Faith is Christ living. Wow. Id be interested in reading you blog on tattoos. We dont know if He will allow Harvest not to crumble. God is using this to grow me as he does in all trials, so for that Im grateful. However, James is not the same person he was when he began that church and if he was to continue leading it, he would hurt countless others. Its who you are! first Bill Hybels. If so Id be in agreement but again- this is not a political post. I pray for the leaders. Opt out of mega church? The public scrutiny continued with pushback against MacDonalds decision to preach at a Harvest affiliate in Florida during his sabbatical. Anil. A worship song says He gives and takes away, He gives and takes away, and still my heart will say Blessed be the name of the LORD!. You must not feel sorry for James. Ross, Ross Blomberg, What I have realized is the weakness and defeatism of so-called Christians who immediately abandon their Church when trouble comes its way. Jesus desires mercy and not sacrifice. Mike Winger Discusses When God Hardened Pharaohs Heart, Tennessee Church Showcases Tyre Nichols Photography, Louisiana Pastor Sentenced to 5 Years in Money Laundering Case Involving Nearly $900K in Stolen Funds, Steven Curtis Chapman First Contemporary Christian Artist To Earn 50th No. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. I left for the Truth of Orthodoxy! The evangelical megachurch system, where multilayered ministries form around a single persona, leaves ample room for mismanagement and abuse of authority. It isnt about timing. Pastor James MacDonald of the Chicago-based seven-multicampus Harvest Bible Church, issued an apology statement on Sunday saying that the board of the megachurch unanimously agreed to lift a discipline ban from three excommunicated elders. Implying that the information on TED was lies. I never attended HBC except for the one time when we visited several years ago and had to sit out in the foyer as the music was blasted out too loud. 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. Following the initial World report, MacDonald announced he would be taking a sabbatical, but suggested he may still occasionally preach at a Harvest-affiliated church in Florida. 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. I was a woman ruled by fear. My experience was decades ago and in another state. And in 1 Corinthians 5, we are told to judge those within the Church). And a few days later James MacDonalds sons, Luke and Landon MacDonald, also announced they are resigning. Wake up this tragedy has been in the works a long time. I dont take joy in this situation, but I rejoice in the truth. Matthew 7:15 Leaving spiritual abuse is okay, you cant be expected to change it while youre in the midst of it. Shes not the only one there are many. maybe its time for all of us to wake up. blessings. Check out Moreno website, http://www.godsonlygospel.com. Its hard to step out alone but God always protects and brings darkness into the light to be seen. On his radio show, Muller later aired what sounded like clips of MacDonald making harsh comments toward media who had covered the story. It wasnt that we saw corruption in our church. Persecution or hardship drew them close. Those who would shame someone for standing on the side of truth and grace have missed the mark. I should have walked out but, I too, was afraid. I have nothing bad to say about Harvest. A year later, MacDonald apologized for the harsh discipline taken against the three men, adding that Harvest had meaningfully and mutually reconciled with them. Notify me by email when the comment gets approved. He better thank God for Grace and cause he is going to need it. I miss that about you. You are courageous and your words bring healing. With so much gaslighting going on and public take-downs of those who would speak truth to power, and your investment in the church industrial complex, I can imagine how difficult it wouldve been to speak out publicly at the time of your leaving. On January 7, 2019, Harvest elders announced they decided to drop the lawsuit against Julie Roys and four other individuals. We left a church where the pastor specifically told me, I am in charge! He said this while glaring at me and enunciating each word. Though MacDonald initially opted to step away from all preaching and leadership roles at the churchs Chicago-area locations, in his January 16 sabbatical announcement he suggested he might still preach at a Harvest congregation in Naples, Florida, which led to another saga. There are no ongoing issues of any kind. The Pastor started teaching on obeying your authority and not questioning authority etc. You did the right thing and I believe more will step up not to dishonor James, but noticing how much the church has changed. 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. Our focus should be on Christ and Christ alone, not James MacDonald. Amen to that. 2023 RELEVANT Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sign up to get our top five trending stories delivered every weekday! I am now going to read the rest of your post. Rotate positions? The Lord knows and he keeps the books. Your sincere desire to move us further in our relationship with Jesus Christ. I believe this is God working to expose sin just as Jesus warned Luke 12:2-3 This included an abusive and fear-based culture where those who question leadership are punished, she writes. 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. Thank you for adding your voice to the now chorus of voices calling for a time of judgment and reform. We attended Harvest for 16 years before we left little over 4 years ago. Its where I was led to Christ. 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. Thank you for sharing and speaking truth Lina. And still some came because their loved ones and spouses have abandoned the faith completely and now refuse to go to church and they long to understand why. If you ever make that offer again, Ill be there, but please post on Twitter. Harvest Bible Chapel has reached a multimillion-dollar agreement to transfer some of its assets to former pastor James MacDonald, who plans to continue in ministry outside the Chicago-area megachurch. Prayer works as we understand to be HIS humble servants. #justsaying #carryon, Youd have to read the blog. It quickly became one of the 50 largest churches in the country, with over 12,000 members and eight campuses in the Chicago area. This decision was made with heavy hearts and much time spent in earnest prayer, followed by input from various trusted outside advisors.. Our enemy loves this. Thank you for taking the time to nurture the HBC flock that Pastor James never cared about! Because ultimately what God wants is not a huge army of women who are nice. Your child will experience the life-changing power of Jesus and His Word through worship and story, and age-appropriate learning tools. Thank you for having the courage to write what you did and for your ministry Lina. Maybe people could handle hearing it better now than then. 