Have you not read these passages? Your sister in Christ in Auburn, Indiana. Those of us that have experienced spiritual abuse and church hurt personally can truly resonate with your story. Muller had prematurely announced the pastors departure on Friday morning on his show on WLS 890 AM, going on to declare on Twitter, Conman Boss James Macdonald OUT of Harvest Church!. "Following a lengthy season of review, reflection, and prayerful. I met you when you spoke at Harvest Davenports womens ministry retreat and events many years ago and was challenged and inspired by your teaching. I assumed that you had simply moved on to bigger and better things. I pray that the sincere, Christ honoring followers humbly seek Him and His will for them individually in relation to this circumstance, in addition to His will for the church as a whole. They helped to create this culture of fear. The bloggers began posting again, however, in 2017, around the same time that Harvest Bible Fellowship was dissolved in 2017, due in part to concerns by some some member churches about how Harvest was managing the fellowships finances. You did the right thing and I believe more will step up not to dishonor James, but noticing how much the church has changed. Harvest launched a radio show; founded a Christian school with over 700 students; built its own retreat center; produced feature-length films; wrote its own worship songs; and created its own church-planting ministry, Harvest Bible Fellowship, with 170 member churches. I think Nellie and others are genuine in their questions of why now and why kick him when he is down. There are always two sides to every story not really believing your story and if someone is a Christian you would talk about this with some Church leaders not blow it all out in public its sad that it was done that way that isnt what a Christian would do it is what a secular person would do. I grew up in the Church of Christ. Fear is what has been under all this, I would not be surprised if there is some fear in Jamess heart that is the root cause of his sins here. Is the founding pastor subject to accountability structures? On Tuesday, Chicago shock jock and one-time friend of MacDonaldMancow Muller aired a series of clips featuring someone who sounds like MacDonald making offensive comments. It was simply not possible. We attended Elgin from 2005 through 2008. This young lady has done the work and is doing the work of the great physician. We are wounded and grieving. He was a ruler of his churches. Thank you for having the courage to write what you did and for your ministry Lina. I want to thank you for having the courage to add your testimony to the voices of those who have been abused by HBC. The practice of medicine is not an exact science; neither is navigating very tough and painful circumstances such as this. May the God of all comfort minister his comfort to them. The 60-year-old pastor called on his former church to confess its wrongs and correct the record. And the lies werent just shared by James. But often they require speaking up when injustice is done. I dont know you personally but appreciate all you continue to teach me and countless others. Thank you for your honestly, I personally did not ask why you left, because we left approximately the same time for the same reasons. Thats when eight former elders sent a letter to the sitting elder board, warning them that MacDonald was disqualified for office, she said in a response posted Wednesday. Sitting in the pews, I could not see how deep the cancer was at HBC. I am delighted to hear that. James is (was) a powerful force which could and did destroy people with his power and influence. By the time I left, I had discovered something dark about myself: I was a woman ruled by fear. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? A new believer has lost faith because of the shameful behavior of HBC leadership and all you can say is question the new believers truthfulness of his account? Everything is being talked about at great lengths regarding Harvest except for Who the body of Christ should be praying to, talking about and quoting. The pastor of that church,John Secrest, said he would be uncomfortable with MacDonald preaching at his church and asked Harvest to sever their affiliation. These changes were never made, but the critics were silencedfor a time. Sign up for our newsletter: By the time I left, I had discovered something dark about myself: I was a woman/person ruled by fear. I agree with Nellie. As questions about how Harvest Bible Fellowship money was used ballooned, the pressure mounted. I have a Patreon! Theyre gone. She approached this with sensitivity, wisdom and grace. Amen sister!! Its by an unbeliever, but wow, is it eye-opening. And still some came because their loved ones and spouses have abandoned the faith completely and now refuse to go to church and they long to understand why. 3. Hello: Agreed Sheila. The leader of that church, John Secrest, was blindsided by the news and asked Harvest elders to reconsider allowing MacDonald to preach there. We are conditioned to believe that leaving silently is whats best for the church and in some cases thats true. Everyone sat still as if he mentioned chocolate milk. Can you please contact me from the Contact button on my web page here? And I find it odd that someone would have an opinion on that. I always wondered why you left but after reading The Elephants Debt I figured I knew why. Linas post is still available on other mediums, I imagine if she wanted to link it she would have. In my lowly position, I have said, like others, I would have put my head in the sand and continued to do the job God gifted me to do in the interest of the body. Sunday Service-10:15 AM/Wed. Ive been in the medical field for over 40 years and know a thing or two about human anatomy. You are a fraud and a liar! MacDonald later admitted doing so but claimed it was all in good fun and misinterpreted. Id be interested in reading you blog on tattoos. That is why we keep talking. Sports Betting Hits a New High: A Crisis in the Making? With my life and schedule, my friends are few and far between, and have always been aware that my saying anything publicly about Harvest or James would jeopardize those friendships that I still love and value so much. I was recovering from the deep wounds and hurts from when we left when this all came rushing back in and opening old wounds. We believe that disciples of Jesus profess that He is Lord, practice His Ways, and