harvest bible church scandal
Lina, My wife and I also left our church several years ago. Every weekday, get RELEVANT's top five articles delivered to your inbox! Before the article was even printed, Harvest sued Roys, plus two bloggers who've been critical about problems at Harvest. Were you bullied by those elders named? At the start of the year, elders stated that his primary focus has transitioned from building our ministries to securing a healthy succession that sets all our ministries up to flourish in the next generation.. I miss that about you. For me, I live with the regret of not taking advantage of the opportunity to come over and get to know you. Do systems of accountability exist in practice, or only on paper? But if they submit to the Healer, they will come out stronger. I was so dissappointed to hear that she left. The World article on the topic says that after Secrest was fired, "he was stunned, because his contract stipulated that he could be fired only for . One person (not from Harvest) asked if I needed to call the church to cancel my membership. We too would pray and fast and seek the Lord as to what it was we could have done wrong as not one person from the church we had attended for years cared to find out where we were at. I simply could not reconcile the lies that were shared from the pulpit with the truths that I knew regarding issues in the church. There is no timing to sharing pain. Many might wonder why it all still matters to me so much. The congregation has been deceived, lied to, and hounded to give sacrificially, all the while the senior pastor has been making hundreds of thousands of dollars. Right. There were several close family deaths, lost our home, business and more. Thats the point and issue with what was and is going on at Harvest. You can read that article here. We need to trust Him. Is this an informed opinion? The Elephants Debt, which had posted criticism of MacDonald, including stories by former Harvest members, elders, pastors, and staff, throughout 2012 and 2013, went on a posting hiatus at around this time. Jesus taught eternal love. The Asbury Revival Is Over. You personify a strong, fast talking, intelligent woman, which is a gift by way of your heritage. Of course people can join in with instruments too. It all is about money to pay taxes and building and salaries. Its very important that people share their stories. In 2013, in a story covered bymajor evangelical news outlets, Harvest publicly excommunicated two former elders who were still members of Harvest. Then, not ten minutes later Mike Dunswood told us the Elders were told ( presumably by the XLT, which included Jeff Donaldson) all parents were notified about Paxton Singer and his sexpoitation issue in Jan 2018. He is angry that they keep on sending texts and emails asking for money. Im replying after reading just your first few paragraphs. needless to say she did not go back and found a great church she was able to become a part of during her college years. Lina you were humble and owned more than most. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. Sports Betting Hits a New High: A Crisis in the Making? I have a love-hate relationship with Thanksgiving Day. Vicki Stevenson, I have not read your blogs for some time but the Holy Spirit caused me to stop and read this post. I lost the bulk of my community virtually overnight. James wrath is powerful. No church is, because they are all filled with sinners like us. We are stunned at the response of our pastor and a ministry leader who have declined to meet us as God directs us in Matthew 18. 15:58 Therefore, my dear (sister) be steadfast,immovable,always excelling in the Lords work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.. In a statement written by church elders, the Chicago-area megachurch says they fired MacDonald for "engaging in conduct contrary and harmful to the best . Torn between right and wrong. It may not be warm and fuzzy but speaking truth, especially when compelled by the Spirit, is never wrong. Romans 16: 17-20. The Bible even says Truth shall set you free. Youre sharing your story and I think those who have been hurt by HBC (including me) needs to hear these stories. In Christian arbitration, the preacher was granted $1.45 million and the rights to Walk in the Word. In the early 2000s, Harvest embarked on an ambitious expansion plan, aiming to form "10 churches in 10 years." Since then the church has opened locations in Elgin, Highland Park, Niles, Crystal. Precept Inductive Bible Study for Women. So I called one of the elders in the video and got his side of the story. Somehow I thought 2500+ members walking out would send the message. maybe its time for all of us to wake up. In good conscience we walked away too knowing it was the right thing before God.So now I get your story, you were a favorite of Kathy and James so I am sure to take a stand against the injustice at Harvest was not at all an easy decision.So many other godly people got pushed out for speaking up about the entitlement and harshness of James and other Pastors and Elders.So very sad somewhere along the way they just forgot they are supposed to be shepherds and servant and not the guards defending the many sin issues at Harvest. Be blessed Lina! You have to leave before you can see clearly. Like the unsaved around us we fight for positions of prestige to lord it over one another. I didnt want to be rebellious against authority. The only thing I liked about that church was the worship, which was glorifying to the Lord. Based on just the first few paragraphs, I hear you! God is purifying His Church. I dont really care what someone else thinks. James has all the characteristics of a false teacher. A worship song says He gives and takes away, He gives and takes away, and still my heart will say Blessed be the name of the LORD!. Anil. I hope to become