Everyone sat still as if he mentioned chocolate milk. In her expos, titled Hard Times at Harvest, Roys details evidence from former Harvest elders, employees and members that show an ongoing pattern of relational and financial abuse, a lack of transparency and outright deception., Harvest strongly disputes the claims, saying Roys has an unhealthy fixation on the church and failed to uncover the desired scandal.. 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. I am so glad Lina has spoken up. is it the pastors doing? If the church treated Lina this way, they will do it to you and others without a second thought. I was so surprised to read that you were afraid because you seem like such a strong and confident person. I am no one special here. I was recovering from the deep wounds and hurts from when we left when this all came rushing back in and opening old wounds. Thanks for finally being honest. I left for the Truth of Orthodoxy! Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. He spoke highly of you, and since then, I have occasionally prayed for you regarding your time and experience at HBC. Thank you for all you do. Thank you for the courage and humility it takes to write a post like this. Critics of the church are just bitter. The kindest thing one can do is to cut out and expose the cancer to death. In the midst of efforts to reconcile with longtime critics, Harvest Bible Chapel fired its founder and senior pastor James MacDonald for engaging in conduct contrary and harmful to the best interests of the church.. Thank you Lina! In any case, we had a final meeting with the pastor and his assistant pastor (who was his son-in-law) to tell them that I was leaving their church. Thank you for adding your voice to the now chorus of voices calling for a time of judgment and reform. Those who step out of line are often dismissed. The former Harvest Bible Fellowship leaders now at GCCwhich contains about 130 churches, more than half of which still have Harvest in their namesshare concerns about the churchs leadership and are looking for transparency and repentance from MacDonald. Thank you for your honestly, I personally did not ask why you left, because we left approximately the same time for the same reasons. You did the right thing and I believe more will step up not to dishonor James, but noticing how much the church has changed. She was obedient to Christ. Others have gone before you in challenging HBC to help pave the way and have paid the consequences for their courage. My last complaint. Sheila, we are not called to be good, we are called to be HOLY! 2 Thumbs Way up to you my sister in Christ, for being open about your experience there, which more people than you know have also been through! He is angry that they keep on sending texts and emails asking for money. Do you read the elder updates? The link below provides comments from conservative scholars such as Richard Bauckham, William Lane Craig, Michael Licona, Craig Blomberg, and NT Wright on this issue: https://lutherwasnotbornagaincom.wordpress.com/2019/05/23/bombshell-how-historically-reliable-are-the-gospels-if-even-conservative-bible-scholars-believe-they-may-contain-fictional-stories/. 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. The caller alleged (in vulgar terms) that Roys, the reporter, was having an affair with Christianity Todayseditor-in-chief Mark Galli, andmade a comment about bringing down former Christianity Today CEO down by remotely uploading child pornography onto his computers. see My Dream Church https://sites.google.com/site/mydreamchurch/. Good for you and speaking up. I enjoy both of you Christian ladies for the different gifts you both bring. I knew he wasnt perfect, but then, neither was I, I reasoned. So much good was happening at Harvest, surely it must have Gods blessing. Thanks for sharing Lina. Nellie, be very, very careful! 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. I love you and our Lird. 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. This is why Jesus did not come to this present church environment. You can read that article here. There are questions the leadership at every such megachurch should be asking. Thanks again, Lina, for being courageous in the midst of these difficult days. Witnesses say MacDonald was angry that the photo was still on display. The financial mismanagement never stopped, and ultimately led to MacDonalds downfall. I choose to stay through this pain because, for me, leaving would create a wound that would never really heal. All Rights Reserved. Yes, there are a lot of hurting people at Harvest. The people of the church are those we feel we can trust and love. I cant imagine a person alive who couldnt look at their life and say the same thing in some area of their dealings with people. In any case, Im saddened to hear that this happened to James McDonald. What she shared was the kindest message I have ever seen. 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. Harvest Bible Chapel has fired its founder and senior pastor James MacDonald following years of controversial behavior, financial scandal and allegations of bullying and intimidation. Lina, thank you for your post, and thank you for your honesty and transparency. A friend sent me a link to sermon about this yesterday: https://radical.net/sermon/kingdom-community/. Subscribe to CT Because these leaders will continue this false deceitful way of life that flows from them so seamlessly, so easily, and with such persuasiveness. I have only read the first few paragraphs of your post and needed to stop there to send this reply. Im also going to sign up for LWP. Read the Old Testament. I used to go to a church in AZ pastored by Jon Gaus. you felt through James harvest mentality, you would be rebellious against authority if you stood up My mom, who doesnt attend HBC, says that the church is going to die because James was the bread and butter. She put words to my feelings and I am truly blessed by them. I dont appreciate you getting political this has nothing to do with it.. Are you referring to the Democratic Party? I pray to our Father who loves us all that His truth and reconciliation and peace, healing abounds in this circumstance. So many people have recently asked me why I left Harvest Bible Chapel when I did. Often it was the leadership that lost track and influenced the group. They have gone the deep end of the pool. Our focus should be on Christ and Christ alone, not James MacDonald. This is an extra difficult time for the members and regular attenders of Harvest Bible Chapel. Churches should switch to a different model that is biblically aligned. Transparency in finances We wont let fear overcome the freedom weve been given in Christ. How long will we wait to begin the healing process within ourselves and between each other? You can read that story right here. Ross, I feel foolish for allowing myself to be misled for so long. Thank you for sharing your story and for doing so in the right spirit. Ive been in the medical field for over 40 years and know a thing or two about human anatomy. Do you see any fruit from him of what God speaks of? Do systems of accountability exist in practice, or only on paper? Now the Chicago-area megachurch is sharing details of the settlement and has apologized to its former pastor, who was fired in February 2019. Pastor was not happy and tried to convince us that we were wrong. Opt out of mega church? Five Uncomfortable Church Documentaries Still Worth Watching, Asbury Announces New Service ScheduleCampus Will Be Closed to the Public After Today, Eight Witnesses Testified Against Hillsong Founder Brian Houston in Court Case. 