Notify me by email when the comment gets approved. I will pray for healing in the hearts and lives of those affected by this tragedy. When one part of the body hurts, we all hurt! In early 2018, reporter Julie Roys, who writes for the conservative evangelical WORLD Magazine, began conducting background research for an article, which was published eight months later under the headline Hard Times at Harvest. 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. I have great empathy and sensitivity toward them. According to Roys extensive research and interviews, changes didnt occur at Harvest; instead, questionable treatment and practices continued. So now, I tell the truth about what happened, and it isnt only a Pastor James problem. The New Testament model that churches should follow, says Every Believer is a Priest. Or were you saying they were bullied too. Thank you. He unsubscribed from the emails but they were still sent him texts asking him to give. They all need to be excised ( fired ), along with number one enabler extraordinaire of James, Rick Donald, along with the MacDonald boys, along with every single campus pastor and the other pastors, and throw in the worship leaders ( they are all complicit ), then the cancer would have been completely removed and the body ( the good people of Harvest that are being fleeced ) would have a chance to heal and become part of a true biblical church. Rather, God is shaking the junkall of our junkout of His Church. She loves the Word and words, is a binge reader and grammar nut, and is fanatic (as her family can attest) about Jeopardy! Truth is truth. Fear that your leaving would damage those you ministered to. Implying that the information on TED was lies. Jesus is still the great healer and restorer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISjXhWUyGi0&list=PLud2nIxx0IAT58I8QPBdfrOz8bFMQQcd6&index=4&t=0s. Our enemy loves this. 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. We dont know if He will allow Harvest not to crumble. I was recovering from the deep wounds and hurts from when we left when this all came rushing back in and opening old wounds. But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. I was wrong in hindsight. 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. My precious, from a far, friend who I have watched since your first speaking engagement at Harvest. I didnt want to upset James. This pastor couldnt have been more wrong. Brave. How important it is to pray pray pray and check on our leaders also of their growth in Christ and what our church mission is and to stay biblical, not political but biblical. God has this situation in his hands he wasnt surprised by it. Thats what happens to us as individuals and us as a collection of people. 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? Harvest will also reimburse MacDonald another quarter-million dollars related to selling his former home and transfer compensation related to his retirement benefits. This woman sounds sincere. Thank You for writing your blog. I dont understand how anyone could watch that video and not immediately know that something was very, very wrong. I can see you have regret for not having the courage to do it then but youre working to make up for it by speaking now. But, thats my opinion. Love my bible sisters. Streaming Video Broadcast. Scripture does not say what the mark was, but it was a mark that man knew as a sign to not to kill Cain, as it would end his life, and end the judgement that God had given Cain to live out his life with. Now he is disillusioned and wants to go back to Catholicism. Christ followers are saying enough. 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. A final incident in Roys article involves MacDonald publicly berating HCA students, an incident witnessed by Harvest videographer Luke Helmer. Harvest Bible Chapel's Elgin campus H arvest Bible Chapel has reached a multimillion-dollar agreement to transfer some of its assets to former pastor James MacDonald, who plans to continue in. 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. then the sermons and teaching were getting distorted and weird. Its very important that people share their stories. I remember when I saw the tattoo that James got and I remembered the line from The Davinci Code about the Chevron symbol. A woman who is full of fun loving life. Some women were still in the middle of the trauma and were still currently attending Harvest. But are they? May the God of all comfort minister his comfort to them. [] While only a handful showed up, the range of their pain was wide. You can read that article here. Theres a difference between stirring the pot and exposing false teachers as the Scriptures instruct us to do. Those of us that have experienced spiritual abuse and church hurt personally can truly resonate with your story. Were they afraid? Thank you, Lord, for Ephesians 6:13: In October, the church reported its chief information officer to police for suspected embezzlement. You are a blessing to many in need. What are you authorized to do? Do You Really Have to Go to Church Every Sunday? Then God led him to Harvest Bible Chapel. This is a very vulnerable time for a lot of people and I am sure God weeps for every single wounded soul.. I always wondered why you left but after reading The Elephants Debt I figured I knew why. Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, revealed material obtained under subpoena, called into Mancow Mullers Chicago-area radio show. I think that was beautifully stated. I will not address any party affiliation. I have always wondered why you left Lina but didnt know you personally to ask. 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!. MacDonald is not being kicked while hes down. I have never attended Harvest. I loved his book Vertical Church. Torn between right and wrong. I will not blame those who suffer spiritual starvation for wolves like the James McDonalds, Joel Olsteens or Creflo Dollars (to name but a few), however designer churches and their false teachers are the direct results of people who refuse to be obedient and submissive to Gods will. Also, for 2 years I felt my prayers didnt get past the ceiling. Truth heals. This decision was made with heavy hearts and much time spent in earnest prayer, followed by input from various trusted outside advisors.. I didnt want to risk any negative impacts on my own growing ministry. In any case, Im saddened to hear that this happened to James McDonald. Perhaps the Holy Spirit prompted Lina to share from the HEART. I didnt want to be rebellious against authority. That timeline accelerated, when on Tuesday morning highly inappropriate recorded comments made by Pastor MacDonald were given to media and reported, the church wrote. What she shared was the kindest message I have ever seen. There are people there I thought were my friend and as soon as my life takes a left turn and happens out of order (first came baby then came marriage and then another baby) I get ousted out and judged and hurt. Christians! When the Church becomes the organization instead of the people, then it ceases to be the Church. 