Thank you for your courage and for responding. I kept seeing little hints of questionable goings-on at Harvest Bible Church, a large megachurch in suburban Chicago, but didnt really pay attention until last week, when the issue blew up in the most bizarre way. Thankful for the freedom you have found and are willing to speak up. Ive been blessed by your teaching and Im wondering if I wouldnt have heard your teaching as much had you stayed longer at Harvest. We never gave up on God because He never gives up on us. I will be praying for you , too, Lina. As questions about how Harvest Bible Fellowship money was used ballooned, the pressure mounted. . Thank you for coming forward! Sheila, we are not called to be good, we are called to be HOLY! Im thankful you and so many others I know have left with dignity and after a bit of healing have jumped back into churches where they are serving the Lord with all their hearts using the gifts God has given them so faithfully. And even then, it often doesnt work because so many remain enthralled with the narcissist, or have tied their fortunes to them, that they simply cant or wont see the truth. Looking back over my life I see how all things have led to today. God has said that those who are give much is required. Like in Ezekiel, many people are trying to sound the trumpet of warning!! 5. May God be glorified through this. Again this is HER TRUTH! , The elders of Harvest stand behind [Pastor MacDonalds] character and integrity without reservation. I am grateful for your courage. I think that this message has relevance to many situations today, including the present political situation. you managed (a wording that says, you knew it was not right, but did so out of self protection) and humility because as Mancow is now saying, James had alligator tears of his hurt to make you feel guilty. People in leadership are there one day, and then poof! Both of us were involved in many forms of leadership and had invested for many years in the outreach of the church and all of its fellowship. 2 Thumbs Way up to you my sister in Christ, for being open about your experience there, which more people than you know have also been through! Again I dont blame James MacDonald. He (the pastor) basically told us we would never work in ministry (volunteer or vocationally) because we didnt understand biblical authority. The Elephant's . God is purifying His Church. So beautiful. So Ill never forget the day I got up from my seat in a service, walked out, and never looked back. Torn between right and wrong. out of fear you complied Something happened to us some years ago and a number of people turned against us because of lies, etc. Our good is like the filthy rags of the leper! I didnt want to be rebellious against authority. Precept Inductive Bible Study for Women. Praying for a healing and refocus of all Gods churches, Mary, Ted Haggard bemoans his "exile" in a new HBO documentary. Everybody and anyone has an opinion about what should happen to and for Harvest whether this means the self-identified victims, or the buildings, or the leftover and future leadership well, everyone is entitled to an opinion about everyone and everything. Its who you are! 15:58 Therefore, my dear (sister) be steadfast,immovable,always excelling in the Lords work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.. [], [] While only a handful showed up, the range of their pain was wide. Not one. Instead, they have chosen to remain on the elder board and continue with the deep-seeded corruption and fraud that has plagued Harvest Bible Chapel for many years. Conversions credited to women evangelists sharing the good news one-on-one in conversations. When we left, after having posted a letter to the elders, not a single person called us to see how we were doing. I thought something was off but had only my own suspicions to go on as we were told not to criticize. Although, it definetly planted a seed for me. The word of God and the flock were only mentioned at the end of the long list. And then unfortunately when we do speak up we get comments like yours saying why nowit seems Christians cant win either way. Still, things seemed off. How dare you question her about why? Why? Why if it wasnt really a real sinful mess would so many in leadership just exit and give up what was a big part of our lives and our kids lives? This isI believewhy the American church has lost its effectiveness. Its messy. My first two books were scheduled to be released smack in the middle of that summer, and I didnt want to impact their potential not to mention that James had agreed to write the forward on my first book. superstar pastors are always ,inevitably, trouble. He went recently, saying the time had come. It is important to bring light to this matter, help yourself and others heal and put a new song of praise and trust in Our God. I pray your steps continue to be guided by our Lord! I dont take joy in this situation, but I rejoice in the truth. The current model for pastor directed churches says that the senior pastor is the priest this is Old Testament. Whats also sad is that old witness accounts go to show how truly far reaching and how long this behavior has been going on. I am staying because with all the faults in the organization, the people of Harvest are my family. This included an abusive and fear-based culture where those who question leadership are punished, she writes. Although he denied stabbing the photo, MacDonald said, I may have put my knife up against it or into it.. In one fellowship people were actually warned to have nothing to do with us, and yet all we had done, in each instance was to ask questions. May God have mercy on his soul. Its been over a year and a lot has changed at Harvest and a lot sill needs to change. Streaming Video Broadcast. It seems that was true at Harvest, just as it is at many local churches. I have always wondered why? God is sovereign, He is the Healer, He is the Restorer, He is the Renewer, and He will continue to do what He is doing in order to bring about His will for His people. Sheri coordinates data collection and assists with day-to-day office administration for the church staff. Im not on FB, so I didnt see your post where you extended an invitation to us to meet with you again. I am delighted to hear that. Criticism of MacDonald begun to surface on The Elephants Debt, a blog founded in 2012, run by Ryan Mahoney and Scott Bryant, former members era of Harvest Bible Church. Thats when eight former elders sent a letter to the sitting elder board, warning them that MacDonald was disqualified for office, she said in a response posted Wednesday. Lina is right on. And come together in prayer, fasting and humility before Jesus that He enables us to be the people