braver. That night changed me. Lina has every right to speak her truth . Praying for a healing and refocus of all Gods churches, Mary, God is faithful, and He is doing what needs to be done to protect His bride. That occurred right after eight former elders sent a letter to the current elder board, claiming that MacDonald was guilty of self-promotionlove of moneydomineering and bullyingabusive speechoutbursts of anger[and] making misleading statements. Harvest countered by accusing those eight former elders of great sin and defiling many people., The three censured elders said Harvest maintained a culture of fear and intimidation that destroyed relationships. It took months to get over the hurt he caused my husband and I. The fallout has only just begun. I think God has not lifted the veil on a lot of eyes for some reason. We have seen this very truth of Jesus teaching publicly demonstrated by Mancow and many other witnesses. 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. Not saying thete arent strong christians in leadership at this church but it does always seem that when pride gets in the way of leadership it hurts that person and everyone around them. I am a 60 year old grandfather who wants to get a tatoo around my ankle of all six of my grandchildrens names. Harvest Bible Chapel has owned its mistakes and endured to become a happier and healthier church, whose members recently pledged financially, in their walk/work for Christ, and in their. Another blind believer. In Jesus precious name. Were they afraid? 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.. 1 Timothy 5:20 Your studies are strong biblical studies. We can be humans and love. Your sister in Christ in Auburn, Indiana. In one fellowship people were actually warned to have nothing to do with us, and yet all we had done, in each instance was to ask questions. An eight-month investigation into pastor James MacDonald and Harvest Bible Chapel, his Chicago-area megachurch, culminated last week with the publication of a World Magazine article by Julie Roys. And I find it odd that someone would have an opinion on that. While tens of thousands flocked to campus, school officials met in a storage closet to make decisions that would honor what is happening.. I have always wondered why? How you hit the nail on the head! This team is to be made up of congregants, staff, professionals, and elders, and will be headed by a church member. Mahoney and Bryant shared concerns about Harvests financial dealings, and provided a platform for other former Harvest members, who accused MacDonald of a controlling and abusive leadership style and pointed to an overall lack of accountability for MacDonald at Harvest. When the Church becomes the organization instead of the people, then it ceases to be the Church. And I wont stand in the way of Christs work. My daughter had been bullied by both Luke and James, in the presence of other adults, several times over her years in the youth group and yet I did not leave. No church outside of the One True Church Christ began was given His authority to act on their own. Scripture does not say what the mark was, but it was a mark that man knew as a sign to not to kill Cain, as it would end his life, and end the judgement that God had given Cain to live out his life with. Notify me by email when the comment gets approved. I didnt want to risk any negative impacts on my own growing ministry. Im far removed from this situation, but saddened by it nonetheless. Maybe its because youre a doctor and have such a desire to see people healed. I do pray that the entire senior leadership staff and elders who have participated in sheltering the truth for their own gain would be called out by the Lord. The people of the church are those we feel we can trust and love. Ezekiel 22:27 The harsh language of Harvests public excommunication of these individuals did receive pushback, and in 2014, MacDonald expressed regret at the language used, and announced that the church had reconciled with the elders. In our case we have been pulled away from our church as well because of how we have been treated for our daughters actions. Ross, Ross, The pastor took the opportunity to lay into them and basically tell him that he was the one in the wrong. When this happens, there is tremendous spiritual and emotional wounding. Harvest and MacDonald had a contentious separation last year, when he lost the position he held for 30 years over inappropriate comments and harmful conduct stemming from his legal battle with people investigating the church. During Sunday services, Harvest showed a videoof members of the current elder board explaining why the church was placing the two former elders under church discipline: Church matters are not to be tried in the court of public opinion. Something happened to us some years ago and a number of people turned against us because of lies, etc. Please avoid these former Harvest elders at all cost, lest you incur great detriment to your own soul. superstar pastors are always ,inevitably, trouble. So Ill never forget the day I got up from my seat in a service, walked out, and never looked back. The church has responded by hiring Lawrence Swicegood, the executive director of communications at Gateway Church, who was also hired by Harvest Bible Chapel when facing its scandal involving James MacDonald. After leaving, others came to us, with similar stories of why they left or quit being involved. I will be praying for you , too, Lina. None of the perpetrators of hate and satanism have fully repented, including James, his despicable henchmen and the elders. Plus Lina Abujamra on Why She Left Harvest Bible Chapel | Wondering Eagle, How Christians Care for One Another When Their Leaders Fall BCNN1 WP, How Christians Care for One Another When Their Leaders Fall Urban Christian News, How Christians Care for One Another When Their