Hello from Dubuque Iowa

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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[Massman]

Hello brothers, sisters, seekers, and whoever else may be out there.

Greetings from Dubuque Iowa.  I am a current GCAC member or whatever our latest acronym may be.

But more than anything I am a needy believer like many of you people.

I have been associated with the Great Commission Association of churches for 22 years now.

I look forward to chatting with you people.

While our road is few and difficult.  Some day soon, all true believers will be hand-in-hand in paradise, glory.  Now we know in part, but then we will fully know.  

If I could in any way be an instrument of peace and encouragement here , praise the Lord.

[In Paradise]

Hi Brian,

I grew up on that side of Iowa about an hour and half from Dubuque.  I wonder if you might know some of the people in the Iowa City or Cedar Rapids churches that I know.

Every once in a while I get a bit homesick for Iowa so it's nice to see someone writing in from there.

Have a good Easter.

[Massman]

Hi In Paradise, how are you.  Hawaii, wow!

The scoop is that a few years back Ames sent a church over to Iowa City.
Years earlier the Cedar Rapids had pulled out as they had trouble penetrating the community.  Tough place as you know.

I know several brothers in CR.  I am currently working with Pete Grose on our Spring Teen conference.  And know Pat Sokol and Joe Abdo who moved from Ames to start the work.  My oldest daughter was considering going to Iowa City to work with them, but we had a fortunate situation of a bunch of girls getting saved and coming to our youth group!

God bless you!!!  I am glad you posted.

[calgal]

Brian:

I am having a hard time understanding why you are posting on this site.  Are you fishing for new members to reconvert?  Do you realize the hurt and pain both the Dubuque and Iowa City churchase have caused belivers? I have family members who have been "ex-communicated" from your Dubuque church for having an "unsanctioned" bible study by your pastor and I have family members who were invovled in the Iowa City church for ten years and when they left, having been healing since.   Perhaps since you are in the middle of the control of your leadership, you can't see the influence they have over you, but they do subtly, if not overtly run your life.  This is something Jesus, frankly, would like to do.

Just leave us alone please.

My two cents.

Calgal

[theresearchpersona]

While our road is few and difficult.  Some day soon, all true believers will be hand-in-hand in paradise, glory.  Now we know in part, but then we will fully know.

One of the common ways I heard pastors and their under-leadership dodge and divert from issues was to disclaim the importance of such and such event or abuse or this or that; or profess some kind of ignorance, then proceed to disclaim the importance of the event or attribute to those hurt, or the criticizers, or "those who should have just come talk to us and they would have understood", or whatever label they'd use to poision the pot (and who'd probably done what they said they didn't, but the under-leadership didn't all always know this--usually some did), some kind of ignorance due to failing something they ought have done. Finally, either to be sure, or when confronted by any facts of some matter, the profession of ignorance would appear again, and they would allude to now knowing in shadows and in part, then fully, or worse, that it doesn't matter now because in heaven God will clear it all up--sometimes they'd be so evil as to add "then we'll probably have a good laugh", as if men acting evil, and individual and corporate disobedience of Christians is something to shirk-off, a laughing matter.

His post was a long time ago but, one could ask "Massman: you're evil for your diversion, and you abuse a theme of scripture to do it, have you know fear of God? That terror which the word says is good? That trembling at the word the Lord desires of His servants? Or are you just here to perpetuate the evil?"

[AgathaL'Orange]

I don't think Brian is evil.  He's sadly deluded maybe, but evil.... NO! Remember that existing members (even pastors) can be as deceived as we were.  Love is a good thing to show to them, not namecalling, TRP.

But TRP, you are also correct in pinpointing the use of "Thought stoping cliches".  See the thread on Lifton.  I think scripture could be used in that way. 

[kellie]

I can't judge anyone's heart, and I believe we are called to forgiveness no matter what the hurt or offense.

I found Brian's post to be a little painful. It seems that he just sailed on into the conversation and made some glib statements.

Brian, please be a little more sensitive when you post. Some of us have been deeply hurt by the organization and are working through things.

God bless you,

Kellie

[AgathaL'Orange]

Agreed.  I'm sorry if I came off as judgmental to TRP!  I just got to thinking lately that current members aren't really the enemy but victims themselves.  There almost isn't anything Brian could say at this point that would change my mind about GC.  The leadership has refused to address this site here at the site in the public eye.  I think they should start a dialog, but they prefer to have conversation on their terms.  

Brian, I think you seem like a sincere and kind person, and I do wish you the best.

[Rebekah]

I'm also trying to differentiate the "cult" from the members themselves, kind of like "hate the sin, love the sinner." I'm trying to attribute actions by current members that don't make sense or aren't very loving or generous as "just the cult talking." They've been brainwashed and victimized, too.

The hard part with this new philosophy is that I do believe they can still make choices to leave and that their "eyes can be opened" to the hurtfulness of their words and actions. So, I do still believe that some part of the "real" them is still choosing to follow GC, which makes this all v. confusing. 

[JesusFacePalm]

Iowa city is only tough for those trying to penetrate it.

It's absolutely fabulous here