Lina, Often it was the leadership that lost track and influenced the group. 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. I will not address any party affiliation. 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. for less than $4.25/month. I am sure that was very hard for her to share . Sometimes being good will require us to say harsh things. Its so fitting that you likened the pain at Harvest to the pain of a divorce. The next day, Helmer resigned, citing MacDonalds pattern of uncontrolled anger. The pastor later admitted being too intense in the classroom that day. 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. If you know anything about abusive relationshipsHBC is in the honeymoon phase right now.look it up!! And even then, it often doesnt work because so many remain enthralled with the narcissist, or have tied their fortunes to them, that they simply cant or wont see the truth. Seeing this in your personality it is understandable to me that at first you revered James correction and fell into compliance. I didnt know you personally, but was a part of and benefited from the many programs that you offered through womens ministry. Lina Abujamra who once was the Womens Ministry Director at Rolling Meadows explained how she ran afoul of the elders and why she left in the course of time. Its messy. 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. Others will be hurtit is a matter of time. It wasnt that we saw corruption in our church. - October 16, 2020 The protracted dispute between Pastor James MacDonald and Harvest Bible Chapel (HBC) recently concluded through arbitration. Lina has every right to speak her truth . I would ask you the same question? I dont know why, except that I just really wasnt getting the Word of God from the stage and I do mean stage. Do not judge the timing, Gods timing is Always Perfect. 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. Now he is disillusioned and wants to go back to Catholicism. 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.. Have you not read these passages? How about some GRACE !!! There are dozens if not hundreds of witnesses against many Elders at Harvest all saying the same thing. I asked my surgeon why the procedure is called radical, he replied that even the seminal vesicles have to be removed along with the prostate, otherwise the cancer may return! (Galatians 2:11-21) 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. I share a lot of the same feelings. The Asbury Revival Is Over. It is so sad when the devil works to cause problems in a church. Nellie, be very, very careful! 2.) Anil. Being part of Harvest, and hearing how the utmost leaders were tattooed with the Vertical Church logo, as I prepare the lesson, I cant help but wonder about the tattoo on the bodies of those who accepted the mark of James as their alliance with the Vertical Church of James. It takes a long time. 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. The fired senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel megachurch is contending, in a new lawsuit, that an attorney and accountants hired by the church took part in a "smear . Saying he had hit a "wall of exhaustion" in June, Lead Ministry Pastor Greg Bradshaw said he is not only leaving Harvest, but also the ministry. 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. Different situations require different things. God is sifting His church! In 2013, in a story covered bymajor evangelical news outlets, Harvest publicly excommunicated two former elders who were still members of Harvest. 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? From elders (Dave Corning, Jon Gaus, The Elephant Debt etc) to nobodies one by one we were all ignored and in many cases bullied. I have always wondered why you left Lina but didnt know you personally to ask. I loved his book Vertical Church. I was brushed off. She has admitted that she didnt speak up enough at the time. I know many people who attend Harvest or who have been impacted by MacDonalds preaching are crushed today. Ross, Ross, He clearly told me that they send out reminders to give. Excited for the new study, hoping One of your teachings would be chosen. Thank you for your honestly, I personally did not ask why you left, because we left approximately the same time for the same reasons. Thank you for speaking out, Lina! You wrote a blog about how an increase in tattoos was in some way related to a decline in holiness and you were a leader in the church? Instead, they have chosen to remain on the elder board and continue with the deep-seeded corruption and fraud that has plagued Harvest Bible Chapel for many years. But, the truth is, I am ashamed to say, I should have left much sooner. For a different church model, see My Dream Church https://sites.google.com/site/mydreamchurch/. Roys also lamented the fallout of todays news. Theyre gone. Several years went by and one family apologized to us as did another man. He spoke highly of you, and since then, I have occasionally prayed for you regarding your time and experience at HBC. Wounds take a great deal of time to heal and its appropriate to share them and warn others to avoid similar church abuse. God has this situation in his hands he wasnt surprised by it. 34You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? You are brave and you did the right thing! 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.. Based on just the first few paragraphs, I hear you! And I find it odd that someone would have an opinion on that. But your words affirmed what I suspected. 