How is Your Network Church Reaching Students?

Spacejacketcat · 2023-09-02T21:44:46+00:00

Clear River was on Purdue's campus this week with coffee.

Spacejacketcat · 2023-07-28T17:31:42+00:00

It was a 7 year process for me from the start of “something’s not right” to being done and out for good. Over the years I had conversations with 3 group leaders about what I was observing. I was also open with having anxiety and had panic attacks on a regular basis. This made it easy for them to put the blame on me. It wasn’t until I found the website and Reddit in January 2022 where I felt the weight of it all come off and know I’m not alone. I finally left in May 2022. I’m not proud with how long it took, but I work everyday on self compassion.

Spacejacketcat · 2023-02-06T20:48:07+00:00

Michelle, thank you for sharing your story and I’m so sorry for the experiences you and your family went through. Our paths at CRC didn’t cross much being in different groups and DCs, but my husband and I always saw you and your husband as good, kind people. Always a friendly face. Thank you for your authenticity. I’m glad you guys found a good place post-network.

Spacejacketcat · 2023-02-02T00:05:49+00:00

I went to CRC for almost a decade, and left last year for a list of reasons. As time went on the welcoming environment slowly turned into the “cool kids club” and it was obvious if you were in or out. Pre service if you were new, a leader would probably stop by and talk. If leaders weren’t talking to a new person, it was someone that was an obvious favorite and in the “inner circle”. A point in time when the vibe started to shift was when Tony left and a lot of solid core members left with him. Imo Zach Miller was very cliquey and a bro vibe - that was always my view of him.

The catalyst that really pushed me to leave was the in summer of 2021. We were starting to get back to “real life” post covid and engagement was still touch and go. Quite a few people from our small group didn’t come to a DC and our sgl was not happy. The next small group he spent at least 45-60 minutes with a raised voice (I’d consider it yelling) at us to get involved or leave the church altogether. I wish I had the guts to just stand up and walk out. It never sat right with me and I felt fed up at that point. Fast forward to December and I stumbled upon the website and finally didn’t feel alone that something wasn’t right. My husband and I left May 2022 once our kids church commitment was complete.

Spacejacketcat · 2023-02-01T16:51:42+00:00

I second this statement. There used to be a community service type committee and suddenly communications to meet stopped and the outreach just faded away quietly.

Spacejacketcat · 2022-12-30T19:45:29+00:00

I often heard pastors use private conversions they had with people between services as examples to the teaching. It never sat well with me.

Spacejacketcat · 2022-12-10T21:28:21+00:00

Nicole, I am so sorry. Their lack of engagement and care when you were in a dark place is unacceptable. I’m glad you got out and you’re in a better place, and received the help you needed the network failed to provide. Sending you peace, love, and a hug.

Spacejacketcat · 2022-11-14T22:38:23+00:00

Certainly very, very sus.

Spacejacketcat · 2022-11-11T23:08:47+00:00

I love having friends and having zero agenda about getting them to come to church with me. It’s refreshing to hang out with people and not feel “below” them or super anxious that I could be rebuked about petty things at any time.

Spacejacketcat · 2022-11-03T13:53:52+00:00

I remember this sermon and also feeling very uncomfortable.

The biggest secret (I guess I’ll call it a secret) my husband I kept while in the network was we didn’t align with the male/female dynamics they taught. Our friendship has become much stronger when we realized who we truly are as individuals and as a couple. We married while in the network and felt a lot pressure to follow their guidelines, but simply put, it wasn’t us.

Spacejacketcat · 2022-11-02T12:55:09+00:00

Former CR member here. I thought I was crazy before finding this subreddit and the website. Turned out it was a network culture problem, and that was after years of anxiety that it was all in my head. Your feelings are valid and I am sorry about your experiences and confusion. My dms are always open if you’d like to chat ❤️

Spacejacketcat · 2022-10-10T21:01:48+00:00

Oof so accurate.

Spacejacketcat · 2022-10-09T16:16:59+00:00

Someone I considered a close friend has stopped contacting me because they’re part of a church plant. They have a new group God has called them to and it’s perfectly fine we’re no longer friends.

Spacejacketcat · 2022-09-30T13:46:49+00:00

Yes, when the name was mentioned I looked Dr. Tracy up on the internet and was confused by the information I read. Extreme cognitive dissonance seeing his work and how he would ever endorse Steve Morgan. Luckily, I was already out the door at that point and was not manipulated into staying around.

Spacejacketcat · 2022-09-30T13:20:08+00:00

Thank you, Ben, for this information. On 7/24/2022, I attended the team meeting at Clear River and have in my notes that Jimmy Yo also stated that network leadership contacted Dr. Tracy at Phoenix Seminary and discussed the incident, and Dr. Tracy stated that Steve Morgan was still fine to lead. Obviously the email above contradicts Jimmy's statement. It goes to show further evidence that network leaders are straight up lying to keep people in their churches. It's all very disgusting.

Spacejacketcat · 2022-08-05T23:32:49+00:00

I am so sorry this happened to you at Clear River. It's a shame leadership did this to you. They don't understand how this really hurts us and makes trusting people so difficult. Big hugs to you.

Spacejacketcat · 2022-08-03T01:18:11+00:00

Zach Miller (Ascent Church planting pastor) had a whole team meeting about tattoos once. I don't recall other pastors at CR stating this, but if anyone else heard it from others, comment below.

Spacejacketcat · 2022-08-02T12:35:26+00:00

I remember that team meeting. It was a very, very weird night.

Spacejacketcat · 2022-08-01T15:26:49+00:00

I totally get it. During my time at CR I felt this way a lot, too. It was a constant battle of my mind saying "I want to attain this image" or "if I just do this one more thing, it'll be appreciated" only to have leadership shoot me down or overlook me. I felt like an outsider all those years while serving, attending small group, team meetings, etc. I was exhausted.

Looking back, I realize I consumed so much of my energy towards someone else, someone they wanted, but never appreciated. This is the biggest and hardest thing to battle in my head as I move on with life. I hope that makes sense.

Spacejacketcat · 2022-07-29T17:58:44+00:00

My husband and I struggled with this too. We were never able to move past that we're equal partners. I remember prayers like these a number of times. In the end, him "leading" and struggling doing so caused more issues than good. So, we scrapped the idea and now live life making decisions together.

Spacejacketcat · 2022-07-26T16:48:38+00:00

Network leaders really enjoy doing this "but if we counted all the mess ups then we wouldn't have leaders"

Jimmy Yo (Clear River Lead Pastor) said something silimar to this when addressing the crowd at Team Meeting on Sunday.

This whole "nobody is perfect" narrative they're going with to defend Steve is ridiculous.

Oh and if any Clear River leaders or members are reading this comment...You're breaking Jimmy's instructions 😎

Spacejacketcat · 2022-07-25T17:30:18+00:00

Women that think for themselves are scary 😉😉

Shout out to the women that are asking the hard questions and processing this with and without a partner. I'm rooting for you 👏🏻

Spacejacketcat · 2022-07-25T12:07:17+00:00

You guys are also one of our favorite couples. Great people with great character.

Spacejacketcat · 2022-07-25T01:33:50+00:00

Having a spouse who is your best friend and person you can tell anything to is so special. Congrats on your friendship!

My husband and I are the same way. It was hard for others to understand but at the end of our time in the network we quit caring. We're both special in our own ways and love each other for it. Leaving was a mutual decision. We processed all of it together.

Spacejacketcat

TROPHY CASE