We're off

[real red]

Good luck G, now's the time to make these "big" moves when you've got kids because before you know it they're at vital stages of their lives (school wise) and you can't find a window where it's a good idea to move them.

Are you looking for the same line of work or are you going to do something totally different?

Good also you've family over there, means you should be able to get advice and guidance on the way things work there without having to pay someone for it!

[aws]

Are you officially "defrocked" now?

[Chuck Fadanoid]

'eddie murphy' is the best tag in history of the GF.

[Unrighteous]

Good luck.

I hope you like the states more than I did...

[ATXRED]

Welcome To The USA (in 4 months)! Seriously though, we're not as bad as we're portrayed. I think the most difficult transition for you will be having to wake up at 6am on Saturday to watch the match, that is, if it's even on.

[RoboRiise]

Originally Posted by G Richards Just handed in my notice to our trustees. It was a very difficult decision to come to, but a new adventure beckons. I have given a four month notice period (contract says three, but there are some projects we're working on and so four will be better). My last Sunday with our church will be 26th October. After that we're moving to America. Mrs G's family is in the Indianapolis area, and she would really like to be nearer to them. We have two little children and one of them has a medical condition, so being nearer to family makes a lot of sense for Mrs G. I have been in talks with one prospective employer, though as yet, I do not have anything lined up. Hopefully that will change soon. There's loads to sort out. We just put our house up for sale today. Given the current climate we might get about £1.50, but the good news is that equates to almost $3, so we should be OK!

Big changes beckon Rev., hope it works out well for you. You'll be quids in over there though, I'm sure I read a few months ago that 40% of Americans attend a religious service weekly compared with a far smaller proportion (OK, I can't remember) in the UK. I predict a descent into ghastly TV evangelism, a fleet of Ferraris and a house made of solid gold within three years.

And RedExile - I don't know when you decided that but I saw it coming just from the tone of some of your posts on here mate. I'm sorry it's not worked out for you mate - my impression was that you'd come home and then found out that home isn't here any more. That cant be easy. (Apologies if incorrect...)

[Redexile]

Originally Posted by RoboRiise Big changes beckon Rev., hope it works out well for you. You'll be quids in over there though, I'm sure I read a few months ago that 40% of Americans attend a religious service weekly compared with a far smaller proportion (OK, I can't remember) in the UK. I predict a descent into ghastly TV evangelism, a fleet of Ferraris and a house made of solid gold within three years. And RedExile - I don't know when you decided that but I saw it coming just from the tone of some of your posts on here mate. I'm sorry it's not worked out for you mate - my impression was that you'd come home and then found out that home isn't here any more. That cant be easy. (Apologies if incorrect...)

Yep RR that's about spot on mate. We came back to a place we thought was home but it's not, it's Africa. They always said Africa get's into your blood and it's true and for all it's problems there's a freshness about the folks (black & white)that live there which we truly miss.
As you may have gathered from my posts I feel a strong sense of injustice at the way many working people (including myself) are "legally " fleeced and have no recourse. Unfortunately if I stay here it will always burn away at me so going back will be great for my soul as well as my body Thanks to you and the other folk on here for the positive comments mate.

[Paul]

Exciting times, Gra. When you say, "Find a job", do you mean in the current profession or something else? If it's the former, you shouldn't have a problem. They're mad for God stateside, aren't they? Churches packed to the rafters everywhere. If not, what are you going to do? Golf professional?

[Dirk]

Originally Posted by Paul Exciting times, Gra. When you say, "Find a job", do you mean in the current profession or something else? If it's the former, you shouldn't have a problem. They're mad for God stateside, aren't they? Churches packed to the rafters everywhere. If not, what are you going to do? Golf professional?

He's joining the mob, Guido Richards. His Biblical leanings were a ruse. He's been schooled by the RF Mafia.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Dirk He's joining the mob, Guido Richards. His Biblical leanings were a ruse. He's been schooled by the RF Mafia.

He could always handle himself.

[G Richards]

Redexile - good luck with your return to Africa. At least you came back to England and gave it a go, so now when you return to Africa it will be out of your system. Best wishes.

