Hello, I have browsed this website several times, but never posted. Here is a short version of my story. Prior to moving for college, I attended an Evangelical Free church in my hometown where I was born again. In college in the early 2000s I stumbled upon Candlewood Church in Omaha. It seemed like a wonderful loving church family and lots of friendly college kids on a mission to save UNO. However, over time (several years) I started to realize that some things seemed a little spiritually off i.e. rules for dating (no dating), die hard (attend church functions most nights of the week or you are a bad Christian), and the sense that only GCM churches were acceptable to attend.
Now I would never try to convince someone that felt otherwise not to attend Candlewood, as I did in fact grow spiritually while attending....I would just caution them to test some of the teachings. I still believe there are very good people with hearts for God that serve there. But I was hurt when I finally pulled the plug and found myself "shunned" by a majority of those I had grown close to after I resisted a few appeals to return. I am pretty sure all of my old friends believed that it was my own personal sin issues that caused me step away from the church there.
Anyway, I just wanted to share a little bit of my story and if anyone had a similar experience in Omaha, feel free to message me!
