| Author | Message | ||
     bulldogs40 New member Username: bulldogs40 Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2007 Posted From: 70.121.192.69 |
As this is my first post since my resignation from the Org...Please bare with me as I vent, it may be lengthy.. We, my wife and I, were saved in the early 90's and were attending a local NTCC church. The pastor, a good man, was loving and caring, whom we continue to respect to this day. As I knew God's call on my life to preach, we were attending Bible School within the year. Because we were young in our Christianity and zealous, we accepted and implimented the rules and regs without question. After Bible School, we ventured off to our first work, a place I believe GOD layed on my heart. Within DAYS, God provided a church building to rent within 2 block of our new homestead. After 1 1/2 years, due to circumstances beyond our control (and NTCC's for that matter), we were relocated to another pioneer work. The first work was left in good hands and has been a blessing...undisputed! It was not days, but in a short amount of time, we were in another building in this new place with growing numbers. NEVER once in all our time did we ask or need money for the org for the church, the work, of for ourselves. As with others, we struggled financially...but GOD was with us. And then there was conference....We would leave Missouri with our heads down and our hearts heavy as if we were "failures". It was never good enough. What was SUCCESS? I now have learned that most NTCC works don't even have a building, rented or otherwise! And yet, loyalty was something I was willing to fight for...even telling Rev. L. Jones that I was ready to "fight in the streets" for the org and it's leaders. So what changed??? | ||
| bulldogs40 New member Username: bulldogs40 Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2007 Posted From: 70.121.192.69 |
Well, as the years went by and the work was not growing as I thought it should, I contacted Rev. Olson to request a replacement for the sake and protection of the work here. It was not my intention at that time to resign from the org. I was asked if I was willing to return to Graham and my response was sure... but it was not going to happen in the next six months, as we were just starting to dig our way out of debt (thanks to my wife's new job that GOD provided) and the house we had recently purchased. [Yes, my wife had taken a job with the school district as our child was soon to be in middle school and this provided not only financial assistance to the household, but an avenue for her to be more familiar with this new environment he was soon to be joining. It is a perfect situation..she's off when he's off and in no way had an affect on the church....and yet, it was severely frowned upon when discovered.. My retorical question: what's the difference between my wife's work and the Sisters in Graham cleaning houses for money or babysitting?? I say the difference is the Health Insurance Benefits! When this was more directly addressed with the leaders, NO answer was ever given.] I was clear that it would be some time before we would be able to leave. Picture this, our church was fairly empty at this time as some had moved to Graham to attend Bible Seminary, others were planning their departure to Graham at a future date. Another member had passed on, leaving few faithfuls in the church at this time. In my mind, it was a perfect time for a new pastor to take over. I asked to continue to attend there and work with the new pastor and assist him until we were able to move. I was told infatically NO that it would be too disruptive and would just "NOT WORK." Stating the fact that I would not be able to let go of the reins and allow another man to take over, but I knew better. | ||
| rls Member Username: rls Post Number: 62 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 65.28.108.137 |
I left in the mid eighties. The theme of each conference for the short time that I was with them seemed to be, (regardless of published theme or whatever), to the one's coming back from works was you aren't doing enough. That hasn't changed to my knowledge and from what I have heard from others recently who stayed longer than I did. From what I'm hearing you all have said, "Enough!" and left. You now have a new life unencumbered by needless rules and expectations. Love God, love your neighbor as yourself, all of what Jesus taught and nothing extra. God knows your frame better than you do, and knows what you can stand. What is in His Word for us is good. (Message edited by rls on December 26, 2007) | ||
| bulldogs40 New member Username: bulldogs40 Post Number: 3 Registered: 12-2007 Posted From: 70.121.192.69 |
Then things began to change. When they figured out that I was not going to just up an leave, as I had already done that twice and suffered financially for it. The tables turned. It was said by Rev. Davis in a meeting with the board, then to us by Rev. Kekel "if he wanted to be a family man, he should have told me." Never once in all the years did I say or imply that. I had already moved TWICE at his direction and was willing to again, but in time. It was also said to me directly from Rev. Davis that he thought I should have returned to Graham years ago when he had been in town last. After the two pioneer works, it wasn't good enough. I titled this thread Loyalty...my story because it was loyalty that kept me in the org and the work here. And yet, loyalty was not returned. I even asked Rev. L. Jones if I could be a Christian if I did not return to Graham as directed(asap), his response was NO. And yet, when the new pastor came to town and visited, he commented that our financial difficulty as a result of our move here was our fault because we should have told Rev. Davis that we could not afford the move, and we should have stayed where we were, completely contridicting Rev. L. Jones comment regarding obeying the man of God's direction. So the question to me was, should I move again as directed and create another financial tailspin and more debt... or should I tell him I am unable to move right away that it would take some time. I choose the latter.... and as a result, became an outcast... | ||
