I was also raised in this church, and there are some wonderful people who really love the Lord and do wonderful
works to help all people. There is absolutely no doubt about this fact.
I also came to know the Lord through this body of God, I was six when I first attended and baptised at the age nine.
I will always be thankful for the many good times and many good lessons I received and the effort that was put into
my life and the life of my family.
Please don't confuse the good people of the Lord at this church with the wolves in Sheep's cloting.
The allegations made against the leadership is absolutely true there is evidence and admittions by the leaders
which I have in writting from them. There is still a danger and threat to young people and children in this church.
You just maybe lucky enought to not be attractive to the molester still in charge of the young people and the church.
I know many young people that were not so lucky.
The woman that was taken out of the church orignally wanted to help start a support group for the people that were abused by the adults in the congregation and one women that is still there. We had approval by some of the leaders to start the support group, a group for sexually abused christians. One Leader put his foot down and then the rest of the leaders like someone had used a weed wacker on them and then lied about the approval. In trying to understand why the support group was disallowed we found many more horrible facts then what we ever even thought.Many of our memories were finally explained. If it hadn't have been for the support we young people gave each other things could have been worse. We love our church. We love the Lord Jesus and God. Our attempt at helping other souls with the same issues we faced was turned into a perverted lie to cover the facts of the still in place leaders. Which understanble they feel that if the facts were known they would loose the standing with their flock.
I actually started the ball rolling because I knew that I could not finish my healing until I faced up to what had happened to me. The women taken out in handcuffs was trying to defend her reputation that was being torn to shreds. I knew there were many other like me so I wanted to help other people come back to the church.
Some how the church took this as a campaign of slander against them. They also offered to take over the support group if the very same people that abused us could be in charge of the group which made no sense.
Also they say they do background checks but the statues of limitations does not reveal past behaviors of teachers and leaders in this church. It is easy to do background checks of people who are young and haven't to this point abused anyone. They do background checks on leaders because they get better insurance rates. This was explained to me by one of the leaders to make me feel more comfortable about what was the on going situations. One particular leader of the church has had two of the children abused by a family member and another family memeber abused a seperate person and this person still is a leader of young people,. Why? The professionals now know that sexually abuse is a preference. So why have a church leader who lust after young people in charge of young people. Doesn't it say in the Bible that As a man(women) thinketh so are they. So still to this day they are committing sin in their hearts and minds about the very children we wanted to help and the very young vunerable victims.
The mind set of the leaders haven't changed. They do love God as we do and we love them for this. Their version of what is acceptable doesn't match with current laws and the current understanding of what abuse can cause a person. Abuse can cause a person to act out in away that can be taken as willfull sinning. If a yound women is abused and acts out she is cast out from the congregation as a sinner. While men are simply made to confess there sins and then are forgiven. Letting them Abuse again. Even upto 7 times.
Really if the law hadn't stepped in to say this is unacceptable much of this would still go on uncontrolled.
Yes the law helps now, but the tone of the leaders sets young people up to be abused.
They can say its horrible and wrong and how much they care. Try having deep conversations with them about why it was aceptable and you will be suprised.
If you care about sexually abused people that love the Lord but are having difficulties help us get a bill passed through washinton state that allows victims from the past to prosecute their abusers, then ask your church leaders and listen to their response as to why they don't support this bill we are woking on. You would think they would want to help the flock and help protect the flock instead of the wolves.
Been there done that and still love them hoping for a closure and my family in Christ again. I have other families in
Christ but we all know, " There is no place like Home" "Click Click goes the ruby red slippers"
Sawitall
