear attendance was good, so at least some church leaders got exposed to 'the message.' And indications are they'll repeat the conference, so maybe next time... . The food pantry sounds like a good idea. That's where I was hoping my pastor's interest would turn as well, along with providing the message to the church that there was a major temporal problem coming. It would be easier with his leadership. Striking out on your own may be necessary, I guess, if you're going to get it done. Good luck with the committee,

nemo...

-- nemo (nemo@deepsix.com), October 11, 1998.

Blondie,

Don't be too hard on the pastor. Pastors have very little time, are overworked, and are afraid of looking like a 'chicken little' if things turn out to be just a bump (fat chance). Their plates are full, without Y2K.

I realized this, and took the following approach:

Step 1. "I'll assume responsibility. I'll do the work. All you have to do is to introduce me during Sunday worship services for some announcements and to put the material I prepare in the church bulletin." [He's just a bystander at this pint.]

Step 2. OK, now the congregation has heard about Y2K and the potential disruptions it can cause. Let's set up a committee. I will volunteer to head it up. [Now, the church has a committee. The pastor still doesn't have to do anything.]

[See the picture.....the pastor is not being asked to spend his time on the project, nor is he having to stand up and urge preparation and risk having egg on his face if it isn't needed]

Step 3. We got a committee.

Step 4. Today one of our committee went before the church to urge the following program:

A. Increase gardens (by at least 25%) B. Have harvest days and canning days (congregation donates supplies) next summer. C. Use the canned (and dehydrated) food as the beginning of the food pantry.

Step 5. The men will prepare a storage area in the basement.

Step 6. We [the committee] are urging the congregation to shop at a specific store that offers fund raiser discounts. The church can take advantage of our food purchases to establish money for food purchases. This still has to be finalized.

OK, is this a complete food pantry? No, but we now have a start. The camel has it's nose under the tent! It won't be too hard to add storage grains (using contacts into a feed supply store who will be willing to order food grade grain for us.

Also, after that, it won't be too hard to do other fund raisers to add to food storage.

Start small and get your foot in the door. As the perceived need grows, you can expand because the precedent has been set.

And, by the way, anyone working on a church committee to do this should be prepared in their own right. The church food pantry shouldn't be a substitute for personal/family preparedness.

Good luck. Hang in there, you can get it done, Blondie.

rocky

-- rocky (rknolls@hotmail.com), October 11, 1998.

Blondie: Maybe your pastor is depending on his congregation to support him and his family when the time comes. Who will turn their own pastor away from their door step? I think he may be more knowledgeable and smarter than you all think.

-- Bardou (bardou@baloney.com), October 11, 1998.

Actually, Bardou...that is exactly what I think! I know that there are families that will gladly take him (and his family) in. And I am sure that he knows that. BUT, what about the congregation??? Is the shepherd not concerned about his sheep???? Somewhat dissappointed I am........ Blondie

-- Blondie Marie (Blondie@future.net), October 12, 1998.

Our Pastor is attending a 3 day "SHUT IN AND FAST" where o nly 30 others are present. They will all pray and fast. I feel great about this. Our Pastor stood before our church just yesterday (for the 2nd time) and again WARNED.....He 1st came to us in July and said God told him that there was coming a Global Economic (opps) Recession, and he did not want to scare anyone, but he did what God told him to do, WARN us...Dont be disappointed, please pray for your Pastor, God will take care of him and he will come around. But pray, I agree with the other fine comments in this thread, Pastor's are busy.... It is OUR job to have a personal relationship with God and to PRAY, let God speak to YOUR heart and DO AS HE INSTRUCTS. With that dear, you'll NEVER go wrong. Love in Christ, just another servant

-- annonymous (none@aol.com), October 12, 1998.

January 1, 2000 is in the middle of winter. So are a lot of power outages. If your pastor is not willing to deal specifically with Y2K as an emergency situation, he surely should be amenable to looking at emergencies in general.

Your pastor is overlooking the psychological impact of Y2K; suppose there is a panic among the general populace, and elderly and handicapped people who couldn't get to the store come to the church's door asking for food. What will he tell them? That they should have prepared in advance? That puts the lie to his current position, and his charity as a Christian.

You might want to talk to him directly; remember that he might be real scared of Y2K and denial might be because of that...If he knows something we don't, do tell!

-- Karen Cook (browsercat@hotmail.com), October 12, 1998.

Blondie: Your pastor is simply another human being. Why do people put their pastors on pedestals? Why do people think that just because they get up in the pulpit that they are exempt from being human beings and treat them like they are God themselves? I found it rather interesting that you agreed with me and my take on the situation.

-- Bardou (bardou@baloney.com), October 14, 1998.

BLONDIE: I've had the same experience with my pastor,too. Or, pastors, I should say. We have two of them. And while I agree that pastors are overextended and that they are only human, I'm having a hard time dealing with the ZERO-ZIP response we have recieved from both. The second part of the 700 Clubs' special on y2k, painted this wonderful picture of the empowered, prepared church helping the poor, lost world. Lord, forgive me for my bitterness, but when two strong men of God ignore warnings of danger, how can you sit under them and be led? They won't have to worry about having a flock to lead or feed if they don't sound the alarm. I know this because I've talked to some members about y2k, and their waiting for the pastors to tell them to. I know I'm supposed to pray for the pastors,(and I do), but I can't help but to feel less respect for their leadership abilities- because THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE.

-- madeline (runner@bcpl.net), October 15, 1998.

Maybe that's why so many people who sit in the pews and wait for someone else to lead them are called "sheeples." Can't you think for yourself? I know what I am talking about because I have been there. I have sat where you have sat and questioned the same things you question. Don't look to a man of the cloth to be your saviour, why do you think God gave you a brain to think with?

-- Bardou (bardou@baloney.com), October 16, 1998.

rocky, you have excellent suggestions. thank you!

-- Jocelyne Slough (jonslough@tln.net), October 16, 1998.

bardou- I'm sure you meant "you" in the general sense, not specifically me, right? Because I did think for myself. I looked into the problem and made a decision long before I mentioned it to my pastors.

-- madeline (runner@bcpl.net), October 17, 1998.

Don't forget me. :)

-Pastor Chris

http://www.lifetel.com/y2k.htm

-- Pastor Chris (pastorchris@lifetel.com), October 17, 1998.

"You" is meant for everyone, including me.

-- Bardou (bardou@baloney.com), October 18, 1998.