Faithwalkers 2010

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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[BTDT]

For me, it comes down to this.  I've seen how many GCI/GCAC leaders have handled the Word in the past, and I'm not convinced that they have changed their Scriptural convictions all that much.  (Please note that I'm talking about those who are currently GCAC leaders -- many leaders who have left have had significant, for-the-better changes in their convictions and views of Scripture.)

The seminar descriptions look pretty much the same as similar ones did many years ago.  Some are more obvious than others.

I feel like I have a lot more to say on the whole GC topic in general, but the words just aren't coming at the moment, and this probably isn't the thread anyway.

-B

[Questions]

From the Faithwalkers site: "Faithwalkers is a special kind of conference. Faithwalkers is a conference sponsored by member churches and ministries in Great Commission Churches that rallies young people, couples, parents, and families to be devoted to Jesus Christ and the Great Commission. "

"Faithwalkers is a special kind of conference.".....Yeah, that's one way of saying it 

"Faithwalkers is a conference sponsored by member churches and ministries in Great Commission Churches that rallies young people (curious choice of wording; I would say indoctrinates instead of rallies),

"rallies young people, couples, parents, and families to be devoted to Jesus Christ,"....in that order (divorced people need not attend)/

"and the Great Commission.".....should read, "and their Great Commission", as in their Great Commission Church!

Beware young people! Don't go on any road trips following either as they will use this to feed off of the emotional high you experience to get you to commit! 

MarthaH,
It sounds like you have a personal experience with this conference. Is it really as bad as all that? Does no good come out of it? Why are people so keen to attend and to get other people to attend?

[MarthaH]

Sorry, I was a bit cynical when I wrote that post. I'll share a bit more. The church I attended had numerical goals each year, which we actually prayed for in a prayer meeting one time. There was pressure to sign up and sign others up as well. I didn't like that.

My experience was that the conference was a time where you would hear a lot of emotionally charged music and hip sermons (laced with hip videos).

The church I was with had "tie-down" times at the end of each night to reinforce the teachings. Not a bad thing, necessarily, but one night some leaders went to the tie down groups and gave them a vision for serving the church (their church, not the universal church) for life. When you couple that with the emotional high so many of the kids were on, it can be a dangerous thing. I think a parent of a child should know that these tactics take place. Also, these people giving these life visions were only in their twenties.

A friend of mine went on a trip with some other students immediately after the conference and was approached with the message of commitment to the church for life over and over again. Coming back from break, there was a noticeable change in leaders towards those who were committed and those who were not.

Another thing which also fed this movement feeling was a testimonial time at the end of the conference. It was basically a pep rally where a bunch of people get up and tell how God changed their life. Again, I'm not saying that God didn't change their life, but it was the emotion that got people to not see things as they are.

A lot of stories from the stage telling about how they (the leaders) toughed it out and stayed committed to the movement. Rick Whitney showed a picture of people who were with the movement in the 70's. He pointed out the ones that stayed and said they were the loyal ones. The ones who left abandoned their brothers in arms. In fact, at one conference they paraded the people up on stage who had been with the movement for at least 25 years and proclaimed them as the real faith walkers.

Finally, I thought that the theology at the conferences was bad. That is actually the main point. It is bad theology that is wrapped in flashy packaging. I think that the movement doesn't have the teachings that will help Christians to grow past a state of immaturity. In order to keep people going, they have these conferences interspersed so that people will continue to have that momentum needed to perform and gain numbers. That is why the majority of teachings you hear will talk about commitment, service, obedience and evangelism.

[Questions]

Thank you for your answer. Could you elaborate a bit more on the bad theology?

Finally, I thought that the theology at the conferences was bad. That is actually the main point. It is bad theology that is wrapped in flashy packaging. I think that the movement doesn't have the teachings that will help Christians to grow past a state of immaturity. In order to keep people going, they have these conferences interspersed so that people will continue to have that momentum needed to perform and gain numbers. That is why the majority of teachings you hear will talk about commitment, service, obedience and evangelism.

[G_Prince]

Sorry, I was a bit cynical when I wrote that post. I'll share a bit more. The church I attended had numerical goals each year, which we actually prayed for in a prayer meeting one time. There was pressure to sign up and sign others up as well. I didn't like that.

My experience was that the conference was a time where you would hear a lot of emotionally charged music and hip sermons (laced with hip videos).

The church I was with had "tie-down" times at the end of each night to reinforce the teachings. Not a bad thing, necessarily, but one night some leaders went to the tie down groups and gave them a vision for serving the church (their church, not the universal church) for life. When you couple that with the emotional high so many of the kids were on, it can be a dangerous thing. I think a parent of a child should know that these tactics take place. Also, these people giving these life visions were only in their twenties.

A friend of mine went on a trip with some other students immediately after the conference and was approached with the message of commitment to the church for life over and over again. Coming back from break, there was a noticeable change in leaders towards those who were committed and those who were not.

Another thing which also fed this movement feeling was a testimonial time at the end of the conference. It was basically a pep rally where a bunch of people get up and tell how God changed their life. Again, I'm not saying that God didn't change their life, but it was the emotion that got people to not see things as they are.

A lot of stories from the stage telling about how they (the leaders) toughed it out and stayed committed to the movement. Rick Whitney showed a picture of people who were with the movement in the 70's. He pointed out the ones that stayed and said they were the loyal ones. The ones who left abandoned their brothers in arms. In fact, at one conference they paraded the people up on stage who had been with the movement for at least 25 years and proclaimed them as the real faith walkers.

Finally, I thought that the theology at the conferences was bad. That is actually the main point. It is bad theology that is wrapped in flashy packaging. I think that the movement doesn't have the teachings that will help Christians to grow past a state of immaturity. In order to keep people going, they have these conferences interspersed so that people will continue to have that momentum needed to perform and gain numbers. That is why the majority of teachings you hear will talk about commitment, service, obedience and evangelism.

If there is ever a summary of Faithwalkers it is this ^^^ Thanks Martha!

[MarthaH]

Hi Questions,
If you would like to send me a pm I could tell you more of my experiences. Go to the search box and type in "faithwalkers" and you will see enough bad theology there to satisfy your curiosity. I'm curious as to what church you are from and if you are planning on attending fw this year or if you have attended before.

A few things I feel are bad theology (in addition to what I've shared):
Every man should aspire to be a pastor. I believe scripture teaches that it is a calling and gifting to be a pastor.
Raising up elders within the family and not valuing seminary education. This I've picked up at seminars and it is more subtle, but I believe it is more or less emphasized in the GC core values.

Like I said, the testimonials on this forum cover a lot of ground.

[blonde]

What has happened now is that Mark and his other co-leaders are now asking the young at the Faithwalkers to consider to be a church planter.  He told his son(s) to have a career, likened to be able to be a church planter.  What is the difference between a church planter, and head pastor I ask?

Can anyone tell me?