TPWOC sermon for Sunday Aug.9 Breaking Point: Crisis is the seed of Greatness part 2 by False Apostle Mike(I never panic and I am always prepared for my crisis)Villamor is now online at TPWOC home web site!! Mike says that great moves of God bring great acts of persecution. TPWOC is enduring New Testament persecution. Whenever God is moving powerfully for Mike the devil is moving powerfully! Mike says TPWOC is going through a season of persecution that the Church and Marysville has never seen before!Mike says that they have a financial crisis,troubles,budget shortfalls and cuts! Mike says people are opposing TPWOC,he says its totally understandable . Mike says men and women of God don't run from it! Mike said we must have unity in our church and city! We must not run from difficulties,hardships,trials and tribulation. Mike says we must get together and walk step by step to bring unity.Mike says you have to be prepared for crisis, in order to turn your crisis into greatness. Mike wants his crisis to train him into a harvest of righteousness! Mike says crisis is the hammer that breaks the shell that imprisons greatness. I believe Mike thinks God put greatness in him at birth. Mike said that people who don't face there crisis turn to fear,worry,gossip and slander. I believe Mike thinks he is right up there with Great men of God like Moses and David! He said don't panic because fear spreads quickly about the current situation at TPWOC! Mike says fear is the enemy of faith. False Apostle Mike Villamor says that the current situation at TPWOC sounds familar to the definition of panic in the dictionary: A sudden overwelming fear with or without cause that produces hysterical or irrational behavior that spreads quickly often through a group of persons! I believe Mike thinks he is in deep do do and he is trying to control the problem that he produced. It won't work because Mike is the kind of guy that won't stop making a fool of himself. Mike is like the gift that keeps on giving! That is why the FORUM is closing in on 70,000 views!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/15/2009 01:08PM by buddy.

Toxic Faith by Stephen Arterburn and Jack Felton provides ways to recognize a toxic church these are just a few that jumped off the pages at me.

1. Labeling is used to discount a person who opposes the beliefs of the system ("She has a bad spirit" ... "He's deceived").

2. The members claim their character, abilities, or knowledge make them "special" in some way.

3. These systems are punitive in nature.

4. The leader(s) are dictatorial and authoritarian.

5. Members have an "us" versus "them" mentality toward people "in the world."

6. Communication is from the top down or from the inside out.

7. Members are asked to give overwhelming service and money.

8. Many in the system are physically ill, emotionally distraught, and spiritually dead.

9. Legalism prevails. Rules are distortions of God's intent and leave Him out of the relationship.

10. There is no objective accountability—"We are accountable only to God."



D of D

Wow! After reading through a majority of this thread, I don't even know where to start. And while I'm not really fully ready to tell my story about TPC, I am just so glad my husband and I are not alone in our feelings. We left TPC in early 2005 after having been a part of it from mid 2002-ish, if I remember correctly.

I still have much to process about all I've read here and will post at least some of my thoughts soon.

Welcome to the forum, Silverlunace! Every voice that speaks up for what is true is a stepping stone for someone else trying to find their way to truth and freedom. Thanks for being willing to add your story.

Common Sense, discernment, ability to reason the difference between right and wrong; these are just a few of the blessings the God gave his beloved children. So if you are reading and have questions, do not accept the word of others you do not know or trust. Use your common sense, discernment, ability to reason by reading some of the following:

Arterburn, S., Felton, J. (1993). Faith That Hurts/Faith That Heals. (Reissue ed). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Arterburn, S., Felton, J. (2001). Toxic Faith. Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook Press.
Bawer, B. (1998). Stealing Jesus. New York: Three Rivers Press.
Blue, K. (1993). Healing Spiritual Abuse. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Chrnalogar, M. A., Howey, P. M., Martin, S. D. (2000). Twisted Scriptures. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
Enroth, R. M. (1992). Churches that Abuse. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
Enroth, R. M. (1994). Recovering from Churches that Abuse. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
Johnson, D., VanVonderen, J. (1991). The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.
VanVonderen, J. (1989). Tired of Trying to Measure Up. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.
VanVonderen, J. (1995). When God’s People Let You Down/How to Rise Above Hurts That Often Occur. Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers.