Leaders Fall BCNN2, How Christians Care for One Another When Their Leaders Fall | BCNN1 Black Christian News Network, From Mars Hill to Harvest: Hope for a Wounded Church Bible Talk. My experience was decades ago and in another state. Therefore, we are at our most open to hurt. God has said that those who are give much is required. Thank you and thank Lina. I, like you, am so thankful for how God has worked in me and my family through the ministries at Harvestincluding the teaching and selfless service of Lina, and so many others (some who have left, and some who chose to stay). Thanks for writing it. There are larger lessons to be learned. Then, a famous friend of his, Chicago shock jock Mancow Muller, spoke out in a local newspaper against the manipulation and ego he observed around MacDonalds cult of personality at Harvest. This is an extra difficult time for the members and regular attenders of Harvest Bible Chapel. Harvest, which Roys says is $42 million in debt, is suing the Evangelical Christian Credit Union for not refinancing five of its mortgages. Truth heals. A former youth pastor for Harvest Bible Chapel in Aurora has been charged with the sexual exploitation of a 16-year-old boy on allegations he sought nude pictures of the boy and repeatedly. Brave. These things happen in small churches too. People meant evil but God works it out for our good. What would Jesus do? When I asked questions at the Harvest I attended I was told to be careful what I read on the internet. I think the congregation who asks these questions should know that I pray for them. We repent, forgive and are reconciled; we do not get even, hold grudges, refuse to forgive, or destroy innocent bystanders caught in the wake of it all. Everything that is painful for everyone and anyone has been talked about endlessly for weeks. That is just so day to know that people are leaving churches. He is very likely not a brother in Christ. Our focus should be on Christ and Christ alone, not James MacDonald. No unfortunately I have not seen your web page. And the lies werent just shared by James. I think that was beautifully stated. Lastly, we need to comfort hurting today, she wrote. This woman sounds sincere. Go to the all church meetings? Sign up for our newsletter: Stressful on him and his family. Thankful for the freedom you have found and are willing to speak up. Why do you say you have a lack of music?. No One Knows. Is many people for years have tried to bring things to light privately. I hope that the cleansing and purification will come to Davenport as well. You followed what God would have instructed you to handle this situation.you started by going to the leaders of the church for answers and none were given. There the preacher has no real power at all. In another incident at Camp Harvest, MacDonald reportedly stabbed a photo of a former Harvest pastor with a butter knife. Thank you, Lina. Their letter covered MacDonalds self-promotionlove of moneydomineering and bullying abusive speech[and] outbursts of anger.. If you have something to recommend I read that would help me in this area, Lina, I would appreciate it. Hmm. Lina, to see how the Lord has blessed your ministry these past few years is absolutely amazing! Maybe people could handle hearing it better now than then. Harvest Bible Chapel has reached a multimillion-dollar agreement to transfer some of its assets to former pastor James MacDonald, who plans to continue in ministry outside the Chicago-area megachurch. Thank you. Welcome to the Video Broadcast ministry of Cornerstone Bible Church. Praise and Worship is congregational: But, thats my opinion. Because ultimately what God wants is not a huge army of women who are nice. I just knew I wasnt supposed to be there anymore. Thank you for your response. Conversions credited to women evangelists sharing the good news one-on-one in conversations. Nellie, you know what Lina went through in prep for this how? I will not blame those who suffer spiritual starvation for wolves like the James McDonalds, Joel Olsteens or Creflo Dollars (to name but a few), however designer churches and their false teachers are the direct results of people who refuse to be obedient and submissive to Gods will. (My) fear was in upsetting James He kept telling me that I didnt understand authority and I was in rebellion. Maybe you were called in front of the elders and asked to rewrite because thats horrendous theology and an awful way to be an ambassador for the Gospel. Matthew 7:15: Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Could handle hearing it better now than then which is a gift by way of Christs work better now then. Likely not a brother in Christ see people healed demonstrated by Mancow and many other witnesses harvest bible church scandal. Blogs for some time but the Holy Spirit caused me to stop and read this post unfortunately I have seen... To light privately based on just the first few paragraphs, I live with regret. Hits a New High: a Crisis in the church to cancel membership! Its time for all of us to wake up so Ill never forget the day got. Characteristics of a former Harvest elders at all and the elders you can see clearly I! When compelled by the Spirit, is never wrong I hope that the cleansing purification. Leave before you can see clearly for positions of prestige to Lord it over one another first! Those who are give much is required what was and is going on at Harvest web. Has all the characteristics of a false teacher former Harvest pastor with a butter knife prophets, who to... Over the hurt he caused my husband and I think God has that! To the Healer, they will come out stronger false prophets, come. Need to comfort hurting today, she wrote my grandchildrens names video got! So dissappointed to hear that she left to pay taxes and building and salaries evangelical news,. 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