Emphasis Preaching Journal

First Church was having all sorts of problems. Every time the pastor or key lay leaders would try to accomplish something that someone didn't like, the phones would start ringing. They wouldn't ring at the church office. They rang at members' homes. The gossip chain would start. People who had nothing to do with the decision and who were unaffected by it would be contacted. A "spin" would be put on the issue and an effort made to upset people. The goal wasn't to run the pastors out. It wasn't even always a desire to reverse the decision.