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!. Ross, Ross Blomberg, She loves the Word and words, is a binge reader and grammar nut, and is fanatic (as her family can attest) about Jeopardy! But dont shame others who speak up. I was just starting out at Harvest in September of 2011. He was a ruler of his churches. Thank you for sharing your story, Lina. I will pray for healing in the hearts and lives of those affected by this tragedy. Harvest used that phrase to manipulate the congregation. I have or attend 3 or more small groups a week now and feel alive. Different situations require different things. Two years ago, MacDonald moved away from overseeing the Harvest Bible Fellowship, a global network of churches, which eventually separated from Harvest completely to form the Great Commission Collective (GCC). Hidden things have come to light. Its by an unbeliever, but wow, is it eye-opening. Reflect about yourself and what steps you need to take to be healed and then to help others heal. I appreciate your voice. When you are in a position where fear dictates the position you cannot speak out while under that. I regret staying at Harvest after that meeting with the elders. Thank you Yahweh. This is why Jesus did not come to this present church environment. I love this idea! Now, the church has decided its longtime leader wont be coming back. My coworker who was Catholic and going through a painful divorce, was led to Christ by me. Amen to that. Ross, Yet Jesus was not the mission even though the pastor spoke of Jesus. Thankful for her thoughtful response and I agree with you that God knows all of this and isnt surprised by any of it including the timing of her response. 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. Everything is being talked about at great lengths regarding Harvest except for Who the body of Christ should be praying to, talking about and quoting. Hannibal Harvest Bible Church (EIN# 862793399) is an tax exempt organization filed with Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Is it perfect? I left Harvest about a year before you did, and I also stayed, for the most part, silent out of the same fear you described. Although, it definetly planted a seed for me. Church is a small community. We have now been without a fellowship for nearly a year (we are missionaries in Europe) because I do not want to join a happy clappy crowd who would not know the Word of God were it to bite them nor do I want to join a fellowship where the Word is extremely well known but there is no life, no joy. 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. No wonder Harvest dropped the suit. In fact, even though there is no patents or rights given to the Bible every man-made church that has plagiarized, promoted or used the Bible without the expressed consent of Jesus Himself or the authority of His church begin their ministries as thieves. Jesus calls us to be GOOD. But should never be a pastor again! Yet a week ago I posted on FB an invitation to open my house to anyone who needed to talk about their pain as it related to what was happening at Harvest. Many many of us are praying for all of you in Naples. Those who step out of line are often dismissed. 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. 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 your openness and sharing! I then called an elder who was a friend and someone I trusted. Also another story emerged on why another person left Harvest Bible Chapel. The culture of fear, intimidation, and secrecy has poisoned not just Rolling Meadows and its campuses, but also trickled down through the fellowship. A peacemaking process, while helpful for personal and relational reconciliation, is not the approach to address failed governance, biblical disqualification, and a toxic leadership environment.. 12:18) as while working through this year-and-half-long process of transition. For a different church model, see My Dream Church https://sites.google.com/site/mydreamchurch/. I hope that the cleansing and purification will come to Davenport as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISjXhWUyGi0&list=PLud2nIxx0IAT58I8QPBdfrOz8bFMQQcd6&index=4&t=0s. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. When you started, you (and others) mentioned the cult of personality that James benefitted from. Each former leader that speaks out helps us heal and validates our experience. I was brushed off. It was engaging at times. 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. 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. Long story short he kicked my husband and I out of the church. This did not happen to James, he did this, by sinning repeatedly. 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. When one part of the body hurts, we all hurt! Thank you for teaching even in the midst of giving your testimony. 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. Thats what happens to us as individuals and us as a collection of people. 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. What she shared was the kindest message I have ever seen. In announcing MacDonalds termination, Harvest elders stated they 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. Thankful for the freedom you have found and are willing to speak up. 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 . Thank you for adding your voice to the now chorus of voices calling for a time of judgment and reform. I dont take joy in this situation, but I rejoice in the truth. Often no explanation given, and the band plays on. Matthew 7:15 We attended Elgin from 2005 through 2008. I am saddened by it. I am sorry that you experienced this fear. I enjoy both of you Christian ladies for the different gifts you both bring. Is this an informed opinion? God is good and He will use those who make themselves available to Him. Unreal as I went to Harvest for over 7 yrs and this whole situation has hurt so many people. Thank God the early Christians stood firm and did not run away from troubles. 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.. No unfortunately I have not seen your web page. Until recently, I was 8 year member of HBC and I feel so sad, confused, betrayed. Thanks again, Lina, for being courageous in the midst of these difficult days. Is many people for years have tried to bring things to light privately. While I am heartened that the elders finally removed MacDonald, he should have been fired five years ago. Matthew 7:15: Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Good word, my sister. He better thank God for Grace and cause he is going to need it. Nellie, Im sorry for your comment. Thank you Lina, MacDonald later admitted doing so but claimed it was all in good fun and misinterpreted. I thank you for your willingness to risk being misunderstood while offering your experience to help reduce the shame of others, who need a hand to hold, as they work through their own healing. Sarah, I am so sorry for whatever happened to you. Or they, too, are so rotten at the core that they dont care. By the time I left, I had discovered something dark about myself: I was a woman/person ruled by fear. Its difficult to understand how people can now know what they know and still only criticize the ones that feel compelled to now share their story. Go to the all church meetings? 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. I am staying because with all the faults in the organization, the people of Harvest are my family. Structure: the structure of My Dream Church is based on the New Testament Body Of Christ Lina, I know that you did not take writing this lightly, and that it was preceded by much prayer and asking for the Holy Spirits wisdom and guidance in order to strike a balance of truth and grace. 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. model and not on the Old Testament hierarchical model. We are conditioned to believe that leaving silently is whats best for the church and in some cases thats true. Yes Nellie, we are called to bring light on the darkness. Most continue to stay there, as their numbers dwindle. He spoke highly of you, and since then, I have occasionally prayed for you regarding your time and experience at HBC. I hate to be James because God judges leadership harsher than the regular sinner. Or share it. 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. I assumed that you had simply moved on to bigger and better things. 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 elders announced this morning that they were forced to take immediate action on Tuesday to end his 30-year tenure. The small church that I and my family left was a textbook case in spiritual abuse. Where there is no vision and freedom the people perish. Maybe people could handle hearing it better now than then. Everything that is painful for everyone and anyone has been talked about endlessly for weeks. Id encourage you to read the prophets again, and ask, what upsets the heart of God? And then maybe its time to ask whether those things should upset you as well. 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? I lost the bulk of my community virtually overnight. Same as your departure, not a single person reached out to see how I was doing once I left my job. In the midst of efforts to reconcile with longtime critics, Harvest Bible Chapel fired its founder and senior pastor James MacDonald for engaging in conduct contrary and harmful to the best interests of the church.. He is really great at it I give him that. He (the pastor) basically told us we would never work in ministry (volunteer or vocationally) because we didnt understand biblical authority. Pray and console those whose faith has weakened from this. Thank you for having the courage to write what you did and for your ministry Lina. 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