Before I get to the subject of this article, I wanted to give a brief update on my court case: I've had a few people asking me on the blog and privately if my former pastor has paid the attorney's fees. He and/or the church did pay the attorney fees for the two defendants who… Continue reading Are Bloggers & the Internet Having a Direct Effect on Churches and Their Policies?
Category: ABUSERS & THEIR TACTICS
Chuck O’Neal of Beaverton Grace Bible Church Issues Press Release
Sheep-Dog, a regular reader here, wanted to see the original press release from our former pastor. The link to the original "press release" is no longer working at The Wartburg Watch and the document was apparently removed from the BGBC website. A reader sent O'Neal an e-mail and this press release was included in O'Neal's… Continue reading Chuck O’Neal of Beaverton Grace Bible Church Issues Press Release
The Pressure to Serve in a Controlling Church
* * * A common trait of a controlling church is that you may be kept so busy, there is little time for anything outside of church. I'm going to use SQ's comment below to springboard two posts. This first post will discuss the pressure to serve. The second will… Continue reading The Pressure to Serve in a Controlling Church
Response to Apology – Trolls and Spiritual Abuse
Last week, Fred Butler issued a public apology to the Smith Family on his own blog per my husband's request. Comments on the post were closed, so I have copied Steve's words here (and sent Fred an e-mail):Fred, Concerning what you wrote about Hannah - your apology is accepted and I forgive you. Thank you for… Continue reading Response to Apology – Trolls and Spiritual Abuse
The World is Watching Us
*** One of the key signs of a healthy person and a healthy church is looking at the fruit they exhibit. What kind of love do they show? How do they model Christ to the world? The world is watching and judging. I read some words yesterday that were shocking to me on many levels.… Continue reading The World is Watching Us
Hannah’s Personal Story in Her Own Words
Readers: I've had this post in my "draft posts" for quite some time, but the time to post it is now and I will explain more about that very soon. You'll see why it is important to hear from her own words. I shared my perspective of Hannah's story in the most popular blog post,… Continue reading Hannah’s Personal Story in Her Own Words
Independent Churches = Recipe for Spiritual Abuse?
** We were taught submission at our former church: children to parents, wives to husbands, husbands to Christ, congregants to pastor/elders, civilians to governmental authorities. Most churches have a check and balance system in place to ensure that there are no abuses going on in church. Here is part the doctrinal statement from our former… Continue reading Independent Churches = Recipe for Spiritual Abuse?
Outside Family Members: Why Are They Shunned?
After this busy weekend with the court case (no ruling yet), spending wonderful time with my friends and a little birthday celebration, I woke up in a funk. Two e-mails were pressing on my mind and then I realized, no, there were actually three e-mails that arrived over the weekend that described the destruction… Continue reading Outside Family Members: Why Are They Shunned?
False Teachers Who Mark and Avoid Church Members
I received an e-mail from a missionary today who was involved in a church whose pastor used similar tactics with church members as my former pastor. He sent me a link to look at and I realized I could easily replace his pastor's name with my former pastor's name; he said the same thing… Continue reading False Teachers Who Mark and Avoid Church Members
No Gossip Allowed in My Church!
*** Great Is Thy Faithfulness Summer and winter, and spring-time and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand… Continue reading No Gossip Allowed in My Church!
Creepy Pastors and Churches Using Creepy Stalking Control Tactics
* * * There have been a few stories of spiritual abuse in the news lately. A kind reader sent me this article from The Christian Post: Spiritual Abuse: Shepherds – or Fleecers – of God's Flock? This article starts by discussing the abuse of gaining members' funds through… Continue reading Creepy Pastors and Churches Using Creepy Stalking Control Tactics
How Far Will We Go to Contend for the Faith?
* * * Ladies and Gentlemen, I have been waiting for this response from Mr. Butler for a while. He has now addressed the issue and I would like to open it up for discussion. I was concerned that we wouldn't hear from Fred again and that the questions might remain… Continue reading How Far Will We Go to Contend for the Faith?
Glad You Asked!
Muckraker asked great questions yesterday and I'll address them on this post. MuckrakerJune 16, 2012 5:51 AM Julie Anne: What does it mean "reviews are slowly being removed"? Who removes them?? Google? The church requests it? Or demands it with some kind of legal pressure?I thought the whole point of online reviews is that "customers"… Continue reading Glad You Asked!
And the Winner Is?
One of my "informants" passed along this information. Even while reviews are slowly being removed, it appears that BGBC just might be the most "Google-reviewed" church in the States, currently at 933 reviews. If someone finds out otherwise, please let me know.And next behind is Westboro Baptist with 713 reviews:Edited to add: I keep… Continue reading And the Winner Is?
Godly Pastor? What Does That Mean?
* * * I looked up "godly" on public domain images and this image showed up in my search - lol! * * * I copied this May 31 comment into my file of "draft" posts. For some reason, it was overlooked in the comments section on… Continue reading Godly Pastor? What Does That Mean?
The Fingerprints of a False Teacher
During the week the media found out about my lawsuit, I got an e-mail from Ken Garrett who is a pastor of a church in Portland, OR (about 20 minutes away from my former church). Ken pastors a church named, Portland Grace Bible Church. My former church also is Grace Bible Church, but with a… Continue reading The Fingerprints of a False Teacher
Survival Strategies for Hyper-Authoritarian and Repetitive Sermons
* * * I'm a little bit surprised if you are still reading my blog. The last three posts were rigged to make a point and I took you on a ride without your permission so you could understand first-hand what it felt like. I tricked you and purposefully kept the… Continue reading Survival Strategies for Hyper-Authoritarian and Repetitive Sermons
All Smoothies are Good, Sermons Suck
** Admin note: This is part of a series of posts that are a bit, well, unconventional. To fully grasp the message and emotions of the series, please be sure to read from the beginning: It's the Same Message No Matter How you Mix it!. *** We like a lot of smoothies in our home. … Continue reading All Smoothies are Good, Sermons Suck
Round and Round We Go: More Court News!!!
We have a new update: The other original mother on the case has now been voluntarily dismissed from the case yesterday. WOOHOO!!!!! I am so thrilled for this family!!! Admin note: My daughter and I have discussed this and because this case is so public, we have just gone along with that and have… Continue reading Round and Round We Go: More Court News!!!
Additional Former Church Member Has Been Sued!
* * * I'll get to the subject of the former church member sued in just a moment, but want to make sure this point is told: I believe that suing former church members is just an extension of the spiritual abuse. How can that be? Let me explain.This is old… Continue reading Additional Former Church Member Has Been Sued!
Spiritual Sounding Board 