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. This is a very vulnerable time for a lot of people and I am sure God weeps for every single wounded soul.. I believe you are mistaken. Everyone sat still as if he mentioned chocolate milk. Harvest numbers 13,000 attendees across seven locations, and the church began affiliating with the Southern Baptist Convention in 2015. With my life and schedule, my friends are few and far between, and have always been aware that my saying anything publicly about Harvest or James would jeopardize those friendships that I still love and value so much. In his remarks this week, he says he confessed his relational failings multiple times, but still lost longtime friends and ministry partners to Harvests narrative. Sign up to get our top five trending stories delivered every weekday! Thats the point and issue with what was and is going on at Harvest. The 60-year-old pastor called on his former church to confess its wrongs and correct the record. Your daily news briefing from the editors of CT. I also trust that you did seek wisdom from the Lord on what and how to speak into this. Not saying thete arent strong christians in leadership at this church but it does always seem that when pride gets in the way of leadership it hurts that person and everyone around them. Churches should switch to a different model that is biblically aligned. Romans 16: 17-20. Because TRANSPARENCY is neededand now ahe may be starting to feel safe. I chose to believe the Bible and Gods promises. The only hope is to totally exposed and excise it so that all will not be consumed. Please see my link. I agree with Nellie. Your two posts make no sense I hope you get some sense and realize people in Church are not infallible only Jesus! I do have to laugh though. I feel foolish for allowing myself to be misled for so long. Pastor was not happy and tried to convince us that we were wrong. The eight former elders who signed the letter alleged that that Harvest ran a puppet elder board; that a culture of fear and intimidation plagued the church; and that the elder board, which was supposed to be responsible for overseeing the churchs finances, was not granted access to financial information. No church outside of the One True Church Christ began was given His authority to act on their own. Thank goodness God is still God! Lina, My wife and I also left our church several years ago. We are conditioned to believe that leaving silently is whats best for the church and in some cases thats true. He was the senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel megachurch in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, United States [1] [2] and was the host for the church's former broadcast ministry, Walk in the Word . For years, I kept believing the deception fed to the congregation by the elders. So Grace is only for MacDonald and no one else not the elders he excommunicated, not the numerous employees who were fired or kids who were expelled from HCA, not the pastor who was fired in FLORIDA and had his church taken away I would ask you SERIOUSLY??!! I will pray for healing in the hearts and lives of those affected by this tragedy. Before the article was even printed, Harvest sued Roys, plus two bloggers who've been critical about problems at Harvest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISjXhWUyGi0&list=PLud2nIxx0IAT58I8QPBdfrOz8bFMQQcd6&index=4&t=0s. see My Dream Church https://sites.google.com/site/mydreamchurch/. For me, it is because it is time for truth. 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 blessings. We are to fear God not man. Lauren Boebert And Marjorie Greene's Adult "So Your Problem with Christianity is the Jesus No, the "Second Shift" Isn't Feminism's Fault. Open your eyes and feel the heat of the refiners fire. Addressing this following statement from you, By the time I left, I had discovered something dark about myself: I was a woman ruled by fear. I was recovering from the deep wounds and hurts from when we left when this all came rushing back in and opening old wounds. Those who step out of line are often dismissed. Harvest Bible Chapel has owned its mistakes and endured to become a happier and healthier church, whose members recently pledged financially, in their walk/work for Christ, and in their. We attended Harvest for 16 years before we left little over 4 years ago. Gods hand is on Harvest and the dark is continuing to be shown. Prevent these types of money exchange corporations, Then God led him to Harvest Bible Chapel. By then there were so many small things that werent so small and added up to big things that could have explained my leaving, but to me, that video was the tipping point. And, at the same time, I know you to be a humble woman, easily impacted by negative, feedback. It doesnt mean anything.. The devil may win some battles, but we know God ultimately wins the war. We need to trust Him. It was your Study that helped me be obedient to God. 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? However, 2 of the groups meet in Panera Bread. These things happen in small churches too. When you are in a position where fear dictates the position you cannot speak out while under that. I will only say that if it is right and important to address a culture of fear within the church, it is equally important to address the same for our country. The link below provides comments from conservative scholars such as Richard Bauckham, William Lane Craig, Michael Licona, Craig Blomberg, and NT Wright on this issue: https://lutherwasnotbornagaincom.wordpress.com/2019/05/23/bombshell-how-historically-reliable-are-the-gospels-if-even-conservative-bible-scholars-believe-they-may-contain-fictional-stories/. I left HBC Davenport 4 years ago because of the spiritual abuse that is happening there as well. You also restrained and could have said much more and didnt. It truly is the Lords work. Im praying for you. It helps to be able to talk about it instead of feeling like you have to hide it, or just deal with it. The message we received was they were sorry we felt that way and they were sure it was not his intention. I have never attended Harvest. And in 1 Corinthians 5, we are told to judge those within the Church). You did the right thing and I believe more will step up not to dishonor James, but noticing how much the church has changed. Gods Timing Is ALWAYS Perfect! We talked with two deacons and the assistant pastor. 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. Harvest Bible Church is a non-denominational, non-charismatic, evangelical Protestant church located in Northwest Houston in the Cypress community. All this comes on the heels of another scandal. The congregation has been deceived, lied to, and hounded to give sacrificially, all the while the senior pastor has been making hundreds of thousands of dollars. He unsubscribed from the emails but they were still sent him texts asking him to give. 