It isnt about timing. I attended Harvest for five years, and left five years ago. Your daily news briefing from the editors of CT. Can Bubble Tea Bring Gen Z into the Chinese Church. I think God has not lifted the veil on a lot of eyes for some reason. Let this awaken and take down other church leaders that have similar goals. I was so surprised to read that you were afraid because you seem like such a strong and confident person. Those are things we dont talk about often enough about. I grew up in the Church of Christ. It is now operating at James MacDonald Ministries. I stay with confidence that God will not be mocked, he knows the perfect balance of justice and mercy, he will redeem this pain and we will witness HIS power in HIS church. Romans 16: 17-20. I have always wondered why you left Lina but didnt know you personally to ask. Harvest, which Roys says is $42 million in debt, is suing the Evangelical Christian Credit Union for not refinancing five of its mortgages. superstar pastors are always ,inevitably, trouble. What is strange about your concern about your own fear is I have been of thee opinion that Pastor James must have been ruled by his own fear-fear of losing influence and the fear of losing his ministry. I hope to become braver. Thanks for speaking up! These changes were never made, but the critics were silencedfor a time. Our full Sunday service will be streamed here every week beginning at 9:30am, and will be available throughout the following week. Instead, it was MacDonald and his inner circle that were making the decisions, unilaterally. Truth heals. He lists grievances against Harvest including a false narrative in financial matters, a hostile takeover, shunning our family, the wrongful seizure of the ministry assets returned to him in the recent arbitration, and a vicious but unsuccessful strategy to end our ministry permanently.. Seeing this in your personality it is understandable to me that at first you revered James correction and fell into compliance. So long that lawyers all wonder why I waited so long- but trauma takes time to recover from. He kept telling me that I didnt understand authority and I was in rebellion. That IS A LIE!! We just determined to treat the circumstances as a loving God giving us a different direction. Im sure I will find much more to comment on, but I hope to leave it at that as an encouragement to you. Woah there Nellie! May God have mercy on his soul. I think that this message has relevance to many situations today, including the present political situation. When we try to protect those in power instead of those who are hurting, we are not doing the work of God. Goodthat you let a toxic place. We confronted him basically because of the way he had attacked a youth at the time and his mother for bringing up how the pastor was making this youth to feel. Thank you for your thoughts and strong, encouraging words. Then came Roys story, MacDonalds decision to sue Roys and the bloggers behind The Elephants Debt (presumably rubber stamped by the current elder board), and the realization that discovery would mean everything coming out. Amen to that. Have you ever read this piece on how sick systems keep people controlled? People meant evil but God works it out for our good. this isnt meant to hurt you but to support those who need it. It was your Study that helped me be obedient to God. I cant imagine a culture in which you felt such fear. He clearly told me that they send out reminders to give. It is so sad when the devil works to cause problems in a church. Please support my writing! DIRECTIONS & INFO | . 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. This did not happen to James, he did this, by sinning repeatedly. 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. Sign up for our newsletter: P.S. Rather, God is shaking the junkall of our junkout of His Church. And where I live that mostly rules out every English speaking church there is! Harvest ousted Daniel Marquardt, Scott Phelps, and Barry Slabaugh in 2013 after they protested against . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISjXhWUyGi0&list=PLud2nIxx0IAT58I8QPBdfrOz8bFMQQcd6&index=4&t=0s. Please avoid these former Harvest elders at all cost, lest you incur great detriment to your own soul. Pastor James teaching seemed so Biblical. I have a Patreon! (Galatians 2:11-21) When I talk to people about this, they are quick to disqualify anyone who went along with James, who did not stand up to him. He stopped going to any church and says he has lost faith in everything. Thoughts from a person looking in. Harvest responded by suing both bloggers, their wives, and Julie Roys. I was so dissappointed to hear that she left. From elders (Dave Corning, Jon Gaus, The Elephant Debt etc) to nobodies one by one we were all ignored and in many cases bullied. Connect With Us! Although I do not want to be a part of this church any more, I strongly feel that God is directing me to continue to obey his direction in this scripture and take their disobedience to another level. Nellie, you know what Lina went through in prep for this how? Good for you and speaking up. Dont bad rap other churches? I am excited for all God is doing in your life to help other women get closer in their relationship with Jesus. He just got into the worlds standards for a preacher. I know many people who attend Harvest or who have been impacted by MacDonalds preaching are crushed today. It was both true in a sense and funny. So now, I tell the truth about what happened, and it isnt only a Pastor James problem. Why? Were they unaware of what was happening behind the scenes? So here I am, piecing together a years-long scandal for you. Nellie, please dont be taken in by putting people on a pedestal (very sad.) Ross, Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. 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!. I am surprised by your editorial on Harvest. I miss that about you. 