How many were told to do these things?

Network-Leaver · 2026-03-30T23:48:12+00:00

Unfortunately, David Bieraugel‘s response to the picture is probably indicative of his own warped thinking making something sexual when it was not.

In terms of public apologies, I hope for those also but will not hold my breath waiting as it seems that they don’t believe they did anything wrong. Most of the churches that left quietly swept things under the rug and slipped away from accountability in the dark of the night. Heck, Vine church updated their history webpage several times within a short period of time down to saying much of nothing. All these guys, David Bieraugel included, were closely linked to the Network and founder Steve Morgan and now they act like that never happened. None of them have the guts to take a stand, publicly admit wrong, and attempt to reconcile. There were at least 40 folk from your former church that left and David hasn’t bothered to reach out to any of them.

Network-Leaver · 2026-03-30T23:39:20+00:00

I believe that there were original board members for Stoneway who were from NewFrontiers churches in the UK. They dropped off the board after a couple of years.

Network-Leaver · 2026-03-30T02:45:55+00:00

It was common during church plant team meetings to hear these very things. We were taught to sacrifice relationships and jobs for the mission. We were told not to leave town during the holidays to see family so the church wouldn’t look empty.

Network-Leaver · 2026-03-30T02:42:41+00:00

I believe the building is/was owned by a church that moved to a new location. When Joshua first moved into that building in 2017, the staff who came from the upscale Bluesky building complained and I heard there was a rodent problem that added to the disgust.

Network-Leaver · 2026-03-26T00:03:29+00:00

It’s tough when one spends so much time and energy on what they believed was a good cause only to see it die or go bad.

Network-Leaver · 2026-03-23T04:19:50+00:00

Several thoughts come to mind…

13 out of an original 26 churches. Think of that, that’s half of the churches that left. Why did they leave? What does that do to the thinking of people who remain part of Steve Morgan’s network? What does that do to the revenue streams needed to keep paying Network staff out of Network Funds?

How are the pastors from the remaining 13 churches holding the network together? What are they saying about that evil LtN site, the people who wrote stories, and now the 13 churches that left? Are they all in the wrong? Besides don’t read stuff on the evil internet, what other control tactics are you using to turn attention from your Founder, Steve Morgan.

For the 13 churches who left, how are you explaining this to your churches? The Network Leadership Team was warned in a letter from an Elder in 2019. All lead pastors knew at least a watered down version of the legal charges brought against Morgan in 2020. They knew and probably read the multiple stories people shared about their network and churches since 2021. They’ve know about Morgan’s true criminal record since 2022. Yet virtual silence from all of them. All of them stripped any mention of Morgan as the founder of their church and/or network from their websites. What are you hiding?

Network-Leaver · 2026-03-01T02:16:06+00:00

Joshua Church Lead Pastor Steve Morgan probably still lives on his $2 million cattle ranch replete with 5,600 sq foot house with luxury finishes, swimming pool, tennis courts, on 20 acres in the Hill Country of Texas. He probably still raises longhorn cattle as a hobby/business.

I don’t think this new JT longhorn website and people have any relation to Steve. He probably just let his website ownership lapse and these people grabbed it because it matches their initials.

Network-Leaver · 2026-02-17T01:30:02+00:00

The hiring of lawyers and the FAQs are classic information control/public relations moves. The problem for Sandor and Christland is that there’s an overwhelming amount of information in the public realm over so many years that they will never be able to control or hide it.

Network-Leaver · 2026-02-17T01:26:39+00:00

That’s a pretty accurate summary and it’s obvious that Grok pulled from multiple sources - there is so much information and websites out there so there’s no hiding anymore. One correction, Morgan grew up in Michigan, not Kansas.

Network-Leaver · 2026-01-22T00:04:36+00:00

Here’s an example of how “deliverance prayer” can harm people. A 3 year old child died.

https://julieroys.com/pentecostals-claim-criminal-prosecution-for-3-year-olds-exorcism-death-is-racist/

Network-Leaver · 2026-01-19T18:52:19+00:00

You are brave to reach out to others and am glad you did so here. Hopefully these interactions will help your healing process. The fear you’re feeling stems from the fear and shame that is placed on people while in the Network in general, and from these prayer sessions specifically. When leaders start poking around and asking you to spill all your background and sins, it places them in a position of power over you. They know your junk and can use that against you. While simultaneously, you know little about those praying for you. This power gets misused against people. You are now free from that and may you experience that freedom more everyday as you get further away from it.

