GCx Church Leaders Practice Brazen Intrusion into Members Personal Lives

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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[Janet Easson Martin]

I had serious morning sickness, my husband was told [by a GCx leader] that he lacked the fervent and prayerful relationship with God, that's why I was so sick.  J. and P. came to our home, told us that they had cried over our lack of discipline of our 2-1/2 y.o. son. [“]It was God's mandate[“] that I home schooled my son, the list goes on and on. …

-Leftin87

[Janet Easson Martin]

Spent my entire youth involved in the GCM movement with a church in Indiana that was involved heavily in the GCM movement ... attended High School Leadership Training (HSLT) ... between 1998-2003 Looking back on this time now, there were highly inappropriate discussions taking place in the smaller group settings with the youth.

...we were all 12-16 years of age) to meet in the auditorium. We were asked to raise our hands if we weren't virgins. Those that raised their hands were asked to describe their sexual experiences and then shamed for it. Back then I assumed that since all these men were in positions of power and authority that this was part of becoming more spiritual. Now as a parent, I say how dare you talk to my child like this.

-deadprophet,   2018

[Janet Easson Martin]

This scary abuse by “GCx” Church Leaders violates so many of God’s commands —the biggest may be ‘honoring your father and mother’. Very often in GCx when parents got in the way of its agenda to build a massive empire of members; the parents were portrayed both in their counsel and implied teaching as clueless or “the enemy.” GCx claimed their own leaders were now God’s appointed authority instead, with whom their members must seek approval for life decisions.

This caused so much heart-breaking dissension and division between the oft college-aged members and their moms and dads. GCx tried in various ways to isolate these members from their parents. This even included attempting to divide former members who were parents from their children still attending.

Dividing families through such deception is a common practice of cults. Falsely labeling and defaming innocent people is not a practice of true Christianity. Spiritual Wolves quite frequently evilly persuade their members in this cultish tradition through the twisting of Jesus’ words:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—
such a person cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14 26

The word “hate” here means to “esteem less or value less.” Jesus is speaking of loving Him above all others, not loving GCx or its leaders or agenda above everything else. GCx does not equal Jesus as they often erroneously persuade, nor does Jesus share his authority with them. In fact, though GCx quotes scripture, they actually oppose many of God’s commandments in real practice.

I sincerely believe Jesus is opposed to their long history of manipulative and deceitful discipleship practices. God’s anointing is NOT on their very deceptive schemes. Here is an excerpt from this documented case of GCx Leaders attempting to cause division between parents and children so “they can take possession” (through separation) in order to exploit these family members for their purposes, not God’s.



It was a copy of the two page letter they wrote us in response to the letter we sent them when we asked that our names be removed from membership. ... I think it was definitely a violation of pastor/member privacy. They wrote us a private letter of rebuke and they sent that letter to others [including our own children]. ...

Another question that it brings up in my mind is, "Who else got that letter?" It makes me wonder if they sent a copy to many of our friends or the friends of our children.

The obvious motive of the letter was to play their spiritual trump card. We know your parents have left, we think they were "inaccurate", "missed the mark", and "borderline defamed us", we want you to know that the Bible tells you to obey your leaders, therefore, what we think is more important and accurate than what your parents think. ...

I would have to say it was one or all of them who thought it was a good idea to try to put a wedge between us and our kids.

-Linda,   2008

[Janet Easson Martin]

i entered the [GCx] east lansing fellowship in the late 1970s which at the time was called 'msu bible study'...and at that time, i had a girlfriend, strictly forbidden by the powers that be...

over the next few weeks and months, a concerted effort was made to separate us and to re-educate us on God's plan for our lives...needless to say, the relationship ended...

but what i found most objectionable was that within this same period, my former girlfriend was spending inordinate amounts of time with a married 'older brother'...that, of course, was 'ok'...during general meetings, i noticed his hands were on her constantly and that she began to dress like and act like his wife, caring for their children with this guy's wife...

he always seemed to have some task for her that would keep her from socializing with anyone else...there were a few times when i attempted to to say 'hello' to her but he was always near her - close enough to block me from making contact...

one day she simply disappeared and no one would say where she had gone, only that she was wrestling with the devil...i called her mother's home and found her, by now a basket case...nothing was ever said about what happened...

-damaged_goods,   2008

[Janet Easson Martin]

We knew though what kind of lifestyles were to be emulated. We knew the way we should live in order to conform. The pressures we felt were unlike any we had felt in any other evangelical group:

1. We must be committed above all else to the local church– until we die… there is no acceptable reason to leave GCM. Not ever. You should not take a job in another city UNLESS you are part of a church plant. This is just so incredibly unnatural and so different from any other mainstream Christian groups. I have never heard this from any other church denomination.

2. We must be sharing our faith and about the church at all times and in many different methods: Passing out flyers, evangelism, inviting friends, passing out water at outreaches, etc. I began to view people as potential converts instead of simply as people. I began to view everything that I did through the ,”lens of ministry.” In fact, there was a sermon where we were encouraged to take community adult ed. classes– not because this might be interesting or fun– but because we might meet people there to witness to.

This was not a completely new phenomenon to me, however it was the first time where I felt that not only was I trying to convert people to Christ, but I was also trying to convert them to my church, and my church alone.

3. I felt exposed. I felt that too many people were too close to me. It wasn’t a pleasant intimacy, it was a forced intimacy that made me want to run in the other direction. I wasn’t comfortable with the personal level of sharing that sometimes went on in prayer meetings with women, conversations with others, and even sermons, or marriage conferences. There was this strange idea that keeping it real was a good thing. But I think that all of this “accountability” made me feel like I was answering to people not God. There is a place to confess our sins to each other. But I don’t think this should be explicit, nor do I think that anyone should enter into the privacy of a marriage relationship… especially someone who is in authority over you.

This instrusive environment is not an easy place to grow a marriage. When we should have been forming our own family ideals based on conviction, we found ourselves adopting GCM ideals. When we should have said, “No, we are not leaving our children for this conference,” we reluctantly said, “Okay.” I am so happy now to be free to live our lives without this overwhelming sense of intrusiveness from others. Freedom with personal responsibility is good.

-AgathaL’Orange,   2007

[Janet Easson Martin]

This was definitely happening at [GCx Church] Cedarcreek in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, as recently as 2010. I know because from 2002-2010 I was a small group member, small group leader, and college church small group leader overseer (my wife and I oversaw about 10 small group leaders). We were encouraged to pass information up the chain to one of the pastors, RG, and the information was then used by R. and disseminated through the leadership team at the college church.

I look back at my time in small groups and leadership and really regret that I didn't say "I can't share that with you" when my pastor asked for personal information about someone I knew.

-Boggs,   2018