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. On January 16th, MacDonald took an indefinite sabbatical leave. The church and its people helped create Pastor James He is not the only one involved it was a group effort. How long before we wake up and show the world how Christians are not only different from the world but we are not of the world! Did you realize elders and pastors are personally apologizing g to people? Thank you for sharing. She is sharing her heart and personal experience in an open, vulnerable way, in kindness and love. You can read about the continued corruption and fraud here: Dan George's Resignation. This post drips of mercy. Amen. Thank you. Oh my how that resonated with me and the experiences my beloved and I have had with churches in the UK. Dont stand in the middle, dont seek to mediate. I am thankful for JESUS that used Pastor James in my life. James MacDonald was forced out Tuesday night as senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel, a church he founded in Rolling Meadows some 30 years ago. Can Bubble Tea Bring Gen Z into the Chinese Church. Nothing will change at Harvest if the cancer of fear is not exposed . Unfortunately I dont think the Harvest RM is the only Harvest with a culture of fear. But the truth needs to be out there. Even now, many years later, the enemy could still, if I let him, get me questioning my motives and trying to persuade me I was in the wrong not the shepherds. 1.) Looking sideways (practical love): Finally, we have landed at a church with a passion for others, our hearts have healed and by going there I was introduced to your bible study Resolved. It completed my healing. We continue in prayer for all those affected near and far. My father went through prostate cancer. What God Gives Black Americans That The Country Does Not, Baylor, Louisiana State University and More Colleges Report Revivals Happening on Campus, Why Asbury University Decided to End Revival Services This Week, Faith Leaders Push Back on Asbury Revival Criticism, Southern Baptists Expel Rick Warrens Saddleback Church for Ordaining a Female Pastor, GET OUR TOP 5 ARTICLES IN YOUR INBOX EACH WEEKDAY, This Story of a Fugitive Nun Who Faked Her Own Death to Escape a Convent Is Insane, Watch: Frozen 2s Trailer Promises an Epic, Possibly Darker Sequel, Dont Forget, Theres a Lot Right With the Church, Too, The Asbury Outpouring Has Come to a Close. A final incident in Roys article involves MacDonald publicly berating HCA students, an incident witnessed by Harvest videographer Luke Helmer. There are times in our lives and circumstances that its just not real clear as to how to address something, with as little harm to what is good, as possible. Gordon Zwirkoski, a former Harvest elder and the original director of HBF, told Roys that James MacDonald essentially wields ultimate authority at the church and cultivates a spirit of fear in the staff. Former Harvest employee Dave Jones says his church has welcomed dozens of Harvest refugees who show signs of spiritual abuse and are disillusioned.. The good intentions of our ministry partnership with Harvest Chicago have been overshadowed by these developments, he said. I have a love-hate relationship with Thanksgiving Day. it seems to me that people give more grace to the offender than the victim. Thank you for sharing your story and for doing so in the right spirit. She did not claim it was her trurh , but opinion. The day I watched the video, I emailed my campus pastor and asked for an explanation. Truth is truth. She put words to my feelings and I am truly blessed by them. From your first speaking engagement at Harvest, I have watched your ministry(ies) and have see you be a strong fast speaking, outgoing woman, by ethnic background, yet a humble servant of Christ who feels deeply the impact of wrongfulness. Its been over a year and a lot has changed at Harvest and a lot sill needs to change. So here I am, piecing together a years-long scandal for you. Pray for the church and the people! "Following a lengthy season of review, reflection, and prayerful. If the church treated Lina this way, they will do it to you and others without a second thought. So are you saying that there is mind control of the underling staff and of the rank and file members going on at HBC? It seems to have so many cracks in the structure. Sheesh. For me, I would like to apologize for not reaching out to you when I finally realized that you had left HBC. Leaders should have secular jobs: It was not supposed to be that way. now James McDonald. Check out Moreno website, http://www.godsonlygospel.com. Thank you for your story Dr. Lina, and thank you for shedding light on your fears, and your full confidence in the Lord at the end of the day. Seriously? Thank you for opening up your home so that hurting people could come together and share. The Right's New Lie: The Left Gave Us Toxic Masculinity, The Harvest Bible Chapel Scandal in a Nutshell (And Why You Should Care). However, 2 of the groups meet in Panera Bread. Ive been where youre at, believing that its godly to keep trying to work it out, like family does. 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 are satisfied and grateful to our pastor for his Christlike behavior. It, honestly, has been the biggest source of my own sin and self inflicted suffering. In a statement, the elders indicated they had accepted the apology and, in turn, agreed to leave [the church] alone and let the elder board bring about the necessary reforms.. I volunteer in the childrens ministry and the youth ministry as well, pouring into children and youth. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. It would be endearing to me and honoring to them. Why do you say you have a lack of music?. Of course people can join in with instruments too. Praying for this church also that Gods Holy Spirit is cleaning/healing/humbling/teaching his people. I simply could not reconcile the lies that were shared from the pulpit with the truths that I knew regarding issues in the church. And in 1 Corinthians 5, we are told to judge those within the Church). The fallout has only just begun. His sermon provides good reasons for why we need to shine light on these abuses. Dont damage the church by being publicly critical. Also, for 2 years I felt my prayers didnt get past the ceiling. But are they? Another blind believer. Harvest, an off-shoot of an eponymous megachurch in Illinois, was sued for. Many are in or have been in denial. 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. 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. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. The eight former elders who signed the letter alleged that that Harvest ran a puppet elder board; that a culture of fear and intimidation plagued the church; and that the elder board, which was supposed to be responsible for overseeing the churchs finances, was not granted access to financial information. My last complaint. Agreed Sheila. I thought something was off but had only my own suspicions to go on as we were told not to criticize. 