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. While I have no say in the future of Harvest, it is ridiculous to think that any healthy future can take place until the cancer is removed. Still. :) I met my husband about 5 yrs ago and he had been attending faith community church for a bit. This cancer must be excised and as often as is the case in cancer treatment, months of treatment must be involved for health to take place. We attended Harvest for 16 years before we left little over 4 years ago. He kept going back to you disobeyed the pastor so youre wrong (me in this case for talking to the youth and his mom about it after it happened). A book called the Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse really helped me and my wife to recover from our experience of confronting the pastor and then leaving the church. And this was all the way back in 2012). It takes a long time. sheripine@cbcglendora.org. Nothing will change at Harvest if the cancer of fear is not exposed . Its been over a year and a lot has changed at Harvest and a lot sill needs to change. The only hope is to totally exposed and excise it so that all will not be consumed. Updated 11/13/2020 7:31 PM. We never gave up on God because He never gives up on us. Those who step out of line are often dismissed. Continually praying for healing, reconciliation and restoration for His church. Like in Ezekiel, many people are trying to sound the trumpet of warning!! I will be praying for you , too, Lina. I have replied, I would have probably, as most have done, put my head in the sand and carried on doing the work God gave me to do. These are the last days! I was a woman ruled by fear. So many people have recently asked me why I left Harvest Bible Chapel when I did. Thank God the early Christians stood firm and did not run away from troubles. I volunteer in the childrens ministry and the youth ministry as well, pouring into children and youth. But thats how it happens at Harvest, right? It wasnt that we saw corruption in our church. http://www.issendai.com/psychology/sick-systems.html. 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. God has said that those who are give much is required. Thank you for taking the time to nurture the HBC flock that Pastor James never cared about! The church, which has a weekly attendance of more than 12,000 at its seven campuses, is also associated with Vertical Worship, Harvest Christian Academy (HCA), and MacDonalds Walk in the Word TV and radio ministry. I do have cds and dvd of contemporary Christian artists. Finances: Giving not Tithing. If Harvest and James can answer that, without focusing merely upon what they do, it would be helpful. I have or attend 3 or more small groups a week now and feel alive. The surprise is not Harvest, but that you publicly hung them. Im thankful you followed the Lords leading in these stressful and difficult circumstances. And then unfortunately when we do speak up we get comments like yours saying why nowit seems Christians cant win either way. I have wondered if Harvest Bible Chapel (the organization) is worth the cost its taken to try and save it? My daughter was also at that service when they showed the video. Sports Betting Hits a New High: A Crisis in the Making? Each former leader that speaks out helps us heal and validates our experience. This is not an endorsement of the culture at Harvest because its total trash, but you cant blame them for you bad theology choices. Thank you for having the courage to write what you did and for your ministry Lina. Unfortunately I dont think the Harvest RM is the only Harvest with a culture of fear. What Happens Now? I do know that my faith will not be shaken. Our GOD is an awesome GOD. Well, that same year, my wife was hired as the childrens pastor at the church we had been volunteering at on Wednesday nights (because our church had nothing going on) and I myself have been ordained as a deacon and have even had the privilege to preach on a Sunday morning. * 36But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. Ezekiel 22:27: Her princes [leaders] within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain. I love Dr. Dobsons admonition that while it is tempting to want to get out of a painful situation, often the only way out is through. On Monday morning, an edited version with the sermon only will be available on the Sermons and Studies page. He also makes vulgar comments about Wheaton College executive director of the Billy Graham Center Ed Stetzer and repeatedly degrades Julie Roys, the reporter who wrote the World Magazine story. The elders and pastoral board have created a team called Harvest 2020 to conduct a complete review of what happened, and of the church. I didnt want to be rebellious against authority. No one asked why I quit attending after 15 years. And I find it odd that someone would have an opinion on that. What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.. According to Harvest, their agreement resolves all claims and issues and releases them from future legal matters over the arbitration terms. Even before the Garden of Eden seduction, he foresaw the need for The Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Your leaving (however late you feel it was) was His provision for others, much like Joseph sent ahead to Egypt years ahead of his brothers and father. James ended up sending me a copy of the new approved blog post, and out of fear, I complied. see My Dream Church https://sites.google.com/site/mydreamchurch/, I would love to chat and learn more of what you are doing. Right. Pray for those still there trying to care for the confused and hurting hearts. I hadnt realized that James had gotten a tattoo that week. But I lived this in the late 70s and early 80s the scandals of the then big preachers they fell down hard as well. 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. Hence the Response Statement Regarding Pastor James and Anne Green yesterday on HBC in the news. The current leadership at Harvest Bible Chapel including Luke and Landon and Rick and Mo and Jeff and the CFO are infected by the cancer of fear and control. The devil may win some battles, but we know God ultimately wins the war. MacDonald took an indefinite sabbatical in January, following a tumultuous few months defending Harvest in a defamation lawsuit against its critics and in the aftermath of a World magazine investigation into mismanagement at the church. Doesnt matter how long ago it happened either. Is it perfect? To judge a fellow brother and think you know if he is a believer is dangerous. Thank you Lina! We are the Church! God is good, truth always win. Study-7:00 PM. Just pray in a prayer closet to be still in the presence of Jesus. A peacemaking process, while helpful for personal and relational reconciliation, is not the approach to address failed governance, biblical disqualification, and a toxic leadership environment.. Im disappointed in your timing. 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