:) I met my husband about 5 yrs ago and he had been attending faith community church for a bit. The Pastor started teaching on obeying your authority and not questioning authority etc. My precious, from a far, friend who I have watched since your first speaking engagement at Harvest. Others, too, could see the attitude. But a true Christian focuses on Christ and His Word. Be blessed Lina! , Titus 3:10-11 says as for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once, and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful, he is self condemned. Also 1 Timothy 5:20 says as for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, which is what we are doing, so that the rest may stand in fear. , Nothing is covered, nothing is unresolved, nothing is ongoing, only this attack from the enemy. Wake up this tragedy has been in the works a long time. Thank you, Lina. Thank you Lina, for opening the door of your life so that we can understand your experience. My response, Why? Listen, believe, obey, shut up. MacDonald defended the decision to sue fellow believers in an opinion piece published inChristianity Today,which also published criticism of MacDonald. What blessings are flowing at Harvest for those who stand firm! He was a ruler of his churches. I have lived with fear in my life almost my entire life. Your daily news briefing from the editors of CT. Can Bubble Tea Bring Gen Z into the Chinese Church. I miss that about you. Is this an informed opinion? Based on just the first few paragraphs, I hear you! #justsaying #carryon, Youd have to read the blog. ! Unreal as I went to Harvest for over 7 yrs and this whole situation has hurt so many people. Please avoid these former Harvest elders at all cost, lest you incur great detriment to your own soul. We left Harvest for, among other reasons, the bad theology and overall silliness of the womens ministry. The only hope is to totally exposed and excise it so that all will not be consumed. Our Elders and Staff are committed to fulfilling our fiduciary duty as the leadership of this congregation, knowing that at times the outcome may be misunderstood or emotionally painful, the elders statement read, promising a more detailed plan for the churchs future in coming weeks. for less than $4.25/month. 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. I praise your decision to own your ministry outside of James. I really think you hit the nail on the head when you said you realized something dark about yourself, that you had been a woman ruled by fearand I could identify with what you said since I had been that woman too. Im grateful that the sin of James and the elders/staff who allowed his tyranny to prosper is finally coming to light, so that the abuse can come to an end. I believe my continued presence wouldve required me to openly protest in every Sunday service because to remain silent through the service wouldve done injustice to the victims and passively shown support for the authoritarian leaders who refused to repent. Abusers groom their community and a spiritually abusive church grooms its members to not rock the boat, to gaslight themselves, and to leave quietly if they should ever refuse to submit to abuse. The Spirit has shown me that Church, the Body of called out believers are those Christians you meet with. Thank you for sharing. 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. Amy. It is a shame to Christianity what is happening here. 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. They have gone the deep end of the pool. The only thing I liked about that church was the worship, which was glorifying to the Lord. The small adult group was fun visited Moody church. Thankful for the freedom you have found and are willing to speak up. Because she is helping expose evil and proving that is is deep and wide and on going. Wow Nancy K, after all that has been said and done, seemingly over many years, it is startling to me that you would make such a commemtWow, Why? Can you imagine how God feels when he sees his churches ( all denominations, we are in this together). Hes my brother in Christ. She loves the Word and words, is a binge reader and grammar nut, and is fanatic (as her family can attest) about Jeopardy! Study-7:00 PM. Harvest Bible Chapel of Naples, whose leadership recently turned over after scandal rocked its Chicago parent megachurch, is the most . All why surrounding himself w/yes men. Its by an unbeliever, but wow, is it eye-opening. 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. Lina, . Nellie, Im sorry for your comment. How dare you question her about why? Why? 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. Free of James fear. 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! So long that lawyers all wonder why I waited so long- but trauma takes time to recover from. Christs grace saves us and sustains us. Some women were still in the middle of the trauma and were still currently attending Harvest. MacDonald was manifestly not okay with the criticism. The word of God and the flock were only mentioned at the end of the long list. Critics of the church are just bitter. Jesus is still the great healer and restorer. 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.. 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. Your truth was not conceived in fasting or deep prayer and it sure isnt loving. It seems that was true at Harvest, just as it is at many local churches. Another church on The Lord's Way is on its way out. Harvest ousted Daniel Marquardt, Scott Phelps, and Barry Slabaugh in 2013 after they protested against . The Bible even says Truth shall set you free. Youre sharing your story and I think those who have been hurt by HBC (including me) needs to hear these stories. Of course people can join in with instruments too. 