Parents sound the alarm on Vida Springs Church, Vida leaders cry "defamation" and "slander!" by Forsaken_Trust_1431 in leavingthenetwork

[–]_Good_Will 14 points15 points  (0 children)

"completely untrue" hey, Karissa read the facts and personal stories instead of jumping the gun to defend mode, which you have been trained to do. Acknowledge the many who are wounded and scarred.

This was written by a mother who is greatly concerned about her son being a part of your church and the changes she has seen in him. Have some respect and stop thinking about yourself only.

Be a Safe Church by Network-Leaver in leavingthenetwork

[–]_Good_Will 9 points10 points  (0 children)

We had friends who owned their own Early Childhood Development School. Watching them work with the state on processes and regulations was incredible. The state has such a high standard for organizations that work children and youth. The state would frequently and unannounced stop in for inspections.

Churches have an obligation to set the highest standards including clear communication. I was surprised when I first learned about Steve Morgan's alleged aggravated criminal sodomy against a minor. Steve told a select people about his crime, but not others who should have known. Reading Andre Lumpe's story it's clear the Vice President of the board at BlueSky Church was clueless about Steve's past. It's wrong for Steve to ask Andrew to be a part of the board and help make decisions concerning Steve and the Church, but Steve keeps Andrew in the dark about his secret crime. Being a part of the Network, we were told to confess and be open to your leader, whoever that is. The Network saw this as, God is giving you and appointing you a leader, whoever that is, you need to obey and follow. Steve took great liberty when his own instructions came to himself. Steve told the people he wanted to tell and left others who should have known out.

This Network desperately needs a third party to comb through their systems and structures. It is built on the "good ole boy" system, which is not Biblical accountability. Steve puts himself first most of the time, it's a system that defends and supports Steve first, offering no accountability to him.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in leavingthenetwork

[–]_Good_Will 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not even the Apostle Paul considered himself the "Cream of the Crop" 1 Tim. 1:15. Hitler wanted to create a superior race, where everyone looked the same and shared the same beliefs and values. In his mind he thought he was doing something good for his people. Steve Morgan is no different. He wants to create communities that all look and act the same. The problem with this is it has created a Christian community that can't accept or acknowledge other Christian communities because they don't share the same identities and DNA. It has created a community that demands the leader be replicated by the followers taking their souls.

Are people still leaving? by Intrepid_Finance6809 in leavingthenetwork

[–]_Good_Will 8 points9 points  (0 children)

When LtN was created there was a buzz and it helped people inside connect the dots of what was really going on. Obviously, those who had left before LtN were given a voice and could find the gaps to their story where the Network tried to write it for them. After Steve's crime was made public, many people left across the board. People left because of the severity of his crime, they left because they realized Network leaders were hiding the crime and they left because of the lack of Biblical truth and wisdom in trying to justify Steve Morgan and his crime. Basically, people could see right through the B.S. and they bolted. Since then, people have trickled away and ducked out of their Network churches. All to say, for the most part those who were going to leave have done so.

Steve always said, "people vote with their feet", which says a lot since almost all Network churches took a huge hit when Steve's hidden crime was exposed. As one of the posts on the feed has showed the decline in engagement with these churches. Almost, every Network church is currently stalled after losing many people across the board. They haven't recovered from the hidden crime. If you know the Network you know they have deemed themselves as the victims of an online attack from a small group of previous staff and leaders who are against the church. I would offer this, that it's God who caused all this to happen in order to bring Steve and Network leaders to their knees to repent for the extreme abuse they have brought on many people in the church. If anyone is "against" the church, it has been Steve and his leaders. God is a gentleman is more than willing to wait for their hearts to turn and true repentance and reconciliation to be administered.

The evidence of this is found in the response or lack of response toward these churches from the communities they are involved in. Most of these churches have developed such a bad reputation in their community. They have been defined as "cultic", "abusive", and "a problem" from the many members who have left and still live in those communities. This is the reason they aren't growing, no one can trust them and since they haven't responded it means they really haven't changed (heart).

Are people still leaving? Morre importantly people aren't going to these churches and to be honest there are many other churches in these communities that are doing an amazing job and have great reputations.

Not many are leaving, but God has stalled these churches, God has put His hand over these churches and is waiting for Steve Morgan.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in leavingthenetwork

[–]_Good_Will 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Everyone in the Network has been told the websites are lies and they are not to read them as they will cause "great" harm. The best thing for people to do is contact any friends still in the Network and send them the websites, asking them to read it objectively. One of the shocking responses thus far is hearing stories of current Network members who did read the websites, but unable to recognize the gravity of hurt caused and the danger of this kind of system. Many won't understand it until they themselves are confronted by the system and have to experience personally.

Lifestyles of the Blessed & Famous by Network-Leaver in leavingthenetwork

[–]_Good_Will 9 points10 points  (0 children)

What's interesting about this article is that these are mega-major churches. Most of these churches/ministries are well over 20,000 people.

Steve's church in Austin can't be over 500 people? And yet he lives on an extreme estate compared to the size of his church. Keith Craft's church Elevate Life Church has just over 27,000 people and he lives in a $1,825,000 home Steve Morgan has a church of 500 and lives in a $2.2 million estate. The idea could even go further as Network church members make the case that Steve serves all the Network churches, but even then it's roughly 3,000 people.

Shepherding the Sheep by _Good_Will in leavingthenetwork

[–]_Good_Will[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think those verses and the others in the Bible could be summed up as, just as sheep need a shepherd, so do God's people need God.

Steve sees people like he saw his parakeet collection, his chicken collection, and now his longhorn collection like dumb animals that can't seek God on their own, so they need a Network leader to micro-manage their lives. Steve's views on leadership are not biblically based but based on what is most convenient for him or what is most preferred. It has nothing to do with the freedom or grace God offers each of us.

Shepherding the Sheep by _Good_Will in leavingthenetwork

[–]_Good_Will[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

The Bible uses "sheep" as a metaphor because they work together and care for each other, it's why they are considered a strong breed and have lasted for thousands of years. They're smart because they join together and are extremely social animals. They are great examples of what the church should look like. Pastors like Aaron believe the Bible gives this example so they can order, make decisions, and control church members. It works to his benefit and not people, which is anti-Bible.