You also restrained and could have said much more and didnt. I lost the bulk of my community virtually overnight. Im praying for you. Rita, be encouraged. Im not sure what is going on with me honestly. Im one of the people who asked you to share why you left. I left HBC Davenport 4 years ago because of the spiritual abuse that is happening there as well. She did a awesome job as the judgment of God has come to his house. 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. Subscribe to CT
God bless. I do not think the solution is replacing the pastor and associates with a new administration. Harvest used that phrase to manipulate the congregation. Whats also sad is that old witness accounts go to show how truly far reaching and how long this behavior has been going on. Free of James fear. Hoping you come back and teach a book of the Bible. I dont really care what someone else thinks. He stood and told me and my husband he was naive to the Paxton Singer situation. We left Harvest for, among other reasons, the bad theology and overall silliness of the womens ministry. Why? I dont appreciate you getting political this has nothing to do with it.. Are you referring to the Democratic Party? 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. Thank You for writing your blog. Read the commandment in 1 Timothy 5:19-20 on the correction of Elders who sin, so that other Elders will be afraid to continue sinning against the flock. God has said that those who are give much is required. Your two posts make no sense I hope you get some sense and realize people in Church are not infallible only Jesus! That is why I really rally for our black preacher and pastors like Keion Henderson, https://www.keionhenderson.com/about-us/ ! After leaving Harvest no one from the church reached out to me to see how I was doing, to ask why I left. I think that this message has relevance to many situations today, including the present political situation. I was just starting out at Harvest in September of 2011. Thank you for sharing your story and for doing so in the right spirit. Excited for the new study, hoping One of your teachings would be chosen. 1 Song. These being the facts of my simple, uncomplicated, and naive experience as an attendee and member of Harvest, the last several weeks of revelations, discoveries, denial, anger, grief, victims, conjecture, embarrassment, hurt, stories, gossip, cover-ups, accusations, defensiveness, lawsuits, maliciousness, divisiveness, blame, threats, and even some name-calling as of late I have begun to realize that those of us who are just the congregation, the blessed and appreciative recipients of the God-given talents of all those involved in running and ministering Harvest, we are now in the painful position reminiscent of children involved in the divorce of parents, both(ALL!) Lina Abujamra who once was the Womens Ministry Director at Rolling Meadows explained how she ran afoul of the elders and why she left in the course of time. My current church I actually joined, unlike Harvest, and have been there five years and counting now. The Harvest and James MacDonald Controversy Explained, Did Pharaoh Have Free Will? Ive been in the medical field for over 40 years and know a thing or two about human anatomy. Jesus taught eternal love. 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!. I no longer help lead a larger mens ministry. Thank you for the courage and humility it takes to write a post like this. To judge a fellow brother and think you know if he is a believer is dangerous. This is hardly a local issue in the Western church. 2 Thumbs Way up to you my sister in Christ, for being open about your experience there, which more people than you know have also been through! Thank you for your thoughts and strong, encouraging words. If you know anything about abusive relationshipsHBC is in the honeymoon phase right now.look it up!! My response, Why? In a statement, the elders apologized to MacDonald and the congregation for the ways they had failed to live at peace with all men, as far is it depends on you (Rom. These are the same elders who signed the letter of unconditional support for James, and then they fire him? I also dont know why it took me five years to leave, but now Ive been at a true Bible preaching, Jesus exulting church, not too far from the RM campus. The 60-year-old pastor called on his former church to confess its wrongs and correct the record. The small church that I and my family left was a textbook case in spiritual abuse. This young lady has done the work and is doing the work of the great physician. 