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. 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. Ive been blessed by your teaching and Im wondering if I wouldnt have heard your teaching as much had you stayed longer at Harvest. James MacDonald and the leaders of HBC did that with their own hands, hearts, & minds. 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. So I called one of the elders in the video and got his side of the story. Thanks for finally being honest. MacDonald later admitted doing so but claimed it was all in good fun and misinterpreted. Love you! Be blessed dear Sister. is it the pastors doing? The timing of this article makes you less credible. (Matthew 12:33-37). He invitedme to go when we first started dating. Perhaps my fear had its legitimate reasons. This all happens when we gather, grow and go together as followers of Jesus. When we try to protect those in power instead of those who are hurting, we are not doing the work of God. I just want you to know that what you did at HBC mattered, and your presence is greatly missed. Just goes to show, pride goeth before a fall. There the preacher has no real power at all. I am thankful for JESUS that used Pastor James in my life. Do you remember how Jesus acted towards the money changers and false shepherds? I was so dissappointed to hear that she left. James MacDonald, founder of Harvest Bible Chapel in greater Chicago, who was recently fired under a cloud of financial abuse, was allegedly being paid nearly a million dollars per year in regular salary, had access to approximately a million more in discretionary spending, and is currently owed $2.6 million in deferred compensation by the Praying for a healing and refocus of all Gods churches, Mary, than submission to leaders Thank you Lina! You also restrained and could have said much more and didnt. Lina, a number of years ago I was reading one of your books while waiting for Gordon Z. to join me for lunch. A former Harvest staffer was also reported to police last fall after being accused of embezzling $270,000 from the church. I have wondered if Harvest Bible Chapel (the organization) is worth the cost its taken to try and save it? But if they submit to the Healer, they will come out stronger. WHY NOW??? The decision comes after an explosive scandalous period at Harvest, including a botched excommunication,an ill-fated attempt at a defamation lawsuit, a scathing investigative report from World Magazine and then this most recent, shocking revelation. Despite recent legal cases and reports of greedy abuses, experts say the longstanding benefit remains safe. I did not fear God as much as I feared James and longed for his approval. DONT defend these people in any way!! Nellie, Your comments are without sound knowledge of the depth of this I am SO glad that Lina has allowed the grace of Christ to free her from the culture of fear that controls Harvest Bible Chapel, and I am impressed by her willingness to speak in such as grace-giving way that will speak freedom to others who are hurting from this. 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. Harvest womans Tuesday bible study group has not studied a book of the Bible in a couple of years. You have to leave before you can see clearly. I believe Lina did do the best she could at the time. I was counted as one of the privileged ones and considered it a great honor to know James personally and even be considered as part of his inner circle at that time. Thank you for this post. Hang in there. Good for you and speaking up. Updated 11/13/2020 7:31 PM. Its like I seek mans favor as well, rather than the Lords. Thanks Sheila. All Rights Reserved | Website by Living Wth Power, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISjXhWUyGi0&list=PLud2nIxx0IAT58I8QPBdfrOz8bFMQQcd6&index=4&t=0s, https://radical.net/sermon/kingdom-community/, https://sites.google.com/site/mydreamchurch/, Recommended Reads: Relevant Magazine on James MacDonald Allegedly Inappropriately Touching Anne Green. After leaving Harvest no one from the church reached out to me to see how I was doing, to ask why I left. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. I will be praying for you , too, Lina. We are satisfied and grateful to our pastor for his Christlike behavior. Looking back over my life I see how all things have led to today. Fear is why leaders did not speak up until now. For years, I kept believing the deception fed to the congregation by the elders. Lina, From elders (Dave Corning, Jon Gaus, The Elephant Debt etc) to nobodies one by one we were all ignored and in many cases bullied. Muller had prematurely announced the pastors departure on Friday morning on his show on WLS 890 AM, going on to declare on Twitter, Conman Boss James Macdonald OUT of Harvest Church!. Most of my friends as well. My mom, who doesnt attend HBC, says that the church is going to die because James was the bread and butter. May Our Lord guide all of us and May His will be done above all else. There are always two sides to every story not really believing your story and if someone is a Christian you would talk about this with some Church leaders not blow it all out in public its sad that it was done that way that isnt what a Christian would do it is what a secular person would do. Staffer was also reported to police last fall after being accused of embezzling 270,000. A book of the long list who stand firm of the Bible even says truth shall set you.. 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