GCM, I wish you would read these comments and wake up.

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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[sistanchrist]

GCM, I wish you would read these comments and wake up. Wake up to what is going on with in your church. Wake up to the fact that most, if not all of us on this site we’re and in some regards still are your “Core”(a word I have come to hate due to the pressure and elitism of this term) people. Wake up to the pain, confusion, and struggles that have been caused by practices and beliefs found in your movement of churches. Wake up to the fact that we all have and had an extreme love for you. Wake up to the fact that causing hurt and pain is not a motive of those who are trying to question you, who are trying to correct wrongs. Wake up to the fact that we who are raising these concerns are your brothers and sisters just as those within your churches are your family. We are your family.

I wish GCM would see past their pride and protective barriers they have constructed around themselves to what is happening in their churches. To see that yes, they are leading people to Christ, but not into Him. To see that yes, they are bringing people into community, but not into fellowship. To see that yes, they are offering hope, but only giving false facades of peace. To see that yes, there is much to be proud of and much that is good, but there is so much that is sick.

I wish that GCM could see that we still believe in God, that we still look to serve Him in what we do. I wish that GCM would acknowledge even some of what is being said, and seek to make amends. A simple apology that is followed by reconciliation in action would go along ways towards the healing of many. I wish that this would not be seen as an attack, but only as an effort to help in bringing the fullness and wholeness of God into a member of the body of Christ.

I know that GCM members and leadership are probably reading this blog consistently due to the response that gcmwarning.com has gotten, so I ask that you would read what is posted with these things in mind. If one member of the body is suffering the whole body is suffering, keep this in mind. We are connected through Christ, your actions influence the whole body of Christ (all believers in Christ) not just GCM. My hope is for honest discussion that leads to healing within the body of Christ.

This is my heart, while I am still dealing with bitterness from betrayal, rage at times, and a deep sense of loss and grief all of which affect my conversations, posts on this blog, etc. I want to see the body of Christ come into the wholeness, holiness, and fullness that is found in Christ. If people are experiencing what is posted on this blog, then the body of Christ is not at that point yet and it sickens me that an area in the body of Christ would be so unhealthy as to bring blogs and websites that have the soul purpose of exposing what is happening behind an apparently healthy shell of appearance.

I hope that the others on this blog are in agreement in motive, that bitterness and anger are not the prevailing drive, but that a sense of righting wrongs and correction would be the goal and with that healing from the pain that has been caused on all sides. I know that as each of us has left, there has been pain and loss experienced by our small groups, churches, etc. I also know that in having weaknesses and errors exposed there is pain and fear. No one likes to have their faults pointed out. A proof of maturity is in the response to such actions.

Just some thoughts, that I have been wrestling with after a conversation with a dear friend still in a GCM church and in having my motives questioned for doing what I am doing in my involvement with this blog and with gcmwarning.com

[jehu]

You said it.

[G_Prince]

Unfortunately, I don’t think many GC members, elders, or pastors could read our comments with an open mind. If I may reference the slander topic, the idea of negative feedback=slander is programmed in. Likely anyone coming to this site will be doing “reconnaissance” and any response will be attempted damage control.

Those members who have been able to read with an open mind have had their voices marginalized by their churches. Just ask Nate what I am talking about. Inquiry into historical and current practices is not well appreciated and puts a black mark on your church standing.

Frankly it makes me sad at the amount of injured former members who are immediately labeled slanderers because they had a bad experience and decided to talk about it. We are treated like irrational “headhunters” who are on a mission to destroy God’s work. Not true. I want GC to thrive, but it won’t happen until they change their abusive policies.

[nateswinton]

While there has been some genuine backlash for my involvement in De-Commissioned in my church and nationally, that hasn't been the case across the board.  Two of our pastors in Ames have been very supportive.  One's been very helpful with looking at historical stuff.  

One of our staffers from Ames, Kirsten has been looking at alot of historical stuff in the last several months and we were working (slowly) on a history book project.  She's about to have a baby, though, and I'm bogged down with work, so the research has slowed to a halt for right now.  

So what I'm saying is that while there are *some* that I think really would consider negative talk=bad 100% of the time (which is ironic, yes), it's not true across the board.

[exshep]

Unfortunately, I don’t think many GC members, elders, or pastors could read our comments with an open mind. If I may reference the slander topic, the idea of negative feedback=slander is programmed in. Likely anyone coming to this site will be doing “reconnaissance” and any response will be attempted damage control.

Those members who have been able to read with an open mind have had their voices marginalized by their churches. Just ask Nate what I am talking about. Inquiry into historical and current practices is not well appreciated and puts a black mark on your church standing.

Frankly it makes me sad at the amount of injured former members who are immediately labeled slanderers because they had a bad experience and decided to talk about it. We are treated like irrational “headhunters” who are on a mission to destroy God’s work. Not true. I want GC to thrive, but it won’t happen until they change their abusive policies.

That is the mind control dynamic for you.  In the pentecostal bible school, I was disloyal to the institute, did not have my eyes on Jesus, and I was relegated to Satan for the destruction of my flesh.  I, for years, used to do a slow burn over not having my eyes on  Jesus; the fact I did it was kept me out of the Columbus church and got me out of the school.  

Grace Community Church, Plano went to great lengths to detach from the historical GC milieu.    I would have thought a friend who was in the Columbus church would have been delighted I was in GC. I got a third hand diatribe that Grace was a dangerous church, is not part of the GCAC, and that I should fear for my salvation.  For the record,  I did lovingly ask the person to come forward, promising to listen and very interested in the concerns.  The person declined to answer.  Considering the person left GC c. 2000,  why should it even be an issue is something of a mystery.  It does speak to just how bad the operant conditioning can be on a former member.  I have just stepped back,  "OK, Lord, it will be interesting to see what you are going to do with this situation" --  then my wife and I went bowling.

[Free.to.love.Jesus]

sistanchrist,
You said it so well.
Thank you.

[Janet Easson Martin]

So glad you highlighted this valuable topic for us, Therese.  Sistanchrist poses some thoughtful points to GCx leaders here.

I wish GCM would see past their pride and protective barriers they have constructed around themselves to what is happening in their churches. To see that yes, they are leading people to Christ, but not into Him. To see that yes, they are bringing people into community, but not into fellowship. To see that yes, they are offering hope, but only giving false facades of peace. To see that yes, there is much to be proud of and much that is good, but there is so much that is sick.   -Sistanchrist

I’m so sorry that a GCx leader accused you of “being in sin” because of your debilitating health issues. That takes extreme audacity. I have also witnessed insensitivity to the sick and needy by them.

GCx seems to have a history of exploiting and abusing people to the point of burn out and breakdown, including poor mental, physical, career, financial, and educational health. They seemed to “have no use” for those who could no longer pretend to be their inexhaustible servants (or slaves) once they have been “used up.”

There are so many stories on here of reckless rebuking and unjustified “spiritual” judgements made by GCx leaders. The resulting heavy guilt and condemnation weighing down its members crushed their very  souls. Some have still not recovered.