Concerned Relative .....

Welcome to De-Commissioned, a place for former members of the Great Commission movement (aka GCM, GCC, GCAC, GCI, the Blitz) to discuss problems they've experienced in the association's practices and theology.

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[Spritey]

Hi All -

I have a relative who has "been saved" by a New Life / GCM church in Ann Arbor, MI (Univ of Michigan).  I've read many things saying "this is a bad place".  I've always thought his involvement in a religious purpose was a good thing, now I am re-thinking that.   I don't know specifics of this group, but have been asked to contribute to "save others"  (big red flag).  I am torn on this being a vehicle to seperate parents & relatives money from naive students (best case) vs. a full blown "cult" (whatever that really is?).  How concerned should I be?  What should I look for?   

Fact is, I don't believe in financially supporting his "higher calling".  I work hard for money and donate to many worthwhile charities of my choosing.  If he wants to save the world, then that is his calling and I shouldn't support his dream (financially speaking) because it doesn't promote self-sufficiency.

His parents are happy with the choices that he is making, I just view it as a way to live off of others. 

I plan on showing him this website from former members of GCM, but I'd like to know any specifics of U of M site if there are any.  This whole thing has my alarms going off but I just don't have any facts other that it smells of a rotten apple (again, best / worse case as I mentioned above).

Thanks in advance.  Hopefully I am just paranoid, btu if a site like this exists - it more confirms my fears.


Spritey

[EverAStudent]

Dear Spritey,

Welcome to the forum. 

Do not give your money to any charity you do not know and which you do not already appreciate.  Period. 

Great Commission is not a "cult" in the Hollywood sense where people do things against their will or give up their life savings to synical con-men who run the operation behind the scenes.  Nothing like that at all.

It is a legitimate church denomination whose leadership too closely interferes in the personal lives of the congregations, puts too demanding of schedules onto them, and often misinterprets the Bible due to lack of sound training.  They are pridefully zealous for God but misunderstand how to be properly and humbly zealous.

If you are not yet a born again Christian, I would invite you to read this online article to better understand what that means ( http://thefaithfulword.org/salvation.html ).  In general Great Commission churches teach the truth about salvation, but also in general, they tend to be too intrusive and controlling of their congregation members.

[ISU Alumna]

Hi Spritey,

Please don't give any money to your relative's church. In my opinion, this movement IS a cult. The leaders are deceptive towards their own followers. So why should anyone who is not even a follower support them?

To be fair, I would not say that these people's primary goal is to separate anybody from their money. Their rottenness festers more in the area of wanting to CONTROL how people think, work, play, sing, read, pray, vote, procreate, study, and talk. Don't support them. The sooner your relative outgrows his church, the better.

All the best, from
someone who knows how rotten it feels to get talked into doing something you know is wrong.

[BTDT]

Spritey -- I don't visit this site as often as I used to, so I'm sorry I'm replying about a month late.

I know first-hand about the problems that GC as a movement had, and that some of its churches apparently still have.  However -- I attended New Life in Ann Arbor for a few years, and I did not see any of the abusive or "cultish" practices that I saw in GC years earlier.  I did see the GC style of choosing leadership, and they did promote a GC conference that I have concerns about ("Faithwalkers"), so it's wise to be cautious. 

I would still recommend them to anyone who asks, but I would also encourage open and honest dialogue with the pastors there about any concerns. 

I am concerned, though, that you may be linking specific GC issues and the more general case of Christian evangelism.  Many, if not most, Christian organizations want to "save the world", as you put it.  Perhaps you would have the same concerns about supporting any such Christian organization.  It would probably help your dialogue with your relative if you were clear about what your concerns actually are.