ABOUT ME, MY BLOG, MY CHURCH - Stone The Preacher

The Agony & the Ecstasy: 7 Years as Pastor of Community Church of the Hills

Sep 29, 2022Steve Sanchez3 CommentsABOUT ME, MY BLOG, MY CHURCH, Community Church of the Hills7 years, cch, community church of the hills

Sunday, August 30, marked the official 7-year anniversary of my being the pastor at Community Church of the Hills. When I first started, we had 81 people. Out of that original congregation, 12 still attend.

The first year was my honeymoon. It seemed everyone loved me. The second and third year, not so much. I learned that in a small church, in a small town, if you offend one person, the whole family and all their friends leave.I offended many during my first years’ learning curve.

Coming directly from a 1,500-member church in the beach cities of L.A. to a small country church in the middle of rural Texas didn’t translate well. I was not very gracious and was way too demanding. I over-emphasized evangelism and talked about Hell ad nauseum.

The first person to leave said it was because I didn’t teach out of the King James Bible. She had gone there 17 years. In that entire time, no one ever taught out of the King James Bible.

Another said that he wasn’t being fed. (Pastors, ever hear that one before?)

Still another complained that she “just wasn’t feeling it.”

Yet another left because someone put a hat on his wife’s chair.

One guy split because he didn’t like being told what to do and another bailed because I shook his hand the wrong way.

Oh! Did I mention that God prevented a church split in 2018? Or that a guy wrote a 4 page letter to the Elders trying to get me fired?

The bottom line? They didn’t love me as much as I thought.

Struggling With Hope

Apr 15, 2021Steve SanchezABOUT ME, MY BLOG, MY CHURCH, Pastor's P.O.V.bad marriages, struggles

A well-intentioned friend was concerned that I shared too much in my monthly emails and that it might be better to be less honest about my struggles. Initially, I agreed, but upon further reflection, I thought that would be the wrong way to go.

The whole purpose of a newsletter, after all, is to have family and friends pray for my struggles. What may seem like over-sharing to some is genuine, heart-felt need for me. The setbacks and disappointments are a part of ministry life and it would do no good to put on a happy face and say everything is fine when it isn’t. I value my readers’ prayers, concern, love and interest for my family’s well-being.

Before we moved to Texas to start a new church, the son of my pastor in California sent me off with these prophetic words when I mentioned to him that, perhaps, this endeavor might go without many problems. “It’s my general understanding that these things never go easy,” he replied.

And, he was right!

Missionaries, church planters, evangelists, pastors—anyone who is dedicated to serving the Lord—will experience great difficulties.

7 Years in Texas

Oct 4, 2020Steve SanchezABOUT ME, MY BLOG, MY CHURCH, Community Church of the Hills, Texas Tales!community church of the hills, texas

I arrived in Texas 7 years ago. It has been said that it takes 7 seven years for any great work of God to take effect….

Wanna Help Support the Sanchez Family in Texas?

Jul 26, 2017Steve SanchezABOUT ME, MY BLOG, MY CHURCH, Community Church of the Hills

I’m only posting this because some people have asked how they might help out…. The gracious and generous people of Community Church of the Hills supports 2/3 of my salary. The other third comes out of a “Designated Fund” at Hope Chapel Hermosa Beach which ends in July of 2018. My wife works as a

ON THIS DAY…from 2013 to 2017!

Jun 28, 2017Steve Sanchez1 CommentABOUT ME, MY BLOG, MY CHURCH, Community Church of the Hillschurch planting, community church of the hills, dripping springs, Johnson City, pastor

FACEBOOK HAS AN APP called “On This Day” which shows you what you posted on this day, one year, three years, however many years ago it was.

June 28th is kinda special to me. How so? Take a look at what happened today:

After being finger-printed, having my driver’s record checked for the past five years, enduring a physical exam upon my person (including going to the restroom with a little cup), taking five written tests, a 20 hour certification course, memorizing every part of the bus including the engine components, exhaust system, air brakes etc., and two months of driver’s training…I passed my school bus driving test! What? A school bus driver? Yes. And in Dripping Springs of all places, the city where I first planted a church after leaving Hope Chapel Hermosa Beach nearly four years ago.

Circumstances have arisen where I have to take a 2nd job in addition to pastoring my current church, launching my eldest daughter to Baylor U., and taking care of my family. (Someone asked me what I’m doing for the summer. I laughed.)

Now, see what has happened on this day over the last four years.