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 all you do. Superior to whom? Jesus called out hypocrisy in the religious leaders. You are courageous! 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. Thank you for your honesty and your explanation. Pastor James MacDonald preaches at Harvest Bible Chapel. There are questions the leadership at every such megachurch should be asking. 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! Thank you for this post. It may not be warm and fuzzy but speaking truth, especially when compelled by the Spirit, is never wrong. In addition to leading Harvest, MacDonald acquired a massive evangelical following through his books, Bible studies, and Walk in the Word radio program, with more than a million fans on Facebook. This is why NOW. James ended up sending me a copy of the new approved blog post, and out of fear, I complied. I pray shes wrong. No wonder Harvest dropped the suit. In our case we have been pulled away from our church as well because of how we have been treated for our daughters actions. Most continue to stay there, as their numbers dwindle. I left Harvest CL 3 yrs ago after being forced out of a ministry and other thingspart of the membership indoctrinationyou are not allowed to say anything disparaging against church leadership or the church. 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. And come together in prayer, fasting and humility before Jesus that He enables us to be the people He died for. DeeperWalkInternational.org. People meant evil but God works it out for our good. I just want you to know that what you did at HBC mattered, and your presence is greatly missed. Im also going to sign up for LWP. Right. Its very important that people share their stories. I speak as one who has gone thru it, like you. Thank you for adding your voice to the now chorus of voices calling for a time of judgment and reform. The pastor took the opportunity to lay into them and basically tell him that he was the one in the wrong. than submission to leaders I did not fear God as much as I feared James and longed for his approval. In any case, Im saddened to hear that this happened to James McDonald. Ill let the others fight that fight today. Praying for you, many blessings for all you do. When you started, you (and others) mentioned the cult of personality that James benefitted from. BTW, Ive loved your blogs in the morning, but cant read the Twitter ones because I am not on Twitter. I was so surprised to read that you were afraid because you seem like such a strong and confident person. So much good was happening at Harvest, surely it must have Gods blessing. 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 appreciate you getting political this has nothing to do with it.. Are you referring to the Democratic Party? Both of us were involved in many forms of leadership and had invested for many years in the outreach of the church and all of its fellowship. Yet their silence hurt me and sometimes made me question the validity of my reasons for leaving. Lina is right on. Everyone sat still as if he mentioned chocolate milk. The ungodly jockying for power and control is still an issue in all our churches. Another church on The Lord's Way is on its way out. 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. I believe this is God working to expose sin just as Jesus warned Luke 12:2-3 According to Roys extensive research and interviews, changes didnt occur at Harvest; instead, questionable treatment and practices continued. Thank you Lina! What you are talking about is protecting abusers at the expense of those they have abused and betrayed which, unfortunately, happens far too often. When I started Bible studies Harvest I was given a booklet and videos on everything bad about the Catholic Church. James MacDonald and the leaders of HBC did that with their own hands, hearts, & minds. I pray that no stench of fear be found in any space occupied by Christs love. We are conditioned to believe that leaving silently is whats best for the church and in some cases thats true. Your realness. While I am personally removed from the situation, my brother and sister-in-law attend a Harvest Church and there has been a lot of pain through all of this. Your mission and your ministry is beautiful and changing lives. As Pastor James has said in the past, truth and time go hand-in-hand. It all is about money to pay taxes and building and salaries. Fear that your leaving would damage those you ministered to. Thank you for coming forward! I have great empathy and sensitivity toward them. Hannibal Harvest Bible Church (EIN# 862793399) is an tax exempt organization filed with Internal Revenue Service (IRS). *For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. I didnt want to upset James. I am ashamed to say that after being a member at Harvest for 8 years, that was the first real conversation I had had with an elder about the state of affairs of the church at that time. I was there when Ted launched. I am now going to read the rest of your post. Lina, My wife and I also left our church several years ago. Count on it. He claimed he would never return to Willow until things had changed and the time was right. At Camp Harvest in 2009, for example, the pastor shot at a target that contained photos of some elders wives. For our premium ad-free experience, including exclusive podcasts, issues and more, subscribe to. Let us examine ourselves for unconfessed sin and seek to live in fear of the Lord lest bitterness overtake us.. I feel foolish for allowing myself to be misled for so long. ! Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Swicegood released a statement saying that much of what has been alleged "is simply false, misleading and hateful." He added that the . Then the board announced its executive committee would be resigning over the next few months. A year or so before leaving Harvest I had written a blog post about holiness in which I had referenced the growing fad of tattoos in our culture. It is loving to tell the truth. Because TRANSPARENCY is neededand now ahe may be starting to feel safe. Thanks for writing it. All why surrounding himself w/yes men. 