RoboRiise - something like 40% of people do attend church in America. In the UK it is much less (up to 10%, though even that is a bit ambitious, and it depends on what is meant by 'attends regularly'). Gold houses are so yesterday. I'm getting me a diamond one. Yes siree!

Westderbian - I've been researching my new style by watching 'Leap of Faith' starring Steve Martin. We're gonna have revival I tells ya!

Dirk - don't blow my cover. I'm handy with a shovel you know!

[Spy Bee]

Good luck G.

[G Richards]

Originally Posted by Paul Exciting times, Gra. When you say, "Find a job", do you mean in the current profession or something else? If it's the former, you shouldn't have a problem. They're mad for God stateside, aren't they? Churches packed to the rafters everywhere. If not, what are you going to do? Golf professional?

I'm thinking the same profession Paul, though I do have a little reticence. I've been enjoying some new irons lately in case I have to find another route!

I might be naive or overly ambitious but I really do hope that I will be able to bring some needed things to the situation I will find myself in over there. For starters, I'm not a gun-toting Republican (not wanting to debate guns or politics though!), and and further to that, I'm much more liberal than a lot of American Christians. I really think that because 40% of the populace goes to church there is a perception that all is well, though in reality, most of the churches are not engaging positively with the majority of people.

I don't want to settle for just 'babysitting' people who already go to church, and I really hope I can be involved in some good projects that touch lives for the better beyond the four walls of the church (irrespective of whether or not they ever attend the church).

As a person with faith that God will provide, I'm praying for the right thing to open up. It was a bit daunting to let go of what I do here without having something else lined up yet, but I really think that was the right thing to do. To me there is a faith lesson to be learned at this time. It's no use if I bang on preaching about having faith to people if I haven't put it all on the line myself.

Tomorrow afternoon I will have a fairly serious telephone chat with one church on the north side of Indianapolis. I don't know if this will go anywhere, but we'll see. If it's right, I'm sure it will all fall into place, and if not, I'll wait to see whatever else opens up. In the meantime, I need to work on my golf game just in case!

[Bourbon]

Good luck with both the move and new career, Father.

[ATXRED]

If you don't mind me asking Father, what denomination do you think you're most comfortable with? Actually, I'm not even sure of what your role is at your current church, could you clarify?

I've mentioned before that my father was in youth ministry when I was younger, and I know he still keeps in touch with many of the ministers that he knew back then. If I know what you're looking for, I might be able to ask him for some insight. I'm not sure if he has much knowledge of churches in Indiana, but he might, he never ceases to amaze me with how far his friendships reach across the country.

[G Richards]

ATXRed - my current role is as a senior pastor in a non-denominational church. When we move Stateside I'd be looking for a role below the senior pastor level, largely because the church would likely be much bigger with multiple staff and programs (already spelling like I'm over there, too - sorry Paul!), and with all of that I'd have a certain learning curve to negotiate.

My ideal role would be to go into a no.2 sort of slot, have some good responsibility and an opportunity to do some things, but also learn lots from the senior pastor. If it matriculated into the senior pastor role down the line, all well and good, but probably not just yet.

The church I'm chatting with later today (via telephone) ticks all of those boxes. It is a Christian Church based in Carmel, Indiana, just to the north of Indianapolis.

The Christian Churches are one of, if not the largest non-denominational network of churches - very big in America. For those non-churchy types the main thing about non-denominational churches is that they are all autonomous, and so there is no central HQ, so to speak. This is good in some ways, and not so good in others, but it is what it is.

I must say that to English ears it sounds a bit odd - tautological - to say 'Christian Church', since presumably all churches are Christian! It's rather like saying 'Moslem Mosque'. If you go to the Mosque I think there's a big clue there as to your religious persuasion! Anyhow, this is the sort of stuff I'll have to get over as we settle over there.

I did some work with a missionary organistation called Christian Missionary Fellowship International in the past, and they have an office in Indianapolis. Hopefully there will be some contacts there if I'm getting a bit stuck with the right door opening up. In fact, I chatted with someone from there yesterday about another matter to do with a Bible College here in England (Birmingham) so it is interesting to see all the