 | |
| Deja vu all over again. |
Hello all,
Deborah wanted me to post this comment on her blog, that she posted on Jeff's Blog (FYI...Deborah and I are still doing quite well, over 2 years post-exit). So here it is (love you, Baby):
Part 1
Stuck In The Middle,
Are you a student? Have you pastored a church? How long have you been in?
Because I sense you have no idea what you're talking about. So Jeff hasn't ever pastored a church in the Org. Yet, he's heard and seen enough with his own ears and eyes. He's been a witness to the acts that have been done in the name of the Lord. He's been a member of the church under various pastors. He's been a friend and confidant to many who've shared with him their horror stories. And.. he has integrity, he's never revealed things said to him in confidence.
I was a member for 32 yrs. I've seen, and heard a lot of stuff done in the name of the Lord. The gossiping of preachers and their wives. It would hurt many if I were to reveal the things said about them in private.
My brother in-law was taken off the board during one conference, because he didn't have the numbers in his church. Another preacher too, was taken off for the same reason, but he denies it was for that reason. Rev. Davis said the board members had to be examples to the other ministers. Yet... there are men on the board who’ve never had big churches. So what was he talking about? He would have had to remove Rev. Johnson, Rev. Olson and Rev. Difrancesco, Rev. Ashmore. John was shamed from the pulpit at another conference, it was said they didn't do a thing in Panama the first time they went!
I've heard and seen things done to my brother in-law and sister that will simply make you angry. Yet, behind closed doors my brother in-law weeps and my sister holds it in. But they just over look it and cry out to the Lord. Even if they did say something about it, what do you think will be said??? Yes, it would be brought out in public and said "they that love the law of the Lord nothing shall offend them. This verse doesn't give preachers the license to bully a child of God! John and Becky know the real deal. We've had talks before where I comforted them.
This going off the subject a little. But I want to show you how they work. Now.. my sister and I have no blood sister relationship at all. It's because Mike Kekel chose to reveal some private emails between him and my husband and Rev. Olson. My sister had no knowledge of this, it wasn't her business. Yet, he said the Holy Spirit led him to show them to her. He caused discord among the brethren, which is a violation of the by laws. If he's so in tune with the Holy Spirit, why didn't he listen to the Spirit telling him not to sow discord? Hmmm or was it the flesh saying thus saith Mike Kekel, blaming the Lord? So my sister automatically chooses the Org's side. John and Becky know the injustices that have taken place. It's just too late to do anything about it now. Their service is to the work of the Lord. Maybe too, their psychologically damaged. People love their abusers and begin to protect them after awhile... aah just remembered the name Stockholm Syndrome
Deborah
March 26, 2011 10:07 PM
Part 2
Stuck In The Middle
People may not leave but they sit in the pews with wounded spirits. Some don't feel worthy to be preachers, because that is how you're made to feel. The preacher in Graham brought in off the field. They're preached at by Rev. Davis "how long you gonna sit here" and other messages or comments made. Don't tell me it doesn't go on cause it does! There comes a time when you get tired of hearing about how you didn't do it right. When actually you did do what was taught.
Could it be that person is not in the place where the Lord wants them? Yet, the man who told Rev. Davis where God wanted him is blamed? He is shamed from the pulpit in front of church members and made out to be incompetent. In front of other preachers he's the example or Rev. Davis tells the group of ministers how bad of a preacher they are. This was done to my brother in-law.
My blood boils at the abuse my family has taken, and there are many preachers who have left because of things done and said to them like this! How long and how much does a person have to take before they wake up and see this relationship is abusive.I have never seen a church Org. that has been so abusive such as NTCC.
So for you to say preachers aren't run off by not having enough money or not having enough members in their church, YOU MISTER are living in a fantasy world! You also, have not experienced it yet. You want to hear that Rev. Davis said to ministers "leave". He won't say it face to face, but by the actions and in the messages it is done.
I also, don't agree with what you said "that if a man doesn't want to go somewhere their okay with it"? I've heard comments made about preachers not wanting to pastor here or there, they were over looked for other appointments. What planet are you on? You are drinking too much kool-aid my friend. Unless they have a new policy, or could it be from the blogs that's cause them to change? I think not, because of how Rev. Reed was treated. But do you think they're going to ask forgiveness of all the people they've hurt throughout the years?
I say to you, your ignoring the things that go on. The signs of various acts are plainly there, you just don't want to face the facts. Some say they would have left sooner, but it was the fear of not being able to make it without the Org. Which is a totally false lie,that was fed to us. People are serving God not trying to please a man. The burden that is released is so powerful and amazing you'll feel like your 100's of lbs. lighter. And... No, we've not turned our lives over to the devil, thank you very much. This is the bondage that keeps you there, weighted down with the thoughts of what will they think?
