I grew up in a loving Christian home in a solid, small town Bible church. One does not realize what an amazing privilege this is until you experience the new birth, grow in discernment and come to understand just how undiscerning, shallow, and immature most evangelical churches in America are. A. W. Tozer warned us many decades ago of a new wind blowing across the fields of the church, 'If I see aright, the cross of popular evangelicalism is not the cross of the New Testament. It is, rather, a new bright ornament upon the bosom of a self-assured and carnal Christianity. The old cross slew men; the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it'.
While growing up as a elder's/pastor's kid I watched my dad persevere through some very trying times in some very difficult church ministry contexts. In many ways Kent Kolstad is the kind of shepherd-leader I am striving to be. Despite these hardships my parents never stopped loving the local church (As a footnote, my parents now serve in a wonderful church context in Arkansas).
