Greetings from the old sheep wandering for the past 6 years

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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[EverAStudent]

This forum was so helpful and I do thank you all for your encouragement over the years.

Glad to see it is still contending for truth.

Will try to catch up again in 6 more years 😆

This old goat needs to get back to grazing.

[Huldah]

Hello, EAS. I hope all is well with you and yours. I wonder sometimes what ever became of some of the active oldtimers. It's good to hear from you.

This forum is still here, but mostly as an archive. There have been so many name changes and spin-offs of the old GCx that this site is effectively "hidden" from anyone searching for one of the new names. Also, the younger GCx refugees may find the BBS format of this site outdated, although I personally find it more logical and easier to navigate than some of the newer social media formats.

Like you, I've benefited greatly from this site and the people on it.

I hope the next six years will be kind to you and yours.

[EverAStudent]

Hello huldah.

Honestly my wife and I have found the years since gci rough ... very rough ... especially the past decade. So many traditional churches have gone apostate (with  pipers hedonism or ammilennialism) or have gone dictatorial we have almost given up trying to find one at all.

We are in a small new startup that split away from a large church because the senior pastor went tyrannical. Still hoping against hope I guess. Lol  God protected our faith so far though it did hang by a thread. He still forgives.

I hope you are in a loving and mature church. And the same wish for puff as well. Sometimes I wonder if dr sl ever got the help he seemed to really need.

Well keep the forum on life support ... and stay well. See you in 6 years.

Blessings..
Eas

[EverAStudent]

Oh ... by the way... a very good book on identifying abusive  pastoring is: Bully Pulpit - confronting the problem of spiritual abuse in the church ... by micahel Kruger.

Though I wish he had discussed how people are made to feel guilty by pastors who teach their flocks that leaving a church is to miss out on God's best, the book is still an excellent guide to shining a spotlight on controlling and elitist pastors.

Bully Pulpit is worth the read.

[askedtoleave]

I recently read "Bully Pulpit" and it nailed my experience at the GCC church I recently left. I mean seriously, the author could have been videotaping the last 6 years of my life. Ironically, it was given to me by someone at a different GCC church who knows my situation.  I would say that church is healthy and thriving.  (Of course, GCC is disbanded so I use the term loosely.)  I lost many friends and family members who are still at my former church.  I wish I could help them but at this point, it's down to just prayer.  I would appreciate prayers from anyone here.  God is still good.

[Huldah]

Hello, Askedtoleave, and welcome to the forum. I'm sorry you ended up losing so many of the people you loved. You're not alone; many of the people who leave end up struggling with loneliness and loss for a time. In the normal church world, people can decide to change churches without drama and rejection. But when leaving means you lose the people you love most, that's a red flag that something is very wrong in your former church. I pray that God will restore your lost relationships to you.

[askedtoleave]

Thanks, prayers appreciated.

[Janet Easson Martin]

Welcome AskedToLeave!  I’m sorry you were also a victim of oppressive domination in your “GCx Church.” It is so encouraging when someone else tells how they have been in your place before, and offer freedom with their journey out. There is such hope in a shared experience from the other side. So cool how God has comforted you through that book.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles,
so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3–4

Will pray for your friends and Family still in there.