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. It never dawned on me that no one from HBC would reach out. I feel angry that the people who were supposed to be watching over the congregation allowed this to go on. I follow Jesus in His Strength the best I can in the light He has given me. Listen, believe, obey, shut up. The recognizing date of the exempt status is April, 1972. In eras of prosperity, their hearts drifted. None of the perpetrators of hate and satanism have fully repented, including James, his despicable henchmen and the elders. That is, so many think that the church is the pastors ministry and they dont adequately facilitate the ministry of believers. Even more, the trauma of having those who had taught me so much about Jesus and showed me the way to Jesus healing suddenly take the side of the person who caused me to fear for my life- its taken a long time to move forward. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? There are no ongoing issues of any kind. 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 have always wondered why you left Lina but didnt know you personally to ask. I have always wondered why? Or is he in effect the church, with an elder board that exists only for show and to rubber stamp his decisions? In another incident at Camp Harvest, MacDonald reportedly stabbed a photo of a former Harvest pastor with a butter knife. Humility, repentance, confession, forgiveness, reconciliation, mercy, love, compassion, healing, serious prayer and so much more for and by everyone should be given top priorities on our agendas soon if not now. The question is with independent churches who did they answer to? This journey has taken me several years. I didnt know you personally, but was a part of and benefited from the many programs that you offered through womens ministry. You are courageous! Our cold hearts lack love that shows the world we are His. I speak as one who has gone thru it, like you. Nellie, Persecution is supposed to come from the world with the devil behind it, as Jesus said. As Pastor James has said in the past, truth and time go hand-in-hand. That night changed me. Ive never been able to foster the same level of trust and thats the residual I wrestle with. Hearing these stories has helped me to realize I left just when I was supposed to. Lina I couldnt agree more with everything you said and your comment here. Then God led him to Harvest Bible Chapel. Pray for James and Christs church that the LORD would accomplish what HE and HE alone is allowing. You are loved. 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. SHERI PINE. And, at the same time, I know you to be a humble woman, easily impacted by negative, feedback. This team is to be made up of congregants, staff, professionals, and elders, and will be headed by a church member. 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. It all is about money to pay taxes and building and salaries. I was wrong in hindsight. This Is a Revival Season Sean Feucht Announces 7 Days of Prayer on Capitol Hill, The Chosen, Candace Cameron Bure, Dolly Parton Win at This Years Movieguide Awards, Christian High School Girls Basketball Team Forfeits Tourney Spot Due to Trans Opponent, Tickets for SatanCon 2023, The Largest Satanic Gathering in History, Sell Out. The Right's New Lie: The Left Gave Us Toxic Masculinity, The Harvest Bible Chapel Scandal in a Nutshell (And Why You Should Care). May Our Lord guide all of us and May His will be done above all else. 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 . Many were intimidated, called names, called subversives. Thank you, Lina. Again this is HER TRUTH! She loves the Word and words, is a binge reader and grammar nut, and is fanatic (as her family can attest) about Jeopardy! In keeping with our past private statements to Harvests leadership and to our pastorsThe primary issue is not reconciliation or peacemaking, it is repentance, GCC elders said in a January 17 statement. God is purifying His Church. So beautiful. Sadly, this cancer has spread to other churches that were once part of the fellowship. I think he forgot Whose ministry it was. I was pleasantly surprised to find that you know each other. No one wins here-except our enemy. Too many of these large churches have lost track of what their true purpose is. It didnt. There is NEVER a healthy or spiritual reason for suppressing truth. But as every Christian knows, we walk and we live by grace. Fear is a stupid liar and I praise God that Hes given us a spirit of a sound mind and Love!!! Their letter covered MacDonalds self-promotionlove of moneydomineering and bullying abusive speech[and] outbursts of anger.. And come together in prayer, fasting and humility before Jesus that He enables us to be the people He died for. Updated 11/13/2020 7:31 PM. Her first year at college and her first visit to Harvest RM. It took months to get over the hurt he caused my husband and I. Stephanie Martin, a freelance writer and editor in Denver, has spent her entire 30-year journalism career in Christian publishing. 1 Timothy 5:20 Publicizing viewpoints rejected by the elder majority for any reason is satanic to the core. May the God of all comfort minister his comfort to them. 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. No One Knows. 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. Im about to lead a teaching tomorrow night about the mark God placed on Cain after he killed his brother Abel. I was a woman ruled by fear. If hearing voices together of those who have truth helps, then now is the time to speak. When I left my job I stayed at HBC for about another year before leaving entirely. and pro football. I have great empathy and sensitivity toward them. The elders and pastoral board have created a team called Harvest 2020 to conduct a complete review of what happened, and of the church. Ken Morgan so you continue to deny the evidence for a creator by your superior intellect ? I share a lot of the same feelings. While Harvest the pastor there for years had some good preaching. But if they submit to the Healer, they will come out stronger. Lina, If you personally were not in a position to be damaged by James, do not judge those who were susceptible to the wrath damage of James. These changes were never made, but the critics were silencedfor a time. 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