Comments on: I invite you to church (or back to church) https://melanieredd.com/i-invite-you-to/ Best-Selling Author | Inspirational Speaker | Encourager | Mentor | Wife | Mom Tue, 21 Apr 2026 17:13:23 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: helloredds@gmail.com https://melanieredd.com/i-invite-you-to/#comment-16767 Fri, 03 Sep 2021 19:04:04 +0000 http://www.melanieredd.com/?p=10347#comment-16767 In reply to Mary Lamb.

Hey Mary,
I’m so sorry to hear that you grew up in such a challenging church situation. It sounds like you have lived through some challenging days.
I’m praying for you today and asking God to show you just how much He loves you and to bring back the sweetness and the joy once again.
God adores you; He is for you!
Praying blessings of hope over you today~
Melanie

]]> By: Mary Lamb https://melanieredd.com/i-invite-you-to/#comment-16764 Thu, 02 Sep 2021 23:31:33 +0000 http://www.melanieredd.com/?p=10347#comment-16764 I wasn’t one of the lucky ones. I used to attend a very strict church where men were separated from women during Sunday School. The paid pastors would teach the men, and a male lay pastor would teach the women. Women were not allowed to speak in Sunday school nor during any other part of the service. My husband did not allow me to read the Bible either. He would teach it to me, but I was not him, and our gifts and passions were not the same. I did not grow spiritually and didn’t learn under this Taliban-style system. Eventually my husband left the church and finally allowed me to read the Bible, but it was fifteen years too late. I opened it many times only to find that the passion just wasn’t there. For fifteen years I had slowly atrophied. When I think of church, I think of control, and it brings back bad memories.

]]> By: helloredds@gmail.com https://melanieredd.com/i-invite-you-to/#comment-12167 Sat, 04 Jan 2020 16:04:47 +0000 http://www.melanieredd.com/?p=10347#comment-12167 In reply to Tyler Johnson.

Thank you, Tyler!
I think we all benefit from community and support!
Sure do appreciate you stopping by and leaving a good word.
Blessings to you in 2020!
Melanie

]]> By: Tyler Johnson https://melanieredd.com/i-invite-you-to/#comment-12161 Fri, 03 Jan 2020 19:09:31 +0000 http://www.melanieredd.com/?p=10347#comment-12161 That’s a good point that it would be good to have a support group that would all share your beliefs. I could see how that would be useful if you have concerns or questions that you can’t answer yourself. I should probably try going to a church service sop that I could meet people that would help me if I ever need am in need spiritually.

]]> By: helloredds@gmail.com https://melanieredd.com/i-invite-you-to/#comment-10599 Mon, 19 Aug 2019 15:20:29 +0000 http://www.melanieredd.com/?p=10347#comment-10599 In reply to Vivian.

Amen, Vivian!
Thanks for letting me know!
I do pray that you will find a place to plug in – a sweet community of believers!
Blessings,
Melanie

]]> By: Vivian https://melanieredd.com/i-invite-you-to/#comment-10520 Fri, 09 Aug 2019 04:47:09 +0000 http://www.melanieredd.com/?p=10347#comment-10520 In reply to Jennifer Lambert.

Thank you for this article. My church history is both negative and positive. I miss church. I’ve been away since’96 and having trouble finding a church. Your blog was sweet and spot on.

]]> By: helloredds@gmail.com https://melanieredd.com/i-invite-you-to/#comment-10425 Tue, 09 Jul 2019 13:48:11 +0000 http://www.melanieredd.com/?p=10347#comment-10425 In reply to Jennifer Lambert.

Hey Jennifer,
Thanks so much for stopping by to leave a comment!
And, you are so right… no one wins when we beat people over the head with the Bible.
May we seek God like we never have before.
And, I’ll check out your article.
Blessings,
Melanie

]]> By: Jennifer Lambert https://melanieredd.com/i-invite-you-to/#comment-10404 Thu, 27 Jun 2019 17:27:49 +0000 http://www.melanieredd.com/?p=10347#comment-10404 I agree with the other commenters about church abuse and lack of community. Beating hurting people with Bible verses doesn’t help anyone and can only make it worse.

I also feel sickened by the political support of the American evangelical church with all the horrors currently happening with immigrants, sexism, and racism. I’m sure the Holy Spirit is grieved by the hatred of people who claim to worship her.

https://www.jenniferalambert.com/stopped-church/

]]> By: helloredds@gmail.com https://melanieredd.com/i-invite-you-to/#comment-10225 Tue, 14 May 2019 15:48:52 +0000 http://www.melanieredd.com/?p=10347#comment-10225 In reply to Jocelyn McDonald.

Amen, Jocelyn!
Thanks so much for letting me know.
I’m praying that you will find a wonderful place to plug in and serve!
Somewhere, there is a church that really needs you both!
Keep me posted~
Melanie

]]> By: Jocelyn McDonald https://melanieredd.com/i-invite-you-to/#comment-10223 Mon, 13 May 2019 16:06:52 +0000 http://www.melanieredd.com/?p=10347#comment-10223 My husband and I want to improve our spirituality, and we’re thinking of starting to go back to church. Your article had great points about the benefits of something like this, and I liked how you said our actions can affect others, and if we go to church and share a testimony, we can play a pivotal part in someone else’s spiritual journey. Thanks; we’ll keep this in mind when considering going to church.

]]> By: helloredds@gmail.com https://melanieredd.com/i-invite-you-to/#comment-10208 Fri, 10 May 2019 12:59:39 +0000 http://www.melanieredd.com/?p=10347#comment-10208 In reply to Linda Ives.

Hey Linda,
Thanks for stopping by to leave a comment.
It sounds like you’ve had some church challenges.
I’ll pray with you for a wonderful community closer to home.
May God fill the lonely places with Himself and with some precious friends.
Blessings,
Melanie

]]> By: Linda Ives https://melanieredd.com/i-invite-you-to/#comment-10194 Wed, 08 May 2019 22:33:40 +0000 http://www.melanieredd.com/?p=10347#comment-10194 I’m nearly 70 and have been regularly in a fellowship of believers all my life -until the last 5 years. First of all we moved a challenging distance from our former church home. Then a scriptural difference with our pastor resulted in him banning me from any position of responsibility in the fellowship. Eventually we quit making the long drive for an unfulfilling relationship in the congregation. We’ve visited several churches in our new town, but it is difficult and lonely to establish new relationships.

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