Speaking from the heart as one who's been there and done that!
Greetings to all, I'm still the same after all these years! It's you and me Jesus, we sure fooled them all! = )
Deborah
March 26, 2011 10:09 PM
5 comments:
I am so pleased to find your blog. It is good to find a community of people that can identify with me and the struggles that I have had all these years. I grew up in NTCC in Leesville, LA. I am pleased to see that you all look well, and in good spirits. You, I must say, have not aged a day. G.S., seems to have lost a little more hair than I remember him having :) I was 5 years old when my family began attending church. At that time, it was small, with people I believed to geniunely love the Lord. Over time, I saw the church going from something that I loved to something that I hated, and feared. I have seen the church go through pastors like long sleeved white button-downs(and that's a lot) At a young age, I was groomed to be the perfect church attendant(no Sunday School for me!) I have witnessed both churches be erected. I remember a time when my family of 5 and my aunt's family of 7 made up the entire church service! I remember playing the tamborine, to accompany my mother's singing, and Sister Shunk playing the old piano with such gusto. There were good memories. Then, I have memories of my family going without to make sure that they had enough to put in the offering for the church building. I rememeber "Pastor' telling my parents that me attending my childhood friend's birthday party was a sin, because her parents weren't "Christians" I remember coming of age, and being able to stay for refreshments after church because I was being marketed as a potential wife for one of the "brethren" This was at the age of 16! I remember the Dennis' staying in Leesville on revival just long enough to pilfer most of the church's money and then skip town. Of course RWD came in and swept it under the rug, but not before preaching one of his fire and brimstone sermons and telling us how we had all been duped by a wolf in sheep's clothing and that it was the church's fault. After I graduated from high-school and went to a secular college, I did not know how to deal with the real world. My only perception of people that didnt go to NTCC, was that they were all going to hell. On one Easter Sunday, I brought home a nice young man, that I had been seeing in college to meet my mother and my church family. The entire service went from the tomb rolling away, to how I was going to hell because I brought some outsider in that didnt know Jesus, and who did I think I was parading this guy around, and going around with my little dress on that came to the knee. Showing off so much skin! I was so hurt. I realised then and there that I was never going to be accepted again unless I left the world, and by that I mean, my higher education, my friends, and my need to know if a world outside of NTCC actually existed. A few years ago, my family was "run off" from the church for questioning and daring to go against Rev. Bailey. My mother, the same woman, that spent just as much of her time if not more cooking and and cleaning and helping out at the home than she did at her own house. Who sang tirelessy for every service, who sat in the same pew/folding chair rain, sleet or snow was ostracized as a gossiper, a woman of ill-repute. My father, who tirelssly soul-winned for every service, who stayed after to clean the church, who even preached a few sermons, was labeled as wishy-washy and a back-slider. I have since moved on. I harbor no ill-will. I have learned to recreate my life without the church. I am now married to a nice man,and a baby girl(who I must say looks like my spitting image, down to the chubby cheeks) I still live in Leesville and see many church members that I have known my entire life, who will look at me like I have two heads! Hopefully, my recollection jogs your memory of who I might be because for my family's sake, I wish to remain anonymous. Once again, it is good to see you all are still well(even though you dared to go to the Dark Side!)
Anonymous,
Wow. Though not surprised, I am sorry for what you experienced. Based on what you share I am sure which family you were a part of.
Leesville was the first church I Pastored, and have fond memories of everyone there.
I am facebook friends with some of the folks that were going there at that time.
Gregory
Anonymous,
Welcome. Glad to find you have escaped. There are some other good blogs and information. You can see them in the links down the right side.
Gregory
To Anonymous, I have been here in Leesville now for about a year and half and still havnt met anyone. My family attended ntcc several years ago in Lawton, Ok. I can tell you are a nice genuine person and would like to email or meet for coffee or something if you want. My email is ejameson70@yahoo :)
ps, we do not attend ntcc anymore.
I live on post
Dint know if you will ever get a chance to read this. J want to say I am sorry for treating you and your family the way I did. The thing is even if we wanted to hang out with you or treat you like you should have been treated (like a person who was created by the same God who created us) we were too scared we would get I. Trouble for not agreeing g with the head and therefor "in cohoots" j pray that you and your family will not give up on God. I know there is a lot you all have to break through mentally but God is able. Keep looking toward.
Post a Comment