persevere in both their profession and practice. He is not being bullied. Rather, God is shaking the junkall of our junkout of His Church. May God be glorified through this. I have a love-hate relationship with Thanksgiving Day. Driscoll, now MacDonald. Thank you Yahweh. No unfortunately I have not seen your web page. Not one. I was too afraid to ask her why. Put faith in Gods justice and judgement upon all, now that sin has been exposed. Church is of the world. I really doubt theyre sending texts and emails asking for money. The fruit by which JM is to be judged rather is that of his own true m.o. Thank you for this post. Our family was kicked out of our church plant campus and everyone at the church was told not to talk to us because we were disobedient by speaking out against the things were were seeing. No Celebrities Except Jesus: How Asbury Protected the Revival, Southern Baptist Convention Disfellowships Saddleback Church, After Pushing for UMC Unity, Former Bishop Joins New Denomination, After Chaos and Crisis, Beth Moore Still Finds Refuge in the Church, With Gossip of the Gospel, the Church Grows in Nepal. I pray to our Father who loves us all that His truth and reconciliation and peace, healing abounds in this circumstance. Because there are others that need to also be held responsible. Also I Cor. We sincerely thank you for your prayers, your support, and your patience as we work together to restore a trust in leadership, a humility to surrender to biblical authority, and a firm resolve to move forward as a church family., Subscribe to CT And it wasnt just some random bloggers saying these things, either. It took months to get over the hurt he caused my husband and I. My first two books were scheduled to be released smack in the middle of that summer, and I didnt want to impact their potential not to mention that James had agreed to write the forward on my first book.. Even before the 58-year-old pastors sabbatical, MacDonalds role at Harvest had shifted. School of the Bible at 9:00am Wednesdaysat 7:00pm Give Online Contact Us 10088 N. Highway 99 Stockton, CA 95212 office@hbcstockton.org (209) 931-9548 Copyright 2023, Harvest Bible Church. 4. Pray for those outside the faith who will never come to salvation because of how this appears to them, Muller wrote in his op-ed. I have always wondered why? After he was treated and had surgery he was totally different person: quick to get angry all the time, control freak, and mean.there are things that we dont know. I am so inspired to see you today. What I have realized is the weakness and defeatism of so-called Christians who immediately abandon their Church when trouble comes its way. Many might wonder why it all still matters to me so much. But the truth needs to be out there. Addressing this following statement from you, By the time I left, I had discovered something dark about myself: I was a woman ruled by fear. Do not judge the timing, Gods timing is Always Perfect. Jackie Alfirevic HBC mothership (1992-2011). Im not on FB, so I didnt see your post where you extended an invitation to us to meet with you again. You also restrained and could have said much more and didnt. But are they? I pray shes wrong. It describes participative worship thats all the music you need. Reflect about yourself and what steps you need to take to be healed and then to help others heal. There are larger lessons to be learned. Its who you are! Some women were still in the middle of the trauma and were still currently attending Harvest. There is no timing to sharing pain. You must not feel sorry for James. Lina you were humble and owned more than most. Sometimes being good will require us to say harsh things. We left a church where the pastor specifically told me, I am in charge! He said this while glaring at me and enunciating each word. Gordon Zwirkoski, a former Harvest elder and the original director of HBF, told Roys that James MacDonald essentially wields ultimate authority at the church and cultivates a spirit of fear in the staff. Former Harvest employee Dave Jones says his church has welcomed dozens of Harvest refugees who show signs of spiritual abuse and are disillusioned.. For years, I kept believing the deception fed to the congregation by the elders. Doesnt matter how long ago it happened either. Even now, many years later, the enemy could still, if I let him, get me questioning my motives and trying to persuade me I was in the wrong not the shepherds. wounded by wolves in sheeps clothing. And for those that have not witnessed spiritual abuse, or worse yet experienced it personally, but are now hearing about it, this is your opportunity to ramp up your prayers for the Bride of Christ. Brave. Sadly, this cancer has spread to other churches that were once part of the fellowship. When the Church becomes the organization instead of the people, then it ceases to be the Church. I work every day to be rid of my anger and thank you for proving that church is an unsafe place filled with predictors such as yourself seeking to tear down. Mike Winger Discusses When God Hardened Pharaohs Heart, Tennessee Church Showcases Tyre Nichols Photography, Louisiana Pastor Sentenced to 5 Years in Money Laundering Case Involving Nearly $900K in Stolen Funds, Steven Curtis Chapman First Contemporary Christian Artist To Earn 50th No. This comment to Harvest and James is your opinion and you have every right to it. Praying for you for healing and for growth and strength during all of this. I thank you for your willingness to risk being misunderstood while offering your experience to help reduce the shame of others, who need a hand to hold, as they work through their own healing. Quit pointing fingers, justifying why and stirring the pot. Well said. HARVEST EN ESPAOL is available in person on Sundays at 11:00 AM in Cornerstone. I see Jesus in youfrom one member of the Body to another. This problem is not isolated to Harvest. Sheila, we are not called to be good, we are called to be HOLY! Harvest, which Roys says is $42 million in debt, is suing the Evangelical Christian Credit Union for not refinancing five of its mortgages. God has been known to use even a donkey and a false pagan prophet to speak His word. And even then, it often doesnt work because so many remain enthralled with the narcissist, or have tied their fortunes to them, that they simply cant or wont see the truth. I do not think the solution is replacing the pastor and associates with a new administration. 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