| bulldogs40 New member Username: bulldogs40 Post Number: 4 Registered: 12-2007 Posted From: 70.121.192.69 |
Loyalty evaporated....it was gone. The brothers, whom I thought were my Christian brothers, friends immediately stopped answering or returning calls. The leaders initally spoke only of "when was I going to move to Graham". That was all that mattered, and my answer was not good enough and the calls stopped. Where is the love, the concern, the loyalty? Sis. Davis and Sis. Kekel showed more concern and love than any one else in the upper ranks. Sis Davis even called recently to wish us a Merry Christmas and that she loved us, bless her. So my resignation was complete because of loyalty or the lack thereof. And it was also because of the policies of holiness standards that is preached by not backed bibically. As you can read throughout this site. In the last Trumpet, it was stated, a Christian can judge others by their attire and appearance... what? how can anyone judge others by the way they look, just because they wear a dress, does that make them saved? Is it not the heart? Months have passed since I resigned, I have come to some new understandings of what I was involved in and came out from. I am more happy now than I have been in years. I want to serve God because I want to, not because of rules. And that's my story (Well, a part of it anyway! There's much more that could be told, another day, another time). rlobo83@aol.com | ||
| victorjohanson Senior Member Username: victorjohanson Post Number: 1457 Registered: 9-2005 Posted From: 66.223.233.130 |
Welcome and congratulations! Hopefully many others will follow your path out of this abusive and vicious organization. I know it was a shock to discover the real nature of these rapacious 'leaders,' but truth is always a blessing. I predict you will henceforth be better off in every way. | ||
| just2bhappy New member Username: just2bhappy Post Number: 8 Registered: 7-2007 Posted From: 70.121.192.69 |
Can I just add to my husband's comments that during this time of being asked to move, he made it clear to one of these men that I, his wife, would not be willing to move at this time. He was then encouraged to put is "foot down"...It was even eluded to that he should go without me if necessary.... Nice. Thank God that he had more loyalty to me than that! Mrs. Bulldogs40 | ||
| rls Member Username: rls Post Number: 66 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 65.28.108.137 |
Very good just2bhappy. You both I think will be happier and more joyous not being in an organization that takes a lot more than it gives. | ||
| weezer New member Username: weezer Post Number: 12 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 70.6.12.8 |
that's not the first time i heard that these leaders told a spouse to leavet the other and they could then re-marry. adultery. as far as loyalty and my abridged version below i would quit jobs start jobs work super low paying jobs just so i would be able to be in the program and do what was said anyway which was not have any conflicting jobs. then, it would be preached why are you sitting around here hurry and get out! so i would continue to look for ways to earn more, be it a business, or quit jobs, start jobs,etc. so I believe it was God who in a way forced me from this so I could serve Him. (couldn't see this at the time) where i was without a job (again) then got a decent one and said to myself. "i'm not quitting jobs anymore. i know i'll catch flak from the leaders but whatever. they never helped me and they are never going to help me. I'm staying at this job and putting my life together and going to serve God. and it's not that i can't get or hold a job, God has always provided and the employers are happy with me. all the quits have been voluntary minus one "set-up" (that a brother knew was a set-up that worked there) Sure enough, comes the flak, so i left. Now I'm getting my finances back, my dog came back, my wife came back. (ok, just the first part, the latter are just part of that joke about when you play a country song backwards what happens) God is pleased. He was never in a rush like they are. Who else is / had to put their financial life back together ? | ||
| victorjohanson Senior Member Username: victorjohanson Post Number: 1458 Registered: 9-2005 Posted From: 216.67.56.15 |
"Who else is / had to put their financial life back together ?" I think a more appropriate question is "Who else HASN'T had to put their financial lfe back together?" Most people leave NTCC spiritually wounded, physically and emotionally run down, and in precarious financial straits. Things generally get better beginning the moment they decide to bail. For those on the fence: just do it. | ||
| charger Junior Member Username: charger Post Number: 27 Registered: 12-2007 Posted From: 71.32.36.197 |
Bulldog When you leave the Org, you also find out who your real friends are. Most people cut you off because they are afraid that you will "corrupt" them. They are afrid that if they talk to you and listen to you that you will cause them to question certain things. Questions that they do not have the courage to ask themselves, and even less courage to ask those in authority. I now realize that the majority of all relationships in the org. are very shallow. This includes the relationship of the Org. to the Preachers, students, etc. as well as the personal relationships we had with our peers. |
