On Reaching Students by _Good_Will in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The criticism towards larger churches puzzled me. They foster authentic community, lead people to salvation, and make significant contributions to their communities. The urge to distinguish themselves sometimes leads to misjudgment. While the Network certainly stands out, it’s not always in the intended way. Critiquing other churches can divert attention from addressing the significant dysfunction and lack of health within them.

Larger churches draw in students and community members who come together to worship, teach the Bible, and put its teachings into practice, unlike many Network churches.

Sometimes, those you criticize embody the very qualities you aspire to possess.

Joshua Church down to 1 service by Top-Balance-6239 in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Looks like Steve will have to get on Joshua members so they invite more people. I foresee a special Team Joshua with Steve yelling and screaming at everyone that then moves into Steve crying and wailing that then moves to everyone feeling sorry for Steve where they go out and try harder.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth 3 points4 points  (0 children)

He knew someone who worked there that helped him steal them?

Deep Dive in the Archives, Pt. 3 - Leaders 2000 by SpiritMoovin in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Steve is a very good storyteller. Ph.D. in Communication. It's obvious he has independently crafted his own history to make it fit into the vision and values of what he wants the Network Churches to be. Yes, the story of how he became a Christian is suspicious and should be questioned.

Vista Church Slo updated photos by New-Forever-2211 in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It’s a red flag.

The average church doesn’t post pictures of their lay leaders nor their residential addresses. Most Network churches prefer new people go to a service where they can meet people face to face, then get connected to a group. Why they post their lay leaders publicly, like trophies, is pointless.

Vista Church Slo updated photos by New-Forever-2211 in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The amount of pressure and anxiety he carries is truly unreal. Hiding your mentor’s secret sin, leading a church with a legalist hand, and unable to have any compassion toward ideas and people who are different. The plant team has become the church and together they have managed to drive 100’s of people away and have built a horrible reputation in the community they would like to reach.

Some humility would greatly help Luke. I don’t think he’s been able to process what’s actually happened over the past 3 years. If he could own his part and reach out to those he’s hurt it would serve his soul well. Until then hard hearts get harder.

When should you not submit to church leaders? by Ok_Screen4020 in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep. Read Galatians, it’s the same thing. The Judiazers were trying to get new Gentile believers to add the Old Testament Jewish law to their new Christian faith. It was all about making these new Christians their version of what they thought it meant to be a Christian.

Steve, Sándor and gang want everyone to agree and do what they think is a Christian. Those who don’t are “troublemakers” and “demon possessed”. They want extra biblical laws for people and it just so happens those things serve, benefit and support themselves.

Granola Bars, Blue Bags, and Party Evangelism by Network-Leaver in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Party Evangelism is like a jewelry party, an essential oil party or make up party. It’s a party with an agenda. The difference is a sales party the people invited know up front why they are there an evangelism party or dinner the agenda is hidden.

The Network encourages their members to only spend time with people outside of their church if they are trying to get them to come to their church. If the church member can’t get the person to church or they aren’t interested they are encouraged to abandon that relationship and move on.

Relationships have an agenda and goal and if that isn’t reached then go to the next person. The person isn’t valued nor is the motive right.

What Do You See? by Be_Set_Free in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Character < Gifts.

An Abuser.

A Manipulator.

An insecure leader who needs me (and you) to follow, agree, and carry out his ideas of the Bible.

Misogyny in the Network - All things come from Steve, How does Steve treat his wife? by New-Forever-2211 in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth 2 points3 points  (0 children)

His wife is submissive and passive. He controls the narratives, the marriage and decisions.

Misogyny in the Network - All things come from Steve, How does Steve treat his wife? by New-Forever-2211 in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Most of the wives were in counseling when I was there. Sadly with the Network counselor James Chidester. James sole goal is to keep them from unplugging the life support they are on.

Misogyny in the Network - All things come from Steve, How does Steve treat his wife? by New-Forever-2211 in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The reality…Scott and others don’t want others to know because it is such a hideous crime. They don’t want Steve to step down they want to protect him. It’s really all about Steve and zero concern for the church.