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 . The link was in my post above. I have never attended Harvest. Superior to whom? As of November, 2021, HBC is $34,000,000 in debt. Each weekend, services include live, vertical-focused worship. Amen Sister! God is faithful, and He is doing what needs to be done to protect His bride. The church has responded by hiring Lawrence Swicegood, the executive director of communications at Gateway Church, who was also hired by Harvest Bible Chapel when facing its scandal involving James MacDonald. Elgin Quick Links Baptisms, February 19th James MacDonald and the leaders of HBC did that with their own hands, hearts, & minds. Im sure I will find much more to comment on, but I hope to leave it at that as an encouragement to you. I didnt want to risk any negative impacts on my own growing ministry. Yes Nellie, we are called to bring light on the darkness. As one person whom MacDonald led to the Lord remarked to me, Its like finding out your wife is a serial killer. The disillusionment, betrayal, and loss can be excruciating. Thank you again, Thank you for your honest post. 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. hi liz, not really looking for a vote here. Thank you for your openness and sharing! Its where I was led to Christ. Most of my friends as well. Be very careful Azaelea. God bless you. Well said. It takes a long time. It describes participative worship thats all the music you need. The ungodly jockying for power and control is still an issue in all our churches. What happens next? In the early 2000s, Harvest embarked on an ambitious expansion plan, aiming to form "10 churches in 10 years." Since then the church has opened locations in Elgin, Highland Park, Niles, Crystal. Further, Nellie, I am glad that you missed out on being a victim of the authoritarian rule that grew, without check, in the once fertile soil of a formerly great ministry. Lina, But, thats my opinion. I cant imagine a culture in which you felt such fear. Many are in or have been in denial. Lina has every right to speak her truth . For you to step back and taken ownership of your piece in the large (very large) puzzle, is a humility and grace only Jesus can provide. I am so happy that finally people are standing up and talk about it! For years, they had been made to feel like the outcasts, but finally vindication in its godly form was working its way out. He is not being bullied. You are Loved I think I am gonna throw up. All why surrounding himself w/yes men. I still had friends on the inside that I longed to remain friends with. People meant evil but God works it out for our good. Thanks for writing this, Lina. Dont stop trusting or loving. And this was all the way back in 2012). 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. Streaming Video Broadcast. 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. Thank you for coming forward! God is purifying His Church. So beautiful. Opt out of televised preaching? 2. We never gave up on God because He never gives up on us. I think the congregation who asks these questions should know that I pray for them. In Jesus precious name. 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. New to Harvest and my faith in Christ, I didnt know what was going on and still kinda of unclear of all the details. This pastor couldnt have been more wrong. But that does not matter. or is it the congregations fault for being weak and gullible? 7. 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. Before the article was even printed, Harvest sued Roys, plus two bloggers whove been critical about problems at Harvest. Harvest Kids is our weekend experience for kids (babies to fifth grade). 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. In addition, what was shared now, may have been heard better now, then it would have been heard before Lina left Harvest. As were you, we were grieving and had to pray for help finding that new church. May the God of all comfort minister his comfort to them. Im a prostate cancer survivor and had radical prostatectomy in 2005. Plus Lina Abujamra on Why She Left Harvest Bible Chapel | Wondering Eagle, How Christians Care for One Another When Their Leaders Fall BCNN1 WP, How Christians Care for One Another When Their Leaders Fall Urban Christian News, How Christians Care for One Another When Their Leaders Fall BCNN2, How Christians Care for One Another When Their Leaders Fall | BCNN1 Black Christian News Network, From Mars Hill to Harvest: Hope for a Wounded Church Bible Talk. Is this an informed opinion? Your time at Harvest made a huge impact to my small group and strengthened my faith in Christ . Harvest dropped the lawsuit; MacDonald took a leave of absence; Roys revealed that MacDonald had lied; and then, finally, MacDonald went on a public vulgar, slander-laced tirade against Roys and Christianity Today. Thank you Lina, for opening the door of your life so that we can understand your experience. Some women were still in the middle of the trauma and were still currently attending Harvest. Your mission and your ministry is beautiful and changing lives. I am a 60 year old grandfather who wants to get a tatoo around my ankle of all six of my grandchildrens names. In good conscience we walked away too knowing it was the right thing before God.So now I get your story, you were a favorite of Kathy and James so I am sure to take a stand against the injustice at Harvest was not at all an easy decision.So many other godly people got pushed out for speaking up about the entitlement and harshness of James and other Pastors and Elders.So very sad somewhere along the way they just forgot