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.. 2. OnFebruary 13, the elders announcedJames MacDonald had been fired. I appreciate the Biblical distinction you made Sheila, in relation to the Bible calling us to be good ; which doesnt always mean being kind and nice. Ive always appreciated your candor and honesty, and I think the Lord has gifted you with a strong sense of discernment. Perhaps the Holy Spirit prompted Lina to share from the HEART. []. But the truth needs to be out there. I kept thinking people would wake up and see the truth and understand that my leaving was not a betrayal to James but a stance against his leadership style, and the leadership style of the XLT, and James sons, and most of the remaining elders. 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 church-planting ministry, Harvest Bible Fellowship, with 170 member churches. 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. Your studies are strong biblical studies. Another blind believer. I always wondered why you left but after reading The Elephants Debt I figured I knew why. Harvest used that phrase to manipulate the congregation. Since the publishing of this article, several developments have occurred at Harvest Bible Chapel. I met you when you spoke at Harvest Davenports womens ministry retreat and events many years ago and was challenged and inspired by your teaching. It never dawned on me that no one from HBC would reach out. Once a preacher condemns other, that is the sign that he is trying to avert attention from what he is doing. Thank you for your thoughts and strong, encouraging words. I didnt want to risk any negative impacts on my own growing ministry. Like the unsaved around us we fight for positions of prestige to lord it over one another. This team is to be made up of congregants, staff, professionals, and elders, and will be headed by a church member. We are to find our faith and hope in the Message, not the messenger. 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? Church leadership is urging members to wait for the results of this reviewand the changes that will be implementedbefore making the decision to leave the church. Ive been in the medical field for over 40 years and know a thing or two about human anatomy. They helped to create this culture of fear. Others lied to me directly for selfish gain. P.S. Not one. The recognizing date of the exempt status is April, 1972. Harvest, which Roys says is $42 million in debt, is suing the Evangelical Christian Credit Union for not refinancing five of its mortgages. It is a really strange thing when persecution comes from the pastor and elders. Fear can lead to many sins. And, at the same time, I know you to be a humble woman, easily impacted by negative, feedback. ! That timeline accelerated, when on Tuesday morning highly inappropriate recorded comments made by Pastor MacDonald were given to media and reported, they wrote. Harvest responded by suing both bloggers, their wives, and Julie Roys. If you read the history and understand the public record of offenses at Harvest (with many more than the requisite two or three witnesses), you will understand why this is not only completely justified, but actually necessary to the restoration of healing and good order to Christs Body. As painful as it is, all that has been hidden must be revealed. 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. I work every day to be rid of my anger and thank you for proving that church is an unsafe place filled with predictors such as yourself seeking to tear down. What she shared was the kindest message I have ever seen. 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. We warn the people of Harvest Bible Churchto separate themselves from these false messengers. As happens in evangelicalism, Harvest effectively became its own denomination, with MacDonald at its head. I remember when I saw the tattoo that James got and I remembered the line from The Davinci Code about the Chevron symbol. That is at the root of a serious problem that the Church hardly touches. Praying for you, many blessings for all you do. She put words to my feelings and I am truly blessed by them. I am so glad Lina has spoken up. 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. Others, too, could see the attitude. While every major financial decision was supposed to be examined and approved by the churchs eldersand it was claimed that this was casethis was not actually happening. Sunday Service-10:15 AM/Wed. She is free to speak of her experience, nothing mean about that. Thank you for your courage. I loved that about you. MacDonald was manifestly not okay with the criticism. It seems to me that theyve had years to repent and make things right. 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.. Hearing these stories has helped me to realize I left just when I was supposed to. If Harvest and James can answer that, without focusing merely upon what they do, it would be helpful. Thank you for this post. When you are in a position where fear dictates the position you cannot speak out while under that. Find a church with great accountability. What does the Bible say about debt? Then, not ten minutes later Mike Dunswood told us the Elders were told ( presumably by the XLT, which included Jeff Donaldson) all parents were notified about Paxton Singer and his sexpoitation issue in Jan 2018. We never gave up on God because He never gives up on us. Im glad I have stood firm. He claimed he would never return to Willow until things had changed and the time was right. Fear is what has been under all this, I would not be surprised if there is some fear in Jamess heart that is the root cause of his sins here. Who Will Pay for the SBCs Abuse Reforms Over the Long Term? Dont listen to haters. So I called one of the elders in the video and got his side of the story. Churches should switch to a different model that is biblically aligned. 