Have You Ever Considered Going Public?

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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[Wingless_Butterfly]

Hi, friends.

Revisiting this sweet forum was a wonderful moment for me. I first started posting in 2018, right when I was exiting the GCC I was a part of. This forum was a breath of fresh air, and so encouraging for me in that I felt solidarity, validation and comfort in the fact that this was not all in my head. I am not alone.

I am so blessed to say that the Lord has been with me, led me through a journey of healing (though of course, not completely) and I have been peacefully congregating in good, theologically sound churches for years.

I am returning to you, friends, to ask a question - have you ever considered going public with your stories?

This is something I am deeply considering now.

The Lord has given me a gift as a writer, so I believe I could write about my experience in an articulate and compelling way. My "why" behind all of it is, plain and simple, that the abuse continues to happen within the church I was once a part of.

I have family that still attends, and it has been so incredibly painful to bear witness to the stories that they tell of their own experiences, and those of people who have left. The abuse continues to be perpetuated. Shame tactics, favoritism, a lack of gospel-centered teaching, control tactics, etc.

So I'm wondered if you've ever considered telling your story in such a way where the people who attend the church you left would see it? What has stopped you? If you have done it, what has your experience been like?

[margaret]

Wow, I had never really considered it, Wingless_Butterfly. Fear was the driving factor in my desire for anonymity on this forum when I joined at least 15 years ago. And today, I'm surprised to realize that it still affects me. I've told my story to colleagues, but never publicly.  Hmm... But what can they do to me now? Nothing!

[Janet Easson Martin]

Putting more light on insidious deeds of darkness helps to break their cycle. Spiritual abuse is most definitely insidious. Keeping dark deeds secret is a big reason why they continue. Exposure is a powerful weapon against abuse.

This Forum has been sweet for me also in processing further what I and so many of us have been psychologically enslaved in. There were so many layers of insidious deception and lies that have been progressively exposed and peeled away for me through studying scripture, and reading and writing here. I too felt affirmed and validated. I am still on my journey of healing from a decade of GCx’s spiritual abuse.

I am grateful to you, Wingless_Butterfly, for sharing such a painful story; and for you, Margaret, for your candidness in your struggle to separate three decades of church abuse from God’s real love relationship with us. I trust many former members can identify with each of your stories.

Praise God, you have been able to fellowship and learn in healthy churches, Wingless_Butterfly; and seek His help for your healing. You won’t be disappointed if he is leading you and opening doors to expose “GCx’s” spiritual abuse. He LOVES his people and seeks to rescue them. It is a privilege and a thrill to be part of that mission. May God’s hand be upon you and his light be on the justice of your cause.

[Huldah]

I've never wanted to go public. Besides, after all these years (I left over 40 years ago) my experience and information are somewhat outdated. The reaction would probably be, "We've changed since then. We've issued the Weaknesses Paper. We've learned and grown so much in forty years that your complaints are no longer relevant." Perhaps they'd even be right to an extent, although many of the more serious problems persist, as you pointed out.

All I can say is that I encourage you to continue seeking God's guidance in this matter. If He's calling you to go public, then going public is the right thing.

My only concern, if I were in your place, would be protecting the privacy of family members and other innocent loved ones who remain in the system. But it sounds like you've already given that a lot of thought, and maybe you already have some strategies in mind to deal with that.

I wish you all the best, whichever way you decide.