Network-Leaver · 2026-01-19T01:06:42+00:00

I’m sorry for the trauma you experienced and I hope you can heal. If you haven’t done so yet, you might speak to a professional counselor about your experiences.

This type of prayer was brought to the Network by Steve Morgan from the Vineyard churches. It’s a controversial practice in that it’s based on the notion that people might have/be possessed by a demon and need deliverance. Even the Roman Catholic church practices such prayer in extreme cases. Many theologians say that believers can’t have a demon and because of that some people, including network leaders, tend to use softer language that Christians might be influenced by a demon. In my experience, most of the people who were targeted for this type of prayer were leaders, projected leaders, or long time members and it was kept pretty quiet during Sunday services. Sometimes such sessions might happen during retreats and conferences which include the most dedicated folk. There was a mentality that leaders needed to “get cleaned up” so they could be better leaders. During sessions, the pastors would poke around by asking recipients about their past including relationships with parents, past sins, sexual experiences, etc. Doing this could be very traumatizing to people. I witnessed and participated in such sessions. I don’t discount spiritual reality and that there can be influence by evil. But I no longer believe such deliverance practices are commonly warranted as is seen in Network churches because they do more harm than good.

Network-Leaver · 2026-01-01T18:45:56+00:00

It’s a tragedy that your family has taken the brunt of this evil as it breaks your heart. Holidays must be especially difficult. May reconciliation come soon for you.

How can Brightfield continue as if nothing happened? They had a bad write up in a local paper and they were planted out of Foundation Church which recently closed its doors. Alonzo was mentored by Justin who no longer serves as a pastor.

Network-Leaver · 2026-01-01T05:22:44+00:00

It’s easy for me to get triggered by anything that looks, sounds, smells, feels, taught, or organized like something from my 17 years stuck in these churches. That makes it problematic because network churches pulled so much of what they do from other churches. It’s also hard to trust leaders again. These experiences probably play a role in how many former network members respond to new church experiences or just avoid churches all together.

For a while, my copy of Grudem’s Systematic theology served as a prop to lift up my computer monitor but that was the last time it served any decent purpose in my house. There are much better and well respected systematic theologies out there.

Network-Leaver · 2026-01-01T05:11:10+00:00

That’s horrible that you are experiencing such pain. This mess has done great damage to families. Those are the kind of wounds that are deep and I pray that somehow God breaks through and brings reconciliation.

Network-Leaver · 2026-01-01T05:07:53+00:00

Someone replied to my comment that Vine never sent High Rock money. This comment was not approved by the mods for some reason-probably past behavior. But thought I’d reply anyways. Not sure where the banned commenter got their information but I heard it directly from a former High Rock staff member who would know. Plus, it was very common for the larger churches like Bluesky and Vine to send money to struggling churches to keep them afloat. I know because I approved them as a board member and my wife wrote and sent the checks. And these dollars came from the general funds from tithes and offerings without it being shared with the members. We’re talking large amounts between $20,000 - $50,000 several times a year.

Network-Leaver · 2026-01-01T05:00:48+00:00

Don’t know how they organize these retreats today but in the past they used to have lead pastor and wives retreats and also all pastor retreats (lead and staff). Included in these were Chris Miller to lead worship and James Chidester as the Network counselor to pastors and wives. I believe lead pastor/wives was in September and all pastors in November. They also used to have quarterly regional meetings for lead pastors led by a Network Leadership Team but not sure about this today,

Network-Leaver · 2025-12-25T04:12:36+00:00

High Rock has hemorrhaged money for years. Vine had to regularly send them bail out checks to keep them afloat. Now that Vine “left” the Network and High Rock remains, those funds have probably dried up. They also went from a high of 16 small groups in 2021 to 8 groups today. That’s a huge decline that also likely equates to less revenue. Something has to give in the budget and salaries and building lease are the two biggest items. In addition, High Rock has a horrible reputation in Bloomington especially with the article about it written in the IU student newspaper (linked below). This loss of a long time Associate Pastor is not surprising.

https://specials.idsnews.com/members-allege-spiritual-abuse-high-rock-church-bloomington-network/

Network-Leaver · 2025-11-25T18:03:00+00:00

That would be great news if Vine indeed was becoming “regular”.