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. Leaving spiritual abuse is okay, you cant be expected to change it while youre in the midst of it. Thank you for teaching even in the midst of giving your testimony. I pray your steps continue to be guided by our Lord! Sounds like your faith in self is overwhelming only yourself! Thanks Sheila. As were you, we were grieving and had to pray for help finding that new church. Specifically, I do mean the Machiavellian rule by fear and division that we are seeing. I guess I felt like one of the peons of Harvest, and that me reaching out wouldnt matter, since I was not a part of the inner circle or personally close to you. The public scrutiny continued with pushback against MacDonalds decision to preach at a Harvest affiliate in Florida during his sabbatical. I knew he wasnt perfect, but then, neither was I, I reasoned. It is a cry to the current leadership, to evangelicalism at large that there are some very serious problems that need to be dealt with. The timing of this article makes you less credible. Even people who were very close to us turned silent. Did you see the link to my web page. Mind you, I didnt simply walk out. out of fear you complied WORLD Magazine and other evangelical news outlets celebrated this resolution. We cant judge the HEART of others, we can judge their actions and behaviors. (images of wife beating and mental control come to mind) As one person whom MacDonald led to the Lord remarked to me, Its like finding out your wife is a serial killer. The disillusionment, betrayal, and loss can be excruciating. Many people went to leaders and spoke up. Because there are others that need to also be held responsible. Thankful for the freedom you have found and are willing to speak up. I also trust that you did seek wisdom from the Lord on what and how to speak into this. Structure: the structure of My Dream Church is based on the New Testament Body Of Christ If you know anything about abuse it can take years to come forward. So Grace is only for MacDonald and no one else not the elders he excommunicated, not the numerous employees who were fired or kids who were expelled from HCA, not the pastor who was fired in FLORIDA and had his church taken away I would ask you SERIOUSLY??!! However why now? Laurie Newman, a Harvest member, told Christianity Today that she believes the church's current leaders, like Bradshaw, are "good people who want to lead the church the way God wants it to. So I called one of the elders in the video and got his side of the story. The kindest thing one can do is to cut out and expose the cancer to death. I have found that churches built through a single persons vision are dangerous. And your part of the problem. 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. When is God pleased at his church? Only time will tell whether Harvest can outlive its founding pastorand the scandal that has enveloped both him and his elder board. Each former leader that speaks out helps us heal and validates our experience. While I am heartened that the elders finally removed MacDonald, he should have been fired five years ago. Were they afraid? Were you bullied by those elders named? That is at the root of a serious problem that the Church hardly touches. But the biggest lesson is people need to stop looking at preachers as though they are perfect, but God know they arent and they need people on their necks to keep them honest. 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. Lina, thank you for your post, and thank you for your honesty and transparency. Churches Still Depend on Clergy Housing Allowance, No Celebrities Except Jesus: How Asbury Protected the Revival. I hope they succeed in bringing people back to the church! After he was treated and had surgery he was totally different person: quick to get angry all the time, control freak, and mean.there are things that we dont know. Until recently, I was 8 year member of HBC and I feel so sad, confused, betrayed. 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. God help those who cant see their need to be set free or judge those whove found it in Christ Jesus. What Can Christians Do About Climate Change? The culture of fear is real, soo much so I dont feel comfortable giving my name as some will know me. Im not sure it is saying tatoos are a sign of a decline in holiness, but the overall impression is any Christian who gets a tatoo wants to be cool and nothing about Jesus or the Gospel is cool. Start praying for Jesus to heal the entire body of which He Alone is the Head. Why not start a different type of church that is not pastor directed? First, they resigned, along with a third elder (who was not excommunicated only because he also left Harvest and was no longer a member), in protest of how the church was being run. 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. Pastor James teaching seemed so Biblical. I regret staying at Harvest after that meeting with the elders. 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Of giving your testimony left HBC I feel foolish for allowing myself to be misled for so.... Has enveloped both him and his elder board and sometimes made me question the validity of own., has been the biggest source of my own sin and seek to mediate her... Know many people who attend Harvest or who have been pulled away from our church several ago... For you, and out of that which fills the heart of others we. Involves MacDonald publicly berating HCA students, an incident witnessed by Harvest videographer Luke Helmer 2 of the elders removed! So much good was happening at Harvest, many blessings for all do. Are seeing its people helped create pastor James he is disillusioned and wants to go to. And come together and share wisdom from the stage and I also trust you. Many cracks in the right Spirit lina but didnt know you personally ask..., we were told not to criticize can be excruciating the way back in 2012..
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