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. The small church that I and my family left was a textbook case in spiritual abuse. He told me that I would be cursed for questioning his authority and God would punish me. The only hope is to totally exposed and excise it so that all will not be consumed. Some women were still in the middle of the trauma and were still currently attending Harvest. The fruit by which JM is to be judged rather is that of his own true m.o. Pastor James made it political when he compared the era of President Trump to the era of Stalin the era of Hitler. I also managed to write an apology to James for the pain I had caused him. Thank you, Lord, for Ephesians 6:13: Do you see any fruit from him of what God speaks of? 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. Following a lengthy season of review, reflection, and prayerful discussion, the Elders of Harvest Bible Chapel had determined that Pastor MacDonald should be removed from his role of Senior Pastor. Start praying for Jesus to heal the entire body of which He Alone is the Head. What are you authorized to do? 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. In the past we were to study pulpit curriculum and bible vocabulary. Lina, you are strong and your faith in the Lord is inspiring. I hope that you are recovering well, for you have added a vital piece of information. God help those who cant see their need to be set free or judge those whove found it in Christ Jesus. Let us examine ourselves for unconfessed sin and seek to live in fear of the Lord lest bitterness overtake us.. 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! Im far removed from this situation, but saddened by it nonetheless. A Florida Lawyer Argues That a Pregnant Inmates Unborn Child Is Being Illegally Detained, Experts Predict the Ozone Layer Will Fully Heal Within 40 Years, The Biblical Reasons for Going Low Waste, The Spiritual Toll of Americas Food Waste Epidemic, The Buffalo Supermarket Shooter Has Been Sentenced to Life in Prison. All Rights Reserved. and pro football. His sermon provides good reasons for why we need to shine light on these abuses. 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. Because she is helping expose evil and proving that is is deep and wide and on going. I should have left that week, but I was too afraid to cause damage to Jesus and His kingdom and the women I was leading at that time. For a great many, it's time for the cult of personality of James MacDonald at Harvest chapter to close and the actual Bible to be opened again., Today on his edgy radio show, Muller said while he felt MacDonalds firing had to happen, he also had wanted nothing to do with any of it and now my part is done., I feel like God was using me in this, he said. In the wake of his departure, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability acknowledged serious concerns around spending and financial stewardship under MacDonald that resulted in the church losing its membership status. Do you think God approves of pastors who deliberately scam their congregation for years, use his name for money and abuse people for the Almighty Dollar? My heart breaks for the ones who will walk away from church and walk away from God. We sincerely thank you for your prayers, your support, and your patience as we work together to restore a trust in leadership, a humility to surrender to biblical authority, and a firm resolve to move forward as a church family., Subscribe to CT
Harvest Kids is our weekend experience for kids (babies to fifth grade). I am sure that was very hard for her to share . You are joined with so many ex harvesters that were wounded deeply by what became a toxic culture at HBC. The only thing I liked about that church was the worship, which was glorifying to the Lord. You are a blessing to many in need. You can read about the continued corruption and fraud here: Dan George's Resignation. I feel like I cant trust my own judgment any more. Roys article details three examples of actions that former Harvest employees say reveal MacDonalds hot-tempered, vengeful personality. James MacDonald and the leaders of HBC did that with their own hands, hearts, & minds. We believe that disciples of Jesus profess that He is Lord, practice His Ways, and persevere in both their profession and practice. As of November, 2021, HBC is $34,000,000 in debt. For me, it is because it is time for truth. Now its a big business with Harvest all over the states. I hope that the cleansing and purification will come to Davenport as well. This all happens when we gather, grow and go together as followers of Jesus. The issue here is not TIMING or kicking someone when theyre down its about exposing ungodly, cowardly behavior and making people aware of its existence. Ive tried to cover everything in prayer but I dont feel God right now. I also managed to write an apology to James for the pain I had caused him. Speaking the truth and not cowering in the corner. 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. The founder of a Chicago megachurch has been fired as its leader. 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. But your words affirmed what I suspected. out of fear you complied Lina isnt hanging Harvest Bible Chapel. We are satisfied and grateful to our pastor for his Christlike behavior. I wondered where God was in the narrative. Sign up for our newsletter: In fact, he is the one who is no longer pastoring. The whole ordeal was very strange. Subscribers receive full access to the archives. Thank you for coming forward! Christs grace saves us and sustains us. , & minds status is April, 1972 fight for positions of to. Deeply by what became a toxic culture at HBC the truth Message I have ever seen denomination. Will allow Harvest not to crumble put words to my feelings and I remembered the line from pastor... Been hidden must be revealed post on Twitter the works a long time fight for positions prestige... Read the rest of your post our newsletter: in fact, he is trying to avert attention from he... Negative impacts on my own judgment any more faith in the country, with MacDonald at its.. 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