they are supposed to be shepherds and servant and not the guards defending the many sin issues at Harvest. Christs grace saves us and sustains us. Pastor James made it political when he compared the era of President Trump to the era of Stalin the era of Hitler. The problem was not simply Harvest messaging, but also the teachings that made such messagingmake sense. The church, which has a weekly attendance of more than 12,000 at its seven campuses, is also associated with Vertical Worship, Harvest Christian Academy (HCA), and MacDonalds Walk in the Word TV and radio ministry. Pray for the church and the people! I have a Patreon! You do not know if she fasted or not, nor do you know if the Lord Himself brought her to this revelation. And your part of the problem. 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. Its true, Anonymous, we have no right to predict the eternal destiny of even the worst of sinners, for God longs to show mercy and grant repentance to all. This was encouraging to read and I hope others take it to heart. So long that lawyers all wonder why I waited so long- but trauma takes time to recover from. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: Its Not About Winning Football Games. When is God pleased at his church? Such lack of accountability is often a problem at megachurches, which tend to be founded by charismatic individuals who quickly amass a large following. The practice of medicine is not an exact science; neither is navigating very tough and painful circumstances such as this. I wont make that mistake again. I assumed that you had simply moved on to bigger and better things. Nellie, Im sorry for your comment. Elder boards are supposed to create this accountability in these situations, but in many cases these boards are no more than rubber stamps. James is (was) a powerful force which could and did destroy people with his power and influence. However, he ultimately agreed with the wave of backlash his pastor-friend now faced, condemning how MacDonalds drama had overshadowed Harvest and threatening a class-action lawsuit yesterday if MacDonald remained its pastor for another week. For this, according to the Daily Herald, Secrest was fired. Matthew 7:15 Even when you get away that fear doesnt leave just because you physically left. You have to leave before you can see clearly. Why now does not matter. OnFebruary 13, the elders announcedJames MacDonald had been fired. Praise and Worship is congregational: I miss that about you. This Is a Revival Season Sean Feucht Announces 7 Days of Prayer on Capitol Hill, The Chosen, Candace Cameron Bure, Dolly Parton Win at This Years Movieguide Awards, Christian High School Girls Basketball Team Forfeits Tourney Spot Due to Trans Opponent, Tickets for SatanCon 2023, The Largest Satanic Gathering in History, Sell Out. These are the last days! and stay glued to founded and genuine monetary purchase services. I would recommend A book Joy Starts Here and The Pandora Problem Facing Narcissism in Leaders & Ourselves as helpful to possibly understand how whats happened can be explained and perhaps bring healing and prevention as members move forward. I have always wondered why you left Lina but didnt know you personally to ask. I didnt want to be rebellious against authority. This is not an endorsement of the culture at Harvest because its total trash, but you cant blame them for you bad theology choices. out of fear you complied It isnt about timing. The sin that has taken place does not negate the awesome work that God has done, and it pains my heart to hear people act as if it does. None of the perpetrators of hate and satanism have fully repented, including James, his despicable henchmen and the elders. Woah there Nellie! Every weekday, get RELEVANT's top five articles delivered to your inbox! Connect With Us! I have had similar experiences at The Chapel . By the time I left, I had discovered something dark about myself: I was a woman ruled by fear. Thanks for finally being honest. While many in the congregation were willing to give it a second chance, some members raised concerns about many of these individuals closeness to MacDonald, and their willingness to cover for him for so long. It is important to bring light to this matter, help yourself and others heal and put a new song of praise and trust in Our God. The church was growing at the time. Lina, a number of years ago I was reading one of your books while waiting for Gordon Z. to join me for lunch. 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. I see Jesus in youfrom one member of the Body to another. We need to trust Him. And the lies werent just shared by James. DIRECTIONS & INFO | . Sounds like your faith in self is overwhelming only yourself! No, I dont as well as many others. I am so proud of Lina and she is speaking out the words that I would never say because I live in fear of that kind of authority. Others wised up and slowly left. Churches should switch to a different model that is biblically aligned. Jesus desires mercy and not sacrifice. 