harvest bible church scandalharvest bible church scandal

harvest bible church scandal29 Mar harvest bible church scandal

I left HBC Davenport 4 years ago because of the spiritual abuse that is happening there as well. This team is to be made up of congregants, staff, professionals, and elders, and will be headed by a church member. Opt out of mega church? When we left, after having posted a letter to the elders, not a single person called us to see how we were doing. Lina did try to have a conversation with the Elders before she left Harvest. My current church I actually joined, unlike Harvest, and have been there five years and counting now. And then unfortunately when we do speak up we get comments like yours saying why nowit seems Christians cant win either way. At this point, Im not sure what else your thread can accomplish. Sometimes being good will require us to say harsh things. It is not with the powerful; it is those whom the powerful make to feel like theyre nothing. Will this tattoo be their mark of shame? I agree with Nellie. The Scripture that came to me as I read this is I Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. And I find it odd that someone would have an opinion on that. Walked out of that service. 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. Is it perfect? Dull other times. Those that have gone through it ask themselves, should I speak up?. In eras of prosperity, their hearts drifted. It was engaging at times. The environment is as ahw stated, fear James, make James happy After that, I felt like my time was wasted. I never attended HBC except for the one time when we visited several years ago and had to sit out in the foyer as the music was blasted out too loud. Some women were still in the middle of the trauma and were still currently attending Harvest. [], Lost me at the private jet shared with Bill Hibel. I dont take joy in this situation, but I rejoice in the truth. and manifest character, which have been revealed to speak not of the Holy Spirit of love, but rather have the love of money and power and the very reek of Hell about them! P.S. Specifically, I do mean the Machiavellian rule by fear and division that we are seeing. Ross, He did the same. 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. I cant imagine a culture in which you felt such fear. I should have walked out but, I too, was afraid. And yet, I stayed. BTW, Ive loved your blogs in the morning, but cant read the Twitter ones because I am not on Twitter. Many might wonder why it all still matters to me so much. Church is a small community. It is a biblical teaching that unrepentant public sin in a public representative of God ((ie, pastors and elders) must be publicly rebuked for the sake of the church as a whole. Nellie, be very, very careful! Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, for the law of the spirit of life (in Christ Jesus) has set me free from the law of sin and death.. The womans bible study lead by two women who referenced Pastor James constantly are still in charge. Perhaps we can do something like that here in Davenport, too. 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. This man is a smooth deceiver and believes his own lies. 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. What Can Christians Do About Climate Change? If they built it, it is theirs to destroy. Often it was the leadership that lost track and influenced the group. In the past we were to study pulpit curriculum and bible vocabulary. Thank God the early Christians stood firm and did not run away from troubles. What I have realized is the weakness and defeatism of so-called Christians who immediately abandon their Church when trouble comes its way. The ungodly jockying for power and control is still an issue in all our churches. Gosh, so many similarities with the HBC action. Find a church with great accountability. Then the board announced its executive committee would be resigning over the next few months. But the truth needs to be out there. Did you see the link to my web page. 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. 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. Jesus taught eternal love. My heart breaks for the ones who will walk away from church and walk away from God. God bless. Church leadership is urging members to wait for the results of this reviewand the changes that will be implementedbefore making the decision to leave the church. Jackie Alfirevic HBC mothership (1992-2011). Typical gossips and power struggles are only the surface. Transparency in finances Your daily news briefing from the editors of CT. 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. They have gone the deep end of the pool. Matthew 7:15 Division and to take a part a ministry that was reaching and teaching people all over the world. While many in the congregation were willing to give it a second chance, some members raised concerns about many of these individuals closeness to MacDonald, and their willingness to cover for him for so long. Im one of the people who asked you to share why you left. He bullied his way into being paid multiple times for the work he was hired to so as the pastor, sermons and bible teaching. Following a lengthy season of review, reflection, and prayerful discussion, the Elders of Harvest Bible Chapel had determined that Pastor MacDonald should be removed from his role of Senior Pastor. I also managed to write an apology to James for the pain I had caused him. Why? Lina, this took courage and Im glad you said it. Stephanie Martin, a freelance writer and editor in Denver, has spent her entire 30-year journalism career in Christian publishing. Thank You for writing your blog. Attempts to reconcile the situation failed due to the pastor believing he had done nothing wrong. We continue in prayer for all those affected near and far. Youve blessed me when I heard you speak at a Harvest Womens event about 10 yrs ago, through your radio ministry and at an event you spoke at last year. Less well known was that these individuals agreed to leave Harvest aloneto stop publicly criticizing the churchin exchange for a promise that the current elder board would enact changes. None of the perpetrators of hate and satanism have fully repented, including James, his despicable henchmen and the elders. But a true Christian focuses on Christ and His Word. All I have to say Lina is thank you! 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. While tens of thousands flocked to campus, school officials met in a storage closet to make decisions that would honor what is happening.. We believe that disciples of Jesus profess that He is Lord, practice His Ways, and persevere in both their profession and practice. Harvest elders announced this morning that they were forced to take "immediate action" on Tuesday to end his 30-year tenure. 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. In the clips, the person who sounds like MacDonald talks about a plot to plant child pornography on Christianity Today CEO Harold Smiths computer. Others had old wounds that had resurfaced and were hurting, having never felt closure to their stories, Abujamra, a Bible teacher and Moody Radio host, wrote on her blog. It isnt about timing. I would recommend A book Joy Starts Here and The Pandora Problem Facing Narcissism in Leaders & Ourselves as helpful to possibly understand how whats happened can be explained and perhaps bring healing and prevention as members move forward. Pastor James MacDonald of the Chicago-based seven-multicampus Harvest Bible Church, issued an apology statement on Sunday saying that the board of the megachurch unanimously agreed to lift a discipline ban from three excommunicated elders. The problem definitely doesnt end with James. I think that was his recruitment tactic. Why if it wasnt really a real sinful mess would so many in leadership just exit and give up what was a big part of our lives and our kids lives? James MacDonald (born October 4, 1960) is a Canadian-born evangelical Christian pastor, television evangelist, and author. I also dont know why it took me five years to leave, but now Ive been at a true Bible preaching, Jesus exulting church, not too far from the RM campus. When this happens, there is tremendous spiritual and emotional wounding. Conversions credited to women evangelists sharing the good news one-on-one in conversations. I think the congregation who asks these questions should know that I pray for them. And I do want to state that MANY of us have made every effort to address the problems prior to leaving. But, the truth is, I am ashamed to say, I should have left much sooner. Can you please contact me from the Contact button on my web page here? The Spirit has shown me that Church, the Body of called out believers are those Christians you meet with. Perhaps the Holy Spirit prompted Lina to share from the HEART. We warn the people of Harvest Bible Churchto separate themselves from these false messengers. It may not be warm and fuzzy but speaking truth, especially when compelled by the Spirit, is never wrong. The fruit by which JM is to be judged rather is that of his own true m.o. Ive been in the medical field for over 40 years and know a thing or two about human anatomy. The elders ordered church members to separate themselves from dissenters for fear of their souls; called MacDonalds critics behavior satanic to the core; and accused them carrying out an attack by Satan against MacDonald and Harvest. Mike was genuinely shocked when we told him our son had Paxton as a camp counselor for whole week at Camp Harvest and we never received notice as HBC falsely told Daily Herald. Thank you for your openness and sharing! Perhaps my fear had its legitimate reasons. He is doing a new thing, and I will stand with my brothers and sisters in Christ and praise his Holy name through it all. http://www.issendai.com/psychology/sick-systems.html. 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