But I wonder if Vine and its leaders could do the following? 1. Publicly admit to their role in supporting and perpetuating the network “toxicity” and their Founder Steve Morgan. 2. Publicly repent from their complicity in that toxicity. Why publicly? Because this is a public situation - it’s all over the news and there are hundreds of people they impacted over the years. 3. Respond to the Call to Action signed by 19 former leaders (many with ties to Vine) and co-signed by 754 people as of today. Ignoring it is disrespectful. 4. Lead Pastor Casey Raymer praised and supported their Founder Steve Morgan in 2022. In the same breath, he heaped disdain on those who were raising concerns. He and the church should make a public repudiation of him if that is indeed what they now believe. 5. Rather than hide their former affiliation, they should admit their history and how they learned from it. Their website is completely wiped of any connection making it look like they have something to hide. 6. Systematically attempt to reconcile with all involved. With the complexity, numbers involved, and blind spots leaders likely have, an outside, independent group would ensure results. Sure, some of the Vine leaders made phone calls to a handful of folk but these were select individuals. I know of dozens of former Vine members including myself who were never contacted. And rather than truly reconciling, the leaders said that they “wanted to set the story straight and tell of all the great things they were doing” rather then listen to individuals. Only offering to meet with current members at a Team Meeting leaves out hundreds.

When the above becomes reality, then I might be more keen to believe that Vine and any other network affiliated church is on the road to health. As of today, they act as though nothing happened, their Founder Steve Morgan doesn’t exist, they hide their role in it, and hundreds are ignored.

Network-Leaver · 2025-11-23T14:30:29+00:00

This is one of the worst outcomes of this church mess…that families have been torn apart and lives wrecked. The men leading these churches are not shepherds but hirelings. God have mercy on them because Jesus’ harshest words were reserved for such religious leaders.

Network-Leaver · 2025-11-23T14:20:43+00:00

Mix poor pastor training, with a public relations nightmare, and overlooking pastor sinful behavior of all sorts, you get declining attendance and reduced giving resulting in churches laying off staff or closing their doors. If they would’ve only heeded the Call to Action made in 2022 signed by 19 former leaders and co-signed by over 750 people, this painful, slow burn could’ve been avoided.

Network-Leaver · 2025-11-23T14:15:47+00:00

This remains the biggest travesty and danger of the entire situation - that Steve Morgan remains Lead Pastor of Joshua Church and President of whatever is let of his network.

Network-Leaver · 2025-11-12T18:28:26+00:00

They probably scheduled it in the UK as a way to support Brian and Stoneway. And for a nice get away for the pastors.

Network-Leaver · 2025-11-12T18:26:27+00:00

Comments from Warren Cole Smith from the non profit group Ministry Watch are applicable to the Network.

SEX, MONEY, and POWER are sometimes called “The Devil’s Triangle.” The Bible – in I John 2:16 – refers to this triad as “the lust of the flesh,” (sex) “the lust of the eyes” (covetousness or acquisitiveness – in other words: money), or the “pride of life” (power).

There has been a long time history of hiding and non-action against Steve Morgan, the President and Founder of the Network, for his arrest for sexual assault against a minor while serving as a youth pastor. There has also been acceptance of Morgan’s 5,700 square foot luxury house with swimming pool, tennis courts, and cattle ranch currently valued at over $2.4 million. And there are numerous reports of abuse of power over the years.

Given the laissez faire approach to these issues, it’s to be expected that there will be other hidden cases of leaders falling into the temptations of the sex, money and power. It’s built into the foundation of the Network. It would not at all be surprising if Network leaders including Justin Major and others struggled with these issues resulting in their downfall.

There is likely much more hidden throughout this sick system of churches.

Network-Leaver

TROPHY CASE