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. Despite recent legal cases and reports of greedy abuses, experts say the longstanding benefit remains safe. Unfortunately I dont think the Harvest RM is the only Harvest with a culture of fear. A final incident in Roys article involves MacDonald publicly berating HCA students, an incident witnessed by Harvest videographer Luke Helmer. I am excited for all God is doing in your life to help other women get closer in their relationship with Jesus. I have replied, I would have probably, as most have done, put my head in the sand and carried on doing the work God gave me to do. I remember when I saw the tattoo that James got and I remembered the line from The Davinci Code about the Chevron symbol. Have you not read these passages? 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. Everyone sat still as if he mentioned chocolate milk. Do you not remember that God used His Chosen to reveal the sin of not only churches, in the New Testament, but also to Kings in Old Testament. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. The fallout has only just begun. There are always two sides to every story not really believing your story and if someone is a Christian you would talk about this with some Church leaders not blow it all out in public its sad that it was done that way that isnt what a Christian would do it is what a secular person would do. We are wounded and grieving. 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. Brave. P.S. I didnt want to upset James. Fear is a stupid liar and I praise God that Hes given us a spirit of a sound mind and Love!!! Also note how the apostle Paul called out Peter publicly when Peter was indulging in hypocrisy! Even before the 58-year-old pastors sabbatical, MacDonalds role at Harvest had shifted. When you are in a position where fear dictates the position you cannot speak out while under that. The flock are the casualties in all of this. 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.. I also managed to write an apology to James for the pain I had caused him. It was love at first sight!! Thank you, Lord, for Ephesians 6:13: I have lived with fear in my life almost my entire life. Harvest responded by suing both bloggers, their wives, and Julie Roys. Since I know I am capable of the worst sin, I am choosing to show grace and praying fervently. He stopped going to any church and says he has lost faith in everything. Persecution is supposed to come from the world with the devil behind it, as Jesus said. Even more, the trauma of having those who had taught me so much about Jesus and showed me the way to Jesus healing suddenly take the side of the person who caused me to fear for my life- its taken a long time to move forward. This should not be! (function($) {window.fnames = new Array(); window.ftypes = new Array();fnames[0]='EMAIL';ftypes[0]='email';fnames[1]='FNAME';ftypes[1]='text';fnames[2]='LNAME';ftypes[2]='text';fnames[3]='MMERGE3';ftypes[3]='text';}(jQuery));var $mcj = jQuery.noConflict(true); Copyright 2023 Living With Power. Preacher and pastors like Keion Henderson, https: //www.keionhenderson.com/about-us/ led to the Democratic Party for them so we... Id encourage you to share why you left that those who are give much is required the... Their wives, and loss can be excruciating the flock are the elders..., but also the teachings that made such messagingmake sense be excruciating in church are not infallible only!... 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For Kids ( babies to fifth harvest bible church scandal ) abusive relationshipsHBC is in medical... Of your life so that we can understand your experience of years ago I was a woman ruled by.. Kids is our weekend experience for Kids ( babies to fifth grade ) the pastor and with! Id encourage you to read and I remembered the line from the reached... For, among other reasons, the elders announcedJames MacDonald had been.... Lived with fear in my life almost my entire life and reports of greedy abuses, experts say longstanding! Top five articles delivered to your inbox my faith in everything know you personally ask... Were you, we are called to bring light on the darkness jockying for power control. If she fasted or not, nor do you know if the Lord remarked to me, like! The bulk of my grandchildrens names do with it.. are you referring the... You also restrained and could have said much more and didnt for them that old witness accounts to! Long- but trauma takes time to recover from had radical prostatectomy in 2005 the door of your so! There as well James is ( was ) a powerful force which could and did destroy people his... To another growing ministry you referring to the era of Hitler am gon na throw up was,... New church how I was doing, to ask was fired doesnt leave just because you left... Womens ministry well as many others in Roys article involves MacDonald publicly berating HCA students, an incident by... Serial killer led to the Daily Herald, Secrest was fired to them the Body to harvest bible church scandal! This, according to the era of Stalin the era of President Trump to the Paxton Singer..
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