GCS at Richmond KY, 1987-89

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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[Rev. Russ Westbrook]

Greetings all!  I and my wife Carmen were involved with a GC church in Richmond KY during the years mentioned above, and we were just wondering if any of our friends from that time and place "live" here now?  Time has moved on; God has been quite gracious to us.  We're currently Reformed church planters in Mt. Vernon KY, not far from where all that combat and evil took place all those years ago- in fact, I have a family which comes to New Hope Reformed from Richmond.  

[Rev. Russ Westbrook]

So...... I take it this isn't too active of a group........... 

[Linda]

I'm not familiar with the GC church in Richmond. Anyone?

[Rev. Russ Westbrook]

Its been (thankfully) dead for a long time- 20 years.  It was connected to Eastern Kentucky University.  I got my first taste of how good and nurishing to Christian faith the church could be while a part of it; I also learned what a wreckage of human lives a church can enact when steered by ungifted and fleshly men at the helm.  I was an active player in its destruction- an act of ministry I am still proud to have accomplished.  Many of the other princible actors in that drama have changed over the last two decades though; they simply are different people now.  Even one of the central villains has now left the GCC.  Becuase of that, I feel a little sheepish to share all the dark details; mostly, I'm just glad its over.  My calling to become a pastor in the Reformed tradition has enabled me to put into practice SOME of the elements I remember from GCS:  the warmth and closeness was a real testimony to what "The Communion of Saints" could be.  But it must never be built on coercion, manipulation and lies.  BTW, politically I've become a Libertairian....... 

[EverAStudent]

Welcome to the forum!

Is it active?  Well, yes and no.  Once-in-a-while an active subject comes up for dialogue or debate, but I think the site largely functions as a resource center:  people come in, ask a question, do some research, and leave.  The site functions as advertised:  a warning to watch for aberrant practices and doctrines. 

Sorry, I was not involved in the Kentucky area and right off hand your name does not ring a memory bell.  But welcome nonetheless.

[Linda]

Nice to hear from you, Russ. Was your GC branch started from Ames? Columbus? I would be interested to hear your story and a bit of the history. You don't have to mention names. And, I do agree, not all about GC is/was bad. Glad you were able to hang on to the good and let go of the bad. Blessings to you.

[Janet Easson Martin]

Rev. Russ,

Grateful for your honesty.  Your witness helps others make informed choices based on truth, and not GCx rhetoric.  I agree with your comment about many of the leaders being like "actors in a drama".  I also agree that it is not necessary to share names in most cases.  Is this departure of a central leader a recent event?

Since you were an active player in bringing that "fleshly led" church to an end, what would you suggest to others who feel the urgency and necessity to do the same in their coercive, manipulative and subtly deceptive GCx church?

Thanks sooo much for posting.

Seeking to Follow My Calling with You,
Janet Easson Martin 

 

[Rev. Russ Westbrook]

What happened?  In our case, there was an actual case of kidnaping.  One of the "sisters" who was a natural leader was envied by the woman who was "supposed" to be the women's leader, and to make a long story short, the "upstart" ended up locked in a house being brainwashed for days on end.  I helped her parents kick in the doors and get her out of there. My future wife was this girl's best friend; it was the first time we got to "work" together, and 24 years later, it seems the partnership "was the beggining of a beautiful friendship"  .......  There was also abuse of church office to take another's girlfriend, becaue "he wasn't mature enough to have one"; the abused brother in this matter "stayed with the group", but he was so devestated he soon dropped out of school .  And then there was just the usual forbidding of romantic relationships to all but those who toed the doctrinal line (I didn't, and the sister I was wooing- not my aforementioned future wife- was told to give me the boot).  In other words, it was just buisness as usual for GCS.  

Would I suggest an active resistence to those kinds of things?  Absoluely.  It was all done "in Jesus Name", and you know how He feels about His Name being taken in vain.  Abuse and manipulation tarnish the Gospel- and Christians should be zealous about defending the honor of the Gospel.  I still believe wholehartedly in the ACTUAL "Great Commission", after all.  

To answer a few questions:  I'm pretty sure Columbus was our "mother", but I can't sware to it.  As for the leader's departure...... I've spoken with him a bit lately, but not enough to know.  While he seems to have moved on, the bile still rises in my throat when I think of him, so I haven't exactly pursued any sort of rapport.