This year has been a trying one, to say the least. Between Jason's roles as Senior Pastor AND District NYI president, we have not been without critics--and some more blatantly than others. My husband and I have struggled with both blunt and passive aggressive attacks against us, our leadership, and our methods. We have been gossiped about, lied to, taken advantage of, and, quite frankly, abused. We are tired. We have been beat up, chewed up, and spit out more than once... and each time we have gotten back up---bruised and beaten, we have continued...but even as we have continued, we have been broken.... And all anyone can say to us is "Welcome to ministry." Honestly, I HATE that phrase. It is such a lazy attitude for anyone to say, but even more so for a pastor to say it--and we have had several pastors say it to us. "Oh, you're struggling with 'saved and sanctified' people being total jerks? Well, welcome to ministry." Believe me, I und