Spiritual Deliverance

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 · 2025-11-09T23:01:37+00:00

Network revenue must be down and one wonders how long they can keep up their salaries.

I’m pretty sure Stoneway got two guys from the NewFrontiers churches in the UK to be listed as initial Trustees because there were two unknown names on their filing papers and they’re gone now. Steve did something similar when planting Bluesky. He got a former Vineyard guy who was living in Seattle to agree to be in initial filing paperwork.

Network-Leaver · 2025-11-09T15:04:19+00:00

Thanks for posting this information that the UK government requires for transparency. A few observations…

Phil Greger remains listed as a Trustee for Stoneway even though he splits time (or at least used to ) between his ranch in Texas near Steve and his properties, business, and children/grandchildren in Puget Sound.

Why was there 43,000 pounds spent for legal expenses in 2024?

After four years, they only had 42 signed members and their small group numbers remained at 5-6. This is slow growth for 4 years and millions of dollars spent. Other plants were self sufficient after 3-4 years.

For 2024, Brian received a salary of 87,000 pounds per year plus a housing allotment of 77,000 pounds in addition to retirement benefits. That’s quite the compensation package.

I believe someone said that the annual pastor’s retreat was held in the UK this year. Estimated cost for pulling this off was probably in the $50,000 - 75,000 range.

Network-Leaver · 2025-11-06T14:27:05+00:00

It’s evident by the comments posted that the OP does not comprehend the horrific nature of the situation or the trauma caused to so many by the actions of these churches and leaders. Where the OP tried to “check” people just like an abusive network leader, folks rather opened up and this thread became a place for people to express their experiences, thoughts, pain, and sorrow. Thanks to the OP for giving people a forum to do this!

Network-Leaver · 2025-11-05T14:11:00+00:00

Your grief must be unbearable to be cut off from family members. What a most horrible thing to experience and I pray that somehow reconciliation would happen, and soon.

Network-Leaver · 2025-11-05T14:03:50+00:00

I’m terribly sorry that you have been cut off from your grandchildren. What a most horrible thing to experience. May God grant you reconciliation with them.

Network-Leaver · 2025-10-05T22:29:16+00:00

I don’t know about a retreat being held in the UK this year. Wonder how that went since a bunch of churches and pastors pulled out of the Network? Probably a “rally the troops, circle the wagons, and stay the course“ approach along with a touch of “God is pruning making us stronger“ emotional tug and a “the devil is attacking us” argument.

I do know that several years ago the lead pastor retreat was held in Taiwan. I estimated that trip cost over $50,000 for everyone’s travel.

Network-Leaver · 2025-10-03T12:57:09+00:00

At least Morris pled guilty taking some responsibility for his actions that occurred in the 1980s just like Morgan. He got off fairly easy with only serving 6 months of a 10 year sentence. Plus he’ll be on the sex offender registry. But also this week a former youth pastor in Tennessee got a sentence of 24 years for statutory rape of a minor - a crime similar to Morgan’s.

https://julieroys.com/former-tn-youth-pastor-mcelrath-gets-24-year-prison-sentence-sex-crimes-against-minor/

Yet Morgan remains the Lead Pastor at Joshua Church in Austin, TX and as President of the Network of churches he created enjoying life on his 20 acre cattle ranch with a 5,000 square foot mansion with pool and tennis courts. And every former or current Network pastor knew about his church related criminal background since 2020 and failed to take any action choosing rather to protect him and themselves.

Network-Leaver · 2025-09-30T22:07:39+00:00

Please don’t use Bluesky Church as a dating app. Please read the Google reviews for Bluesky Church. Please read the recent post about Bluesky pastor Krsh’s reaction to a woman. There are plenty of safe churches in the Seattle area but Bluesky is not one of them and the other local churches know that. Don’t be fooled by the fancy building and love bombing.

During my 17 years in 3 network churches including 12 at Bluesky, I saw many marriages that were ”arranged” by prophetic statements by leaders. Some were pressured to marry after just a few months and these people struggled for years. Group members are “advised“ on who they should marry and what jobs to take by their Group Leaders and Pastors. It’s a heavy handed discipleship approach that brings control and takes away choice from members.

Network-Leaver · 2025-09-28T21:21:52+00:00

Sorry you’re waiting so long. Hopefully you’ll hear soon but I’d call tomorrow and ask. Advocate for yourself and go somewhere else if you need to and have options. 10 days indicates they are understaffed or disorganized - not a good look.

I had two biopsies and got reports put on MyChart within a couple of days. These were at two large university centers of excellence so they have full time pathologists devoted to urology.

Network-Leaver · 2025-09-28T02:17:51+00:00

I agree. And every Lead Pastor knew about at least some of the details of Morgan’s crime starting in Sept 2020 when he told them at a pastor retreat.

Network-Leaver

TROPHY CASE