sheripine@cbcglendora.org. When someone lies with such ease , that is pathological, and they must be removed from their positions!! 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. I dont take joy in this situation, but I rejoice in the truth. So now, I tell the truth about what happened, and it isnt only a Pastor James problem. Basically hes a figurehead who can be dismissed on the whim of any elder or his wife. Over the summer, they agreed to try to make a joint statement and start the process of relational reconciliation, the Harvest elders said, but the efforts didnt pan out. We left Harvest for, among other reasons, the bad theology and overall silliness of the womens ministry. Thank you for your courage. 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. She loves the Word and words, is a binge reader and grammar nut, and is fanatic (as her family can attest) about Jeopardy! Opt out of mega church? I was brushed off. We are the Church! 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. Also, for 2 years I felt my prayers didnt get past the ceiling. Thank you Lina for your honesty and boldness and ultimately helping me put words to what I have been experiencing through the preaching of James. Now, the church has decided its longtime leader wont be coming back. You also restrained and could have said much more and didnt. For you to step back and taken ownership of your piece in the large (very large) puzzle, is a humility and grace only Jesus can provide. Could you provide me with a link please. 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. Because there are others that need to also be held responsible. On January 16th, MacDonald took an indefinite sabbatical leave. Updated 11/13/2020 7:31 PM. www. Ross, Pastor James made it political when he compared the era of President Trump to the era of Stalin the era of Hitler. Congratulations on your freedom, Lina! I love you and our Lird. My heart breaks for the ones who will walk away from church and walk away from God. Also Thank you Lina for having the courage to say something now. Yet, with the growing numbers leaders, it is coming out, many followed along with James out of fear to personal, family, career damage. MacDonald later admitted doing so but claimed it was all in good fun and misinterpreted. Swicegood released a statement saying that much of what has been alleged "is simply false, misleading and hateful." He added that the . I too had been a part of HBC both as a staff member and member of the church and was there in total over 15 years. I questioned a particular sermon that clearly was unbiblical but no one else did. He went recently, saying the time had come. I didnt want to be rebellious against authority. I am excited for all God is doing in your life to help other women get closer in their relationship with Jesus. As a former elder for three years at the Elgin campus ( it wasnt a true elder board then and it still isnt now ), I couldnt agree with you more, that all the infected parts have to excised! Thank you for your vulnerability. On January 8th, after learning that anything obtained through subpoenas related to the lawsuit could be made public, however, Harvest Bible Chapel dropped the lawsuit. Brave. Perhaps the Holy Spirit prompted Lina to share from the HEART. They never acknowledged that they had done anything wrong. She has a right to expose. I am staying because with all the faults in the organization, the people of Harvest are my family. The only hope is to totally exposed and excise it so that all will not be consumed. 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. Hearing these stories has helped me to realize I left just when I was supposed to. They made excuses for him. Sometimes being good will also mean being nice, but sometimes it will not. Looking back over my life I see how all things have led to today. Be blessed. There were other things that caused us to leave also. No matter what everyone else says, it does take courage to say something. Hes a lemonade maker. Do you remember how Jesus acted towards the money changers and false shepherds? I will pray for healing in the hearts and lives of those affected by this tragedy. We just determined to treat the circumstances as a loving God giving us a different direction. I feared offending people. When I left my job I stayed at HBC for about another year before leaving entirely. Im not sure what is going on with me honestly. * 36But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. Good word, my sister. 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. There are dozens if not hundreds of witnesses against many Elders at Harvest all saying the same thing. Good for you and speaking up. Im disappointed in your timing. So your opinion is to fire everybody? Truth is healthy. Thank you for teaching even in the midst of giving your testimony. 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. Wounds take a great deal of time to heal and its appropriate to share them and warn others to avoid similar church abuse. 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. For our premium ad-free experience, including exclusive podcasts, issues and more, subscribe to. Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain. What matters is truth be told. Of course people can join in with instruments too. Thank you for your response. Thank you for this. He was the senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel megachurch in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, United States [1] [2] and was the host for the church's former broadcast ministry, Walk in the Word . So I called one of the elders in the video and got his side of the story. Each weekend, services include live, vertical-focused worship. God is good and He will use those who make themselves available to Him. REALLY !! Yes, God has this in hand, but that doesnt mean He wont ask His children to do the hard work of calling out sin in unrepentant believers. I will remember to pray for you and the fallout of this situation each time I see somethyfrom you come across my in box. Im replying after reading just your first few paragraphs. I have seen this in many independent churches.THIs was done to me at a similar setting.The pastor One of things his way or the highway and there was no disagreement because he said it was leading to anarchy. 