1 /5 Brenda Rogers: 15 years ago, this was a wonderful church. The members lived and functioned as a community of believers who were kind and loving to each other. Along the way, about 3 or 4 years ago, something changed. Many of the long-time members left the church, including myself. It had become a cult-like, controlling, ministry. They have hired and fired more directors of childrens ministries and youth ministers than I can count. I believe there is an elder who is very judgmental and has far too much control. It could also be the Pastor in combination with this particular elder have very strange ideas about spiritual leadership. Also, as a woman, I found them to be very misogynistic, not allowing women to be elected to the body of elders and frequently preaching to their place in the family behind the man who should always be the spiritual leader. The final insult was when my teenage son was targeted and tormented by the then current youth minister, one particular elder and the Pastor. It was time to go and very heartbreaking since it had once been such a place of good Christian fellowship and love. Gods plan seemed to be to protect my son as we went on to join another local church where he became a member of the youth worship ministry, participating in their vacation bible school as a worship minister, went to Denver, CO on a youth mission trip to serve the homeless and has ultimately found that his servants heart has lead him, as a now high school graduate, to enter a firefighter and EMT academy and is well on his way to ministering to people in times of great need of a believers heart. He also continues to volunteer his time regularly to serve for his church and for the local fire department as an intern. He is a very respected and appreciated member of his church community, among his friends and is a leader, not a follower. Had we remained at this church, they would have continued to make him feel as though he was not a good person and beat him down, which seemed to be their goal. Tearing down, not building up. It was extreme spiritual warfare. Not at all what you expect to find at church. Thank you, Jesus, for leading us away from such a hostile environment and into much more loving and healthy mentoring for my son. He amazes me every day and makes me very proud to be his Mom. Dont go to this church. They are judgmental and narrow-minded.
UPDATE:
My son is now 24-years old. He obtained his degree in music and worship studies and is now the worship pastor at a bible-based commuity church in northern Collin County. He is a highly-respect and loved member of this awesome church family. I am also a member there. God takes good care of his divinely-appointed and annointed vessels. He will be married this summer to his sweetheart of 6 years who is also a lover of Christ. She is my daughter-in-love and a huge blessing to all of us.
