[Ms Freedom]

Can someone tell me of their experience with this:

If a member (deacon or missionary in the church) leaves to take a vacation and misses a couple Sabbaths and mid-week services, what will happen to that member? Will they be reprimanded? Is this a sign that this member is beginning to separate from the church?

[Brian Taylor]

[Brian Taylor]

If they do so of thier own choosing then they might be on thier way out. Other wise the church may have sent them there to start a house church.

[Ms Freedom]

No house church started. This member went to a pretty remote area. No church visited and no church started. The member did keep prayer time.

[Abhigail Delema]

I know of a deconess in mumbai zion who is a teacher and who very often goes on a school picnic very often every year to far off places like Kasmir etc she is escused because she is a active member who pays good amount of tithes and offering she prays during sabbath worship like closing pray and collects offering and is also a large group leader so actually the pastor allows her knowing that her faith is strong and visted korea twice she is allowed to go anywhere no questions asked even though there is no zion or house church in that area.But if a odinary member wants to go to their native place or on vacation the first question asked is there a house church close to your place or a zion then how will you keep worship ? what if father comes you know we are in the last days why do you want to miss your blessing.If the member is too aderment then they are allowed provided they keep the pray time.If the member has gone out for more then a month they are told to keep the pray time and call the leader telling her how many worship she has kept on the sabbath day and must send the thites by money oder (post) if they fail to do so their name will be canceled from the group and their worship is in vain because they failed to keep the command of thites (Malachi 3:6-11 ) robbing god so with fear members sent their tithes and offering. I have even heard and seen some members who work in the middle east have to follow the same rule.They are even allowed to celebrate the passover at the appointed time with bread and wine .Grape juice is to be brought from supermarket and bread to be made at home ,they can even wash their own feet at the appointed time.But tithes and offering is compulsary.Baciscaly fear and guilt is built in members by leaders but totally under the guideance of the (Pastor) the head of the church.