While I am heartened that the elders finally removed MacDonald, he should have been fired five years ago. Conversions credited to women evangelists sharing the good news one-on-one in conversations. She put words to my feelings and I am truly blessed by them. (My) fear was in upsetting James Im very certain you do not understand narcissists and how manipulative they are I recommend Dr. Ramani on YouTube as she is a great resource to gain understanding but the only chance to fight their evil is to bring it out into the light, expose them for what they truly are. On February 12th, someone who sounded an awful lot like James MacDonald called into Mancow Mullers Chicago-area radio show to cuss out all of his perceived enemies. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. Lina I couldnt agree more with everything you said and your comment here. Persecution or hardship drew them close. Even before the Garden of Eden seduction, he foresaw the need for The Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Your leaving (however late you feel it was) was His provision for others, much like Joseph sent ahead to Egypt years ahead of his brothers and father. 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. Subscribe to CT Nellie, When one part of the body hurts, we all hurt! No church is, because they are all filled with sinners like us. 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. One thing that has helped is recognizing seasons. Put faith in Gods justice and judgement upon all, now that sin has been exposed. This young lady has done the work and is doing the work of the great physician. Its very important that people share their stories. A final incident in Roys article involves MacDonald publicly berating HCA students, an incident witnessed by Harvest videographer Luke Helmer. I do not believe your timing should be questioned. Dont stop trusting or loving. Nancy You sound like you still attend thereand you seem double minded. Lina did try to have a conversation with the Elders before she left Harvest. That is why we keep talking. If Harvest and James can answer that, without focusing merely upon what they do, it would be helpful. Once a preacher condemns other, that is the sign that he is trying to avert attention from what he is doing. The beloved drink is both an attraction and a generational divide. Those that havent gone through it ask why would you speak these things? Thank you for sharing and speaking truth Lina. Is this an informed opinion? You also restrained and could have said much more and didnt. How you hit the nail on the head! Sheila, we are not called to be good, we are called to be HOLY! Fear. Politics and religion have a great affect on society, and both must be monitored to protect the people. Therefore Lina did what God moved her to do in His Boldness and Courage, being fear had silenced her. Agreed Sheila. Will James not wake up and realize that the Church of Jesus Christ is not the organization or nonprofits we create, but the men and women that God calls and saves by the sacrifice of His Son? At this point, Im not sure what else your thread can accomplish. Five years ago, Harvest Bible Chapel, a Chicago-area megachurch with multiple campuses and an average weekly attendance exceeding 12,000, sent shock waves through the Christian community when it publicly excommunicated two former elders and indirectly censured a third. The higher the leadership level was, the more protective of James they were. . When a person is afraid of the reaction of their pastor or preacher it is time to move on. Many might wonder why it all still matters to me so much. It seems to me that theyve had years to repent and make things right. If you know anything about abuse it can take years to come forward. He wants a huge army of women indwelled with the Holy Spirit to point people to Christ. This cancer must be excised and as often as is the case in cancer treatment, months of treatment must be involved for health to take place. I hadnt realized that James had gotten a tattoo that week. Its where I was led to Christ. I enjoy both of you Christian ladies for the different gifts you both bring. Also, for 2 years I felt my prayers didnt get past the ceiling. I do believe you. *Strong Bad: Just for the record, in all kindness Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. There is NEVER a healthy or spiritual reason for suppressing truth. Roys article details three examples of actions that former Harvest employees say reveal MacDonalds hot-tempered, vengeful personality. Otherwise If you share your email address I will email you. Thank you Yahweh. 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. While tens of thousands flocked to campus, school officials met in a storage closet to make decisions that would honor what is happening.. 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. He is angry that they keep on sending texts and emails asking for money. I am sure that was very hard for her to share . Authority? Gods timing is always perfect. But thats how it happens at Harvest, right? Now you can stop going to church altogether and free your mind from religious delusion. There is no question in my mind that what I did see and experience increasingly at Harvest was a culture that functioned and was sustained by fear and the desire to please James at any cost. Throughout the week, there are opportunities for you to grow in your walk with Christ, to serve, and to connect with other people in the Rolling Meadows area. My heart breaks for the people that have been hurt by this on both sides. It is a shame to Christianity what is happening here. I love you and our Lird. This is hardly a local issue in the Western church. Thanks again, Lina, for being courageous in the midst of these difficult days. Please avoid these former Harvest elders at all cost, lest you incur great detriment to your own soul. Whatever is wrong in Gods eyes He will bring someone to reveal it. Leba and Sheila- Keep on being brave- it encourages me to do the same! I was mortified. Thank You for writing your blog. I can only hope and pray that those that criticize you for speaking up now are MORE upset about the behavior of the leaders of the church! Why not start a different type of church that is not pastor directed? Then came Roys story, MacDonalds decision to sue Roys and the bloggers behind The Elephants Debt (presumably rubber stamped by the current elder board), and the realization that discovery would mean everything coming out. Did you realize the pastors publicly said sorry last weekend? 