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. I would ask you the same question? Persecution is supposed to come from the world with the devil behind it, as Jesus said. We are thankful and humbled by His care and protection of our family. Dont bad rap other churches? In a recorded video message, Bill Sperling, an elder, told the congregation that the elders concluded that there is a sinful pattern of inappropriate language, anger and domineering behavior. Look, Im sorry, but thats a bit late. In Jesus precious name. Looking sideways (practical love): 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. She has a right to expose. People need to be accountable for their actions. Transparency in finances Mike was genuinely shocked when we told him our son had Paxton as a camp counselor for whole week at Camp Harvest and we never received notice as HBC falsely told Daily Herald. God has this situation in his hands he wasnt surprised by it. The good intentions of our ministry partnership with Harvest Chicago have been overshadowed by these developments, he said. That IS A LIE!! Thank you for all you do. Fear is dead life a remnant of Satan. hi liz, not really looking for a vote here. This should not be! I am thankful that timing of other circumstances in my life led me to a new city to grow and find a faithful, healthy, growing, biblical church community. it seems to me that people give more grace to the offender than the victim. Being part of Harvest, and hearing how the utmost leaders were tattooed with the Vertical Church logo, as I prepare the lesson, I cant help but wonder about the tattoo on the bodies of those who accepted the mark of James as their alliance with the Vertical Church of James. Sometimes being good will also mean being nice, but sometimes it will not. This did not happen to James, he did this, by sinning repeatedly. He is very likely not a brother in Christ. 2. Thanks for speaking up! Jesus taught eternal love. 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). I am aware that there has been some very good ministry done through this church. Nellie, And even then, it often doesnt work because so many remain enthralled with the narcissist, or have tied their fortunes to them, that they simply cant or wont see the truth. The word of God and the flock were only mentioned at the end of the long list. Dont find that in the Bible. I wondered where God was in the narrative. 1st at services, then recording those messages fir walk in the word and finally by publishing them. Thank you for your thoughts and strong, encouraging words. In our case we have been pulled away from our church as well because of how we have been treated for our daughters actions. Nellie-What you might not know. Perhaps my fear had its legitimate reasons. 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. The pastor also gets $1.2 million and a parcel of property in Crystal Lake, Illinois, as well the ministrys equipment, books, and digital resources, the church announced this week. And I wont stand in the way of Christs work. We are all human, myself included. He has harmed thousands of people. [], Lost me at the private jet shared with Bill Hibel. The former Harvest Bible Fellowship leaders now at GCCwhich contains about 130 churches, more than half of which still have Harvest in their namesshare concerns about the churchs leadership and are looking for transparency and repentance from MacDonald. Let us examine ourselves for unconfessed sin and seek to live in fear of the Lord lest bitterness overtake us.. I applaud you for your courage to leave the church and let the fall out damage by James to you as a person and your career ministry, to be in Gods hands. The Elephants Debt, which had posted criticism of MacDonald, including stories by former Harvest members, elders, pastors, and staff, throughout 2012 and 2013, went on a posting hiatus at around this time. I pray shes wrong. Nor do I want to be part of a fellowship where the whole counsel of God is not taught nor eschatology ever mentioned. FEAR is a liar, pray for them and never let offense take you out, that was the enemys plan! There would be major issues involving James, followed by a carefully worded elder update or a carefully scripted announcement in church. There are questions the leadership at every such megachurch should be asking. Also I Cor. God IS in control and knows what he is doing. Quit pointing fingers, justifying why and stirring the pot. James wrath is powerful. Did you know that Satan and his minions come to Harvest? Were they unaware of what was happening behind the scenes? Sheri and her husband Gary attended Cornerstone in the 1980s while attending Azusa Pacific and in their first few years of marriage. Everybody and anyone has an opinion about what should happen to and for Harvest whether this means the self-identified victims, or the buildings, or the leftover and future leadership well, everyone is entitled to an opinion about everyone and everything. The resources are pulpit curriculum and bible words to talk about. 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. Can you please contact me from the Contact button on my web page here? Most of my friends as well. Harvest and MacDonald had a contentious separation last year, when he lost the position he held for 30 years over inappropriate comments and harmful conduct stemming from his legal battle with people investigating the church. I choose to stay through this pain because, for me, leaving would create a wound that would never really heal. After leaving, others came to us, with similar stories of why they left or quit being involved. 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? Like in Ezekiel, many people are trying to sound the trumpet of warning!! As of November, 2021, HBC is $34,000,000 in debt. I dont understand how anyone could watch that video and not immediately know that something was very, very wrong. Over the summer, they agreed to try to make a joint statement and start the process of relational reconciliation, the Harvest elders said, but the efforts didnt pan out. Theyre gone. Thankful for the freedom you have found and are willing to speak up. To heal enough to communicate and receiving shaming comments like yours. and stay glued to founded and genuine monetary purchase services. Fear is why leaders did not speak up until now. He stomped his questioners. The next day, Helmer resigned, citing MacDonalds pattern of uncontrolled anger. The pastor later admitted being too intense in the classroom that day. The news came less than a week after another update from Julie Roys, a defendant in the lawsuit and the writer responsible for the World investigation, who has continued to release evidence against MacDonald and call for his resignation. I loved that about you. Its been over a year and a lot has changed at Harvest and a lot sill needs to change. Fear. Yet Jesus was not the mission even though the pastor spoke of Jesus. Now, the church has decided its longtime leader wont be coming back. Is the founding pastor subject to accountability structures? How dare you question her about why? Why? Matthew 7:15: Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. A new believer has lost faith because of the shameful behavior of HBC leadership and all you can say is question the new believers truthfulness of his account? There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. I have my own hurt of how certain situations were handled with me through the 20s ministry Then soon after that, the 30s ministry, production ministry and even the womens ministry on multiple occasions. Thanks for being so honest. Otherwise If you share your email address I will email you. The timing of this article makes you less credible. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. Then, he was fired, according to the Daily Herald, a suburban Chicago newspaper. 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