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. According to Roys extensive research and interviews, changes didnt occur at Harvest; instead, questionable treatment and practices continued. My family attended a smaller Harvest church close to Elgin. Ive been where youre at, believing that its godly to keep trying to work it out, like family does. I praise your decision to own your ministry outside of James. 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 too visited Harvest. I used to go to a church in AZ pastored by Jon Gaus. Sheri coordinates data collection and assists with day-to-day office administration for the church staff. I know many people who attend Harvest or who have been impacted by MacDonalds preaching are crushed today. 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. With Gossip of the Gospel, the Church Grows in Nepal. I did not fear God as much as I feared James and longed for his approval. While Harvest the pastor there for years had some good preaching. Or were you saying they were bullied too. Not everything needs to be about Polititcs. After leaving, others came to us, with similar stories of why they left or quit being involved. These same elders that all of a sudden had the courage to fire James, ( which I think is a scam, this was orchestrated )are the same elders that approved that stupid video with those four scum bag elders excommunicating other elders! God has been known to use even a donkey and a false pagan prophet to speak His word. Gosh, so many similarities with the HBC action. I have my own hurt of how certain situations were handled with me through the 20s ministry Then soon after that, the 30s ministry, production ministry and even the womens ministry on multiple occasions. But are they? But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. Lina, Were they afraid? Thank you for sharing your story, Lina. The small adult group was fun visited Moody church. Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! There would be major issues involving James, followed by a carefully worded elder update or a carefully scripted announcement in church. Your two posts make no sense I hope you get some sense and realize people in Church are not infallible only Jesus! 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. Like the unsaved around us we fight for positions of prestige to lord it over one another. One thing that has helped is recognizing seasons. I wondered if you had become a full time missionary and if that was why you quit writing. 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. Now that these differences with MacDonald have come to resolution, our focus and full attention are on the future of Harvest Bible Chapel, they said. The elders were given a paper that laid out their duties, that mostly consisted of protecting, encouraging, and blessing the senior pastor. If the church treated Lina this way, they will do it to you and others without a second thought. Ive been in the medical field for over 40 years and know a thing or two about human anatomy. Others have asked, but immediately defend the senior pastor and church. Yet a week ago I posted on FB an invitation to open my house to anyone who needed to talk about their pain as it related to what was happening at Harvest. May the love of Jesus Christ and his peace flood over you this day! I never worked at Harvest under Pastor James, I never wrote a book, I never had any altercation with Pastor James, and never had a complaint about him. Did you realize the pastors publicly said sorry last weekend? I regret staying at Harvest after that meeting with the elders. I didnt want to upset James. Fear. These are the same elders that signed off on James filing the law suit against the Ryan Mahoney and his wife, Scott Bryant and his wife, and Julie Roys! Sign up for our newsletter: Because these leaders will continue this false deceitful way of life that flows from them so seamlessly, so easily, and with such persuasiveness. So much good was happening at Harvest, surely it must have Gods blessing. Thank God the early Christians stood firm and did not run away from troubles. @Ross, Were you able to access it? Your sincere desire to move us further in our relationship with Jesus Christ. He told me that I would be cursed for questioning his authority and God would punish me. You are a blessing to many in need. Please have your Passports Ready. Maybe people could handle hearing it better now than then. I believe that now IS an appropriate time to share your story. Blessings to you! In his statement released this week, MacDonald continues to criticize the church for its treatment of him and cites the successful arbitration as confirmation that the truth has been on his side all along. 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. Now its a big business with Harvest all over the states. Thank you for sharing. The ungodly jockying for power and control is still an issue in all our churches. At this point, Im not sure what else your thread can accomplish. 2023 RELEVANT Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Rather, God is shaking the junkall of our junkout of His Church. Harvest responded by suing both bloggers, their wives, and Julie Roys. When is God pleased at his church? Prevent these types of money exchange corporations, I have a Patreon! Dont you think this influences decisions made by the leaders, both now and before? 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