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.. He just got into the worlds standards for a preacher. REALLY !! Specifically, I do mean the Machiavellian rule by fear and division that we are seeing. My last complaint. Its hard. Nothing will change at Harvest if the cancer of fear is not exposed . 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. Linas post is still available on other mediums, I imagine if she wanted to link it she would have. Its so very difficult but This is Gods battle and I only need to be obedient not the fixer. He is very likely not a brother in Christ. Many are in or have been in denial. The current leadership at Harvest Bible Chapel including Luke and Landon and Rick and Mo and Jeff and the CFO are infected by the cancer of fear and control. There are no ongoing issues of any kind. In October, the church reported its chief information officer to police for suspected embezzlement. Dont damage the church by being publicly critical. Pastor James MacDonald preaches at Harvest Bible Chapel. Linas testimoney is encouraging. The resources are pulpit curriculum and bible words to talk about. 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.. P.S. What God Gives Black Americans That The Country Does Not, Baylor, Louisiana State University and More Colleges Report Revivals Happening on Campus, Why Asbury University Decided to End Revival Services This Week, Faith Leaders Push Back on Asbury Revival Criticism, Southern Baptists Expel Rick Warrens Saddleback Church for Ordaining a Female Pastor, GET OUR TOP 5 ARTICLES IN YOUR INBOX EACH WEEKDAY, This Story of a Fugitive Nun Who Faked Her Own Death to Escape a Convent Is Insane, Watch: Frozen 2s Trailer Promises an Epic, Possibly Darker Sequel, Dont Forget, Theres a Lot Right With the Church, Too, The Asbury Outpouring Has Come to a Close. 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. But when it happens for reasons like this we should be shouting it but unfortunately we dont always perceive the abuse for what it was/is until we are out of the situation. Something happened to us some years ago and a number of people turned against us because of lies, etc. The womans bible study lead by two women who referenced Pastor James constantly are still in charge. It didnt. Others had old wounds that had resurfaced and were hurting, having never felt closure to their stories, Abujamra, a Bible teacher and Moody Radio host, wrote on herblog. Do not judge the timing, Gods timing is Always Perfect. Basically hes a figurehead who can be dismissed on the whim of any elder or his wife. God loves his Church and we can trust hell do what is necessary to preserve it. I believe you spoke up now to show how far reaching the powerful words and actions of those in authority goes. He clearly told me that they send out reminders to give. One person (not from Harvest) asked if I needed to call the church to cancel my membership. then the sermons and teaching were getting distorted and weird. Thank you for this. Hearing these stories has helped me to realize I left just when I was supposed to. In the past we were to study pulpit curriculum and bible vocabulary. 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. But, the truth is, I am ashamed to say, I should have left much sooner. Just goes to show, pride goeth before a fall. Like you, Lina, Ive listened to people wounded by sin, power grabs and wrongdoing by Church leaders. is it the pastors doing? Do You Really Have to Go to Church Every Sunday? The environment is as ahw stated, fear James, make James happy I believe Yahweh has me where He wants me. No one wins here-except our enemy. Im a prostate cancer survivor and had radical prostatectomy in 2005. I believe Lina did do the best she could at the time. Free of James fear. Seriously? 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. I used to go to a church in AZ pastored by Jon Gaus. 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. Otherwise, the church must answer the same question, for that is one of the majors that Jesus gave us. I loved his book Vertical Church. I do have cds and dvd of contemporary Christian artists. 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? Amen sister!! The evangelical megachurch system, where multilayered ministries form around a single persona, leaves ample room for mismanagement and abuse of authority. I totally agree with you Patti. Transparency in finances 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. Did you know that Satan and his minions come to Harvest? Until recently, I was 8 year member of HBC and I feel so sad, confused, betrayed. Thank you for your thoughts and strong, encouraging words. Fear can lead to many sins. Stressful on him and his family. How long before we wake up and show the world how Christians are not only different from the world but we are not of the world! Get the most recent headlines and stories from Christianity Today delivered to your inbox daily. These are the same elders that approved this same law suit to be dropped when James and co. knew that they would have to open all the books and all the dirt would come out! But, thats my opinion. (It wouldve done no good to tell them how they erred when previous months didnt get it done.) 