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Breaker
I was involved with the church years ago. Left the church when Mike and Cindi kick a friend out and would not tell the church body why. At that point I new something was wrong. My wife was in the church ministry and ran it for awhile. It was a calling she had. We moved out of state and finally got her away for the Church. She did fill that she was released form her calling to the ministry. Some of the elders left soon after that also. I'm guessing it was 2000.

We were part of the first plant. I'm sorry for how the church turned out. I witness many people being save for the fruit of the church at that time. But I was noticed that it was going for money instead of soul for Christ or it seemed. Every sin was a devil. I went to one of the meetings at Mike & Cindi house to pray about what I was noticing (about the Church) that was a mistake. I got a prayer back for Cindi all but calling me a devil. I couldn't compete with Cindi. I think she ran the Church At that time.

Well I thought I would let you all know that I'm sorry I was apart of the beginning. I pray for you all. Please pray for me and my wife as we repent for are involvement of the church. Its easy to get caught up in all the hip of a new plant. It was exciting.

With the love Christ
Breaker

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seentoomuch
TurningPointReject- I was surprised when I heard about the licensing of both Judi and Spencer so I asked around to find out what happened. It seems that Roy Anderson performed the ‘ceremony’. The license is issued by Turning Point as it remains a registered church with a 501c3 and the ability to commission, license and ordain. I’m guessing the elders felt like it was necessary since Spencer and Judi are the remaining staff. An interesting sidenote that I was told would never be repeated is the issue of having elders and staff that are married- Chris Johnston isan elder and Judi Johnston is on staff and now a pastor. This inbred practice resulted in many people being hurt because there was always too much to risk if you came against the villamor leadership. The consequences on the staff spouse or the benefit to having access made it a miserable and unprofessional set up. Is this practice being repeated?

Regarding whether they acknowledge that TPC was (and I believe remains) a cult is questionable. The whole Wes Roberts chapter was weird. In the smaller group setting with the elders and the Singers he said it was a cult but the larger leadership meeting was handled so poorly that it seemed as if nothing was resolved. I know that the elder board had posted a letter distancing them from Mike and referencing faulty teaching but those teachings have never been addressed. I would guess that if we asked any of the new elders to identify the faulty teachings and how they were addressed that they couldn’t do it. It’s so defeating because those that remain talk about how different it is there and how they have moved on but Jeff Barnes and the leadership did nothing to undo the damage of years of abuse and the egotistic self profiting preaching that permeated from Mike and Cyndi. Even now, rather than talking about the trainwreck of Turning Point, those that are there act as if nothing is wrong, has been wrong or needs to be fixed. It is so frustrating for me when I hear all of the reasons that they have chosen to stay. It is my opinion that they are incapable of talking about what was wrong with the church because if they do they have to own at least a portion of it and how they allowed it to continue. I know that I continue to mourn the role that I played in that place and wrestle with guilt, shame and anger. Healing comes slowly for me.

it has to be a hard thing to do ( and I know from experience, ) to deny one's beliefs especially when most people believe in their beliefs, as if they were the truth. most of us including me, came to church to better our lives, to ovwrcome the emptiness of the flesh , the motivation was NOT to submit to God to seek HIs truth, I mean face it there are many things Jesus said that I find kinda undesirable.. like serve others lose your life to gain it. sharing in the fellowship of His suffering and all that stuff. No I want to hear about increasing your territory geting what you want if you have faith. give one get ten, all that good stuff, turningpoint was good at that. we loved that. Of course anyone with any relationshiop with God at all knew in their hearts something was wrong but hey wishfull thinking is a powerful thing, delusion is powerfull it comforts and controls . maybe we need to pray for the delusional to have ther eyes opened, I guess the reason turning point is still going is dreams are still coming true there ambitions are being met. I mean look at judi, she always wanted to be a leader, cyndi told her she would never be an elder cuz she questioned her and mike too much, but look she got the last word in lol shes a pastor and their not. just proof that if you stick with something long enough ,even if its a lie, your ambitions will come into being. of course for me that is why I left turningpoint. there was so much selfish ambition going on, people stepping on other people/s face's to get ahead. and all I could see was what good is it to gain the world and lose your soul. I must admit becasue of being in leadership or married to a leader anyway I got a free trip to sosalito paid by the titheing members of t p and many great hotels and dinners paid by them due to the choices of mike and cynd concerning staff retreats. it kinda reminds me of politicians living high on the hog while the rest of the country pays for it and suffers.

Breaker- What you say is true. I’m glad that you had the opportunity to get out when you did. I stayed years longer than I should have. Your impression of Cyndi running the church is accurate then and in the later years as well. In all the time I was there I never heard her admit wrong or apologize for anything. It was an absurd pedestal that she was placed on and yet she reveled in her place on it. I don’t need to go into it any further- my feelings for her are obvious. At any rate, I will pray for you and your wife and your continued healing.

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TurningPointReject
I am not aware of Mike and Cyndi holding any "official" position at any church currently. But we want to keep our eyes open. Crossroads Community Church in La Grande Oregon could indeed be infected with the "DNA"