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. And the lies werent just shared by James. I have found that churches built through a single persons vision are dangerous. Vicki Stevenson, I have not read your blogs for some time but the Holy Spirit caused me to stop and read this post. That is just so day to know that people are leaving churches. P.S. Opt out of televised preaching? I was a woman ruled by fear. I questioned a particular sermon that clearly was unbiblical but no one else did. wounded by wolves in sheeps clothing. 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. This decision was made with heavy hearts and much time spent in earnest prayer, followed by input from various trusted outside advisors.. chose to suffer. I, like you, am so thankful for how God has worked in me and my family through the ministries at Harvestincluding the teaching and selfless service of Lina, and so many others (some who have left, and some who chose to stay). Letting you know about this is one of the most loving things that Lina can do at this time so that others dont experience the pain that she went through. At my former church, I reached the point where I couldnt, in good conscience, stay because of the amount of bull-headed spiritual abuse that was going on combined with covering-up of sexual abuse. As an encouragement, from day 1, as you began your faith walk ministry, starting a Women of Power teaching ministry at Harvest, I have watched your character. She will be one of many many many many who come forward so if you dont like it, dont read. 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. She is free to speak of her experience, nothing mean about that. I assumed that you had simply moved on to bigger and better things. 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.. Be kind not hurtful. blessings. Criticism of MacDonald begun to surface on The Elephants Debt, a blog founded in 2012, run by Ryan Mahoney and Scott Bryant, former members era of Harvest Bible Church. Prayer works as we understand to be HIS humble servants. Lina, thank you for your honesty. You are joined with so many ex harvesters that were wounded deeply by what became a toxic culture at HBC. Within days of their statement, MacDonald offered a public apology, admitting to careless and hurtful words and a regression into sinful patterns of fleshly anger and self-pity that wounded co-workers and others.. I feel foolish for allowing myself to be misled for so long. Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. That, it seems, was what it took to finally break his hold over his current elder board; to finally convince the elders that they were wrong to keep listening to his excuses. The current model for pastor directed churches says that the senior pastor is the priest this is Old Testament. I think he forgot Whose ministry it was. Some women were still in the middle of the trauma and were still currently attending Harvest. Updated 11/13/2020 7:31 PM. This isI believewhy the American church has lost its effectiveness. Since I know I am capable of the worst sin, I am choosing to show grace and praying fervently. Thank you for coming forward! 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. How you hit the nail on the head! There are no ongoing issues of any kind. For me, I would like to apologize for not reaching out to you when I finally realized that you had left HBC. Gods timing is always perfect. I stay with confidence that God will not be mocked, he knows the perfect balance of justice and mercy, he will redeem this pain and we will witness HIS power in HIS church. Biblical: submission to the Word in My Dream Church will be at a higher level The question is with independent churches who did they answer to? But wait who is that lurking around the edges, his deeds the center of everyones interest in our church right now, salivating and gleeful that divisiveness and sin is healthy within the body of Christ? It may not be warm and fuzzy but speaking truth, especially when compelled by the Spirit, is never wrong. The collaboration of many witnesses should help the leadership at Harvest (or any church) know the depth of a problem. That the church went on and did not implode or hemorrhage members right then speaks to the prevalence of harmful ideas about authority and church leadership in evangelical circles. I left for the Truth of Orthodoxy! 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.. For years, I kept believing the deception fed to the congregation by the elders. The elders and pastoral board have created a team called Harvest 2020 to conduct a complete review of what happened, and of the church. How dare you question her about why? Why? He clearly told me that they send out reminders to give. Harvest elders announced this morning that they were forced to take "immediate action" on Tuesday to end his 30-year tenure. 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 continue to pray for the people this has affected, the elders and pastors, and that the darkness will be continually exposed to the light. My experience was decades ago and in another state. He was a very good speaker and teacher of the Bible but was forced to resign from our church a few years back. Elgin Quick Links Baptisms, February 19th | Photo: Harvest Bible Chapel Facebook The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability has suspended Chicago-area megachurch Harvest Bible Church following the firing of its longtime pastor James MacDonald and amid ongoing revelations that the ministry had misappropriated funds. There is NEVER a healthy or spiritual reason for suppressing truth. 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