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. They have gone the deep end of the pool. God bless you. Its ironic that you should post this today. Please support my writing! It is a cry to the current leadership, to evangelicalism at large that there are some very serious problems that need to be dealt with. 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. During his sabbatical, MacDonald had planned to preach at the. No one asked why I quit attending after 15 years. Pray and console those whose faith has weakened from this. No wonder Harvest dropped the suit. She is sharing her heart and personal experience in an open, vulnerable way, in kindness and love. There are times in our lives and circumstances that its just not real clear as to how to address something, with as little harm to what is good, as possible. 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). But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. May God be glorified through this. But I hope the healing can begin, and I hope the abuse will stop.. first Bill Hybels. This journey has taken me several years. I thought something was off but had only my own suspicions to go on as we were told not to criticize. God is good and He will use those who make themselves available to Him. #justsaying #carryon, Youd have to read the blog. Now the Chicago-area megachurch is sharing details of the settlement and has apologized to its former pastor, who was fired in February 2019. 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. Love my bible sisters. Rather, God is shaking the junkall of our junkout of His Church. 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. Blessings to you! Some women were still in the middle of the trauma and were still currently attending Harvest. The founder of a Chicago megachurch has been fired as its leader. In one fellowship people were actually warned to have nothing to do with us, and yet all we had done, in each instance was to ask questions. Ezekiel 22:27: Her princes [leaders] within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain. We too would pray and fast and seek the Lord as to what it was we could have done wrong as not one person from the church we had attended for years cared to find out where we were at. I am sorry I am so late to discover this article but I had to respond to this comment. Hence the Response Statement Regarding Pastor James and Anne Green yesterday on HBC in the news. Or is he in effect the church, with an elder board that exists only for show and to rubber stamp his decisions? I have always wondered why? Last November, Harvests new elders (all those who served under MacDonald stepped down) declared that their former pastor failed to meet the elder qualifications laid out in Scripture and could not return to their church. The leader of that church, John Secrest, was blindsided by the news and asked Harvest elders to reconsider allowing MacDonald to preach there. Thanks for being so honest. The ungodly jockying for power and control is still an issue in all our churches. Nellie, be very, very careful! I praise your decision to own your ministry outside of James. 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. God has said that those who are give much is required. All that leads to ia where we are, I led worship in a church for 5 years. Our enemy loves this. Listen, believe, obey, shut up. who we really love. What had these individuals done? 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. Even people who were very close to us turned silent. Sitting in the pews, I could not see how deep the cancer was at HBC. I pray others in leadership read your post, check their hearts, and follow suit. Harvest Bible Chapel has fired its founder and senior pastor James MacDonald following years of controversial behavior, financial scandal and allegations of bullying and intimidation. Its hard to step out alone but God always protects and brings darkness into the light to be seen. What you are talking about is protecting abusers at the expense of those they have abused and betrayed which, unfortunately, happens far too often. Thank you for sharing! The recognizing date of the exempt status is April, 1972. Dont stand in the middle, dont seek to mediate. I do not think the solution is replacing the pastor and associates with a new administration. It truly is the Lords work. These things happen in small churches too. Also note how the apostle Paul called out Peter publicly when Peter was indulging in hypocrisy! Nice to hear from you again! Those who step out of line are often dismissed. Updated 11/13/2020 7:31 PM. If hearing voices together of those who have truth helps, then now is the time to speak. Or were you saying they were bullied too. , The elders of Harvest stand behind [Pastor MacDonalds] character and integrity without reservation. While only a handful showed up, the range of their pain was wide. I dont take joy in this situation, but I rejoice in the truth. Our Elders and Staff 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, the elders statement read, promising a more detailed plan for the churchs future in coming weeks. Im thankful you and so many others I know have left with dignity and after a bit of healing have jumped back into churches where they are serving the Lord with all their hearts using the gifts God has given them so faithfully. and pro football. Most continue to stay there, as their numbers dwindle. 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