He died for. Then, on February 8th, Roys revealed material obtained under subpoena that backed up critics claims that Harvest Bible Chapel inappropriately took money from HBF. When someone lies with such ease , that is pathological, and they must be removed from their positions!! I continue to pray for the people this has affected, the elders and pastors, and that the darkness will be continually exposed to the light. Read the Old Testament. I have seen this in many independent churches.THIs was done to me at a similar setting.The pastor One of things his way or the highway and there was no disagreement because he said it was leading to anarchy. It wasnt that we saw corruption in our church. No one knows why. Everything is being talked about at great lengths regarding Harvest except for Who the body of Christ should be praying to, talking about and quoting. Otherwise, the church must answer the same question, for that is one of the majors that Jesus gave us. Thankful we got left when we did. Too many of these large churches have lost track of what their true purpose is. Lina isnt hanging Harvest Bible Chapel. When the Church becomes the organization instead of the people, then it ceases to be the Church. Show how we come together as one in the body of Christ! [], Lost me at the private jet shared with Bill Hibel. Only time will tell whether Harvest can outlive its founding pastorand the scandal that has enveloped both him and his elder board. You did the right thing and I believe more will step up not to dishonor James, but noticing how much the church has changed. A year or so before leaving Harvest I had written a blog post about holiness in which I had referenced the growing fad of tattoos in our culture. I think God has not lifted the veil on a lot of eyes for some reason. She is not trying to kick him while he is down. Doesnt matter how long ago it happened either. You are completely right on! But if they submit to the Healer, they will come out stronger. By the time I left, I had discovered something dark about myself: I was a woman ruled by fear. Thats what happens when I get older chronologically! Wake up this tragedy has been in the works a long time. Ill let the others fight that fight today. There is NEVER a healthy or spiritual reason for suppressing truth. Our Elders and Staff are committed to fulfilling our fiduciary duty as the leadership of this congregation, knowing that at times the outcome may be misunderstood or emotionally painful, the elders statement read, promising a more detailed plan for the churchs future in coming weeks. And I wont stand in the way of Christs work. I do believe you. BTW, Ive loved your blogs in the morning, but cant read the Twitter ones because I am not on Twitter. DIRECTIONS & INFO | . Yet, with the growing numbers leaders, it is coming out, many followed along with James out of fear to personal, family, career damage. Bless you! In good conscience we walked away too knowing it was the right thing before God.So now I get your story, you were a favorite of Kathy and James so I am sure to take a stand against the injustice at Harvest was not at all an easy decision.So many other godly people got pushed out for speaking up about the entitlement and harshness of James and other Pastors and Elders.So very sad somewhere along the way they just forgot they are supposed to be shepherds and servant and not the guards defending the many sin issues at Harvest. The decision comes after an explosive scandalous period at Harvest, including a botched excommunication,an ill-fated attempt at a defamation lawsuit, a scathing investigative report from World Magazine and then this most recent, shocking revelation. The church is to be a living organism for the cause of Christ and no other. The elders were given a paper that laid out their duties, that mostly consisted of protecting, encouraging, and blessing the senior pastor. The web page has a Contact button on the bottom and we can email. But as every Christian knows, we walk and we live by grace. Lina Abujamra who once was the Womens Ministry Director at Rolling Meadows explained how she ran afoul of the elders and why she left in the course of time. | Photo: Harvest Bible Chapel Facebook The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability has suspended Chicago-area megachurch Harvest Bible Church following the firing of its longtime pastor James MacDonald and amid ongoing revelations that the ministry had misappropriated funds. I will not address any party affiliation. Read the commandment in 1 Timothy 5:19-20 on the correction of Elders who sin, so that other Elders will be afraid to continue sinning against the flock. Stephanie Martin, a freelance writer and editor in Denver, has spent her entire 30-year journalism career in Christian publishing. If Harvest and James can answer that, without focusing merely upon what they do, it would be helpful. You are loved. I pray that no stench of fear be found in any space occupied by Christs love. Dont stop trusting or loving. Most of my friends as well. Dont you think this influences decisions made by the leaders, both now and before? There are dozens if not hundreds of witnesses against many Elders at Harvest all saying the same thing. So I called one of the elders in the video and got his side of the story. I have been attending Harvest and listening and learning from Pastor James sermons for almost 10 years; I have witnessed the sweet joy of my husband coming to Christ because of God using Pastor James mightily; and I have been blessed beyond measure by the positive impact Harvest, its ministries, and especially its PEOPLE have had upon my relationship with God, my Harvest friends and family, my life, and my marriage. Do you read the elder updates? OnFebruary 13, the elders announcedJames MacDonald had been fired. I struggle with the fear of man myself. Pastor James MacDonald of the Chicago-based seven-multicampus Harvest Bible Church, issued an apology statement on Sunday saying that the board of the megachurch unanimously agreed to lift a discipline ban from three excommunicated elders. Welcome to Ohio. Is this an informed opinion? Unhappy to see you did not make the approved list. Even before the Garden of Eden seduction, he foresaw the need for The Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Your leaving (however late you feel it was) was His provision for others, much like Joseph sent ahead to Egypt years ahead of his brothers and father. - October 16, 2020 The protracted dispute between Pastor James MacDonald and Harvest Bible Chapel (HBC) recently concluded through arbitration. Your daily news briefing from the editors of CT. Can Bubble Tea Bring Gen Z into the Chinese Church. 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