I was just 19 when I came to faith in Christ. Married a beautiful young Christian girl a few days before I turned 21.
My wife and I were heavily involved in just about everything going on at our growing mid western United Pentecostal Church. Our involvement plus being in four services a week consumed us.
We were faithful givers. Paying tithes plus another 10% was pretty much required. I have no doubt we invested over 20 hours a week to the ministries we were involved in.
I had served in the military so I had GI bill to help me with college. I wanted to be a teacher. I knew I could not carry the load we carried at church plus work my 3rd shift factory job and go to college.
I scheduled a meeting with pastor to discuss what I wanted to do. Quit my full time job, take my GI bill benefit and go to school full time. My wife worked, we didn’t have any children yet, so we figured we could make it financially.
This is what I was told by my pastor. “No way. You can’t quit. I can’t afford to be without your tithes.”
As a young and dumb new believer I submitted to his will. We of course, were taught that to not submit was rebellion. Rebellion was as bad as witchcraft. I didn’t want to go to hell.
I think I could have been a great teacher.
So sad. It was very controlling like this at my church as well. People at my church were all working folks, most couples both worked to make ends meet. The pastor lived in what would be called a mansion to most, had a place on the lake, and was able to do most anything they wanted. Every time someone moved instead of being happy for them, they were made to feel guilty
Moving away was not allowed at the church I attended. The church was instructed not talk wit or associate with anyone who moved or changed churches. The United pentecostal churches are very cult like in their practice of shunning.
That is sooo sad. I went to college at 45 and still had a 20 year career at an educational job I had temped at without a degree for 6 years. It is never too late.
I also went back to school at age 47 and graduated at 50 wwith my bachelors degeee in accounting. The UPC church I was attending at this time thought I was crazy and didn’t need to go to college. They expected me to run the church daycare for $10 an hour and lower my standard of living. When I retired 2 years ago I was making $36 an hour. So there is still time for you to live for dream!