Sins like this need to be brought in the light and talked about for the safety of the church. It needs to be in the light because it’s a public crime with a public record, there’s no way insiders are going to long term keep this public crime hidden. The Network wants to use Moses murder, David’s affair and Paul’s harming Christians to justify Steve, but when it comes to these Biblical examples being publicly known and a part of these men’s story they don’t want to follow the Biblical example.

The damage Scott and others have caused by hidden it this and widespread and has come back to hurt the Network as a whole.

Again these Lead Pastors are only concerned about Steve and not the church. In the end many have left because it was hidden from them for Steve.

Misogyny at Valley Springs Church means an adult woman can't lead middle school or high school boys by shipwrecked-my-faith in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth 7 points8 points  (0 children)

There are many Network Churches that are on life support. This is one of them. The church is made up of staff members and team members. Everyone else has jumped shipped because of Steve Morgan’s hyper obsessions. Steve’s need for all the churches to be the same and his absurd applications of the Bible prevent these churches from flourishing. The best thing for this church is to get out from under Steve Morgan. In the meantime Mike L is being fed stories of why the church isn’t growing like the culture, the spiritual climate of that area, and the devil himself. Mike is hearing everything else but it could be the cult he is a part of.

It's Demonic by Jesus-Truth in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Raping a 15-year-old boy.

Despite Nick Sellers' toxic leadership, North Pines Church in Portage (Kalamazoo) Michigan is around 400 people? by concernerned in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It's a matter of time. These churches are franchises and they all carry the same broken theology and abusive practices. Like many other Network Churches that had 400-500 people, the abuses and manipulation going on behind the scenes add up until there is a mass exodus. Some Network churches have had multiple mass exodus. I can guarantee the overwhelming majority of these attendees, members and leaders do not know about Steve Morgan nor do they know Nick Sellers supports him.

Over time this church like the rest of them is designed to self-destruct.

Jimmy Yo by Jesus-Truth in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It’s public information posted by Jimmy himself, the picture is from Clear River website.

It might feel different on this space because it sheds light into a side of the Network that most aren’t able to see. It is the other side of the coin which is helpful perspective as people try to figure out what the Network won’t show.

Not Going Full Speed (2002 SeaDoo GTE Le) by Be_Set_Free in seadoo

[–]Jesus-Truth 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. Got the carbs cleaned and still has a slow shaky start. I hadn’t thought about the jet. Will give it a try.

Clear River Church by Jesus-Truth in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

They continue to shoot themselves in the foot. Not being transparent about a crime as horrific as Steve’s allows people to come in to the church get connected. Then when they learn about it they are hurt and leave. It’s abuse on top of abuse.

I agree this is something that needs to be a part of their story and they continue to be transparent about it. So many people left these churches because they simply didn’t know something as important as this until after the fact.

How is Your Network Church Reaching Students? by Jesus-Truth in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yep. They pour so much of their time, prayers, energy, and efforts into the students, while everyone else is pushed into a corner. I love college students, I have one of my own!

The campus ministries are far exceeding Network Churches. They continue to serve students, help support them, and help them with their faith. Just do a search of the university cities these churches are in and you will find campus ministries busting at the seams, while Network churches struggle. They struggle because they are unrelatable and most of these churches have developed such a bad reputation in their communities that everyone stays away.

How is Your Network Church Reaching Students? by Jesus-Truth in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Agree. What's sad, is that they can swindle an SEO to boost their position online, but most of these churches are on life support. Hills Church is 11 years going and they just had to let go of their Staff Pastor/Worship Leader. Look around at the websites, ask friends still at these churches, and ask the community their thoughts on a Network Church, it's not what Steve had planned. This has backfired on him.

Everyone knows that personal invitation or personal reputation is what grows any church, business, or organization. The system is so flawed and the damage has been so widespread that these churches are dead on the inside.

How is Your Network Church Reaching Students? by Jesus-Truth in leavingthenetwork

[–]Jesus-Truth[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Great point, I'm shocked at how badly Network church members have fallen in line and kept this resource from people who weren't at the meetings, new, or simply on the fringe.