This blog did not get to nearly 70K hits because of the posters, it has nearly 70K hits because there are those with questions who just don't know what to think and have come to hear the other side of the story. You know that all is not right at TPC. You have seen the elephant in the sanctuary, but you are hoping that things will change. I can assure you things at TPC will change and not for the better, things at TPC will only get worse because of the Jezebel Spirit that has gained a stronghold in TPC leadership and will not stop until she has destroyed TPC and there is nothing left. If it means destroying the good name of a Godly woman, then that is okay. When the allegations are proved false, after tens of thousands of dollars are spent, Mike Villamor will stand up and say "remember I said there was every chance all of this could be explained." Again to save face, he was just covering all of his bases so that he had any easy out no matter the outcome. Never mind a good woman's good name was dragged through the mud. If Mike can discredit an ex-Elder he had just reinstated who then quit because she disagreed with him, perhaps it might plug the leak of members leaving his church, and help him save face.

So for those hidden, but reading. Take the time to read more than just this blog. Read what experts have to say. Compare it against what you have seen and heard. Then make up your mind.

God loves you. That is never going to change. He also wants you to use his word to discern good doctrine from false teachings and false teachers.

Saddened

For thsoe of you who are currently attending Turning Point Church and are feeling confused and unsure about the direction of the church: a woman I have known for over 20 years and served TPC with every fiber of her being has been falsely accused of stealing money from God. Mike Villamor and his elders don't know what else to do to explain why people are leaving the church in mass numbers and the financial outlook is bleak. From owning the land to losing the land, I can see why the fear has set in and they are grapling for reasons and excuses and someone to pass the responsibility onto. I listened to Mike's sermon from last Sunday and all I could think as I listened to him was that the words he spoke were not inspired from God. These words were self serving and a furthering of his need to be glorified and blessed with greatness. There is blessing those who serve and then there is worshipping those who serve. The people at TPC have worshiped Mike and his wife and actually, when I went there, the leaders were pretty much all worshiped. This was why I left. For those who are left, rise up and replace the leadership. Get rid of the false prophets who are heaping false teaching upon the poor and weak and people who do not know any better. Mike and the leadership will have to answer to God. My heart feels sad that TPC has become such a weakened ministry.

Profile of a Psychopath (characteristics of some, but not all, spiritual abusers)

Not all spiritual abusers are psychopaths, but many of them do demonstrate these traits and behaviors that are common to psychopaths. It is wise to be familiar with the characteristics when considering new situations wherein you are a subordinate.

Tobias & Lalich (pgs 72 - 79) offer these defining characteristics of the psychopath (with comments also copied from their text), based on the writings of both Hervey Cleckley and Robert Hare.:

* Glibness / Superficial Charm (They are able to use language effortlessly to beguile, confuse and convince... Frequently, they have the capacity to destroy their critics verbally or disarm them emotionally.)

* Manipulative and Conning (They do not recognize the individuality or rights of others... "The manipulator appears to be helpful, charming, even ingratiating or seductive, but is covertly hostile, domineering.... [The victim] is perceived as an aggressor, competitor, or merely as an instrument to be used....The manipulation inevitably becomes the end-all and is no longer qualified by....reality." pg 257 of "Unmasking the Psychopath")

* Grandiose Sense of Self (Paranoia often accompanies the grandiosity, reinforcing the isolation of the group and the need for protection against a perceived hostile environment.)

* Pathological Lying (Psychopaths lie coolly and easily, even when it is obvious they are being untruthful... These manipulators are rarely original thinkers.... For this reason, followers are more apt to invent or go along with all kinds of explanations and rationales for apparent inconsistencies in behavior. "I know he must have had a good reason for doing this.... He did it because he loves me even though it hurts...")

* Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt (For psychopaths, the end always justifies the means. There is no place for feelings or remorse, shame or guilt. Cult leaders feel justified in all their actions since they consider themselves the ultimate moral arbiter. Nothing gets in their way.)

* Shallow Emotions (While they may display outbursts of emotion, more often than not, they are putting on a calculated response to obtain a certain result.)

* Incapacity for Love (The leader's tremendous need to be loved is accompanied by an equally strong disbelief in the love offered him by his followers; hence, the often unspeakably cruel and harsh testing of his devotees. Unconditional surrender is an absolute requirement. The [leader's] love is never tested however; it must be accepted at face value.)

* Need for Stimulation (Thrill-seeking behaviors, often skirting the letter or spirit of the law, are common among psychopaths.... The psychopath has a cool indifference to things around him, yet his icy coldness can quickly turn into rage, vented on those around him.)

* Callousness / Lack of Empathy (Psychopaths readily take advantage of others, expressing utter contempt for anyone else's feelings. Someone in distress is not important to them. Although intelligent, perceptive and quite good at sizing people up, they make no real connections with others... Psychopaths are unable to empathize with the pain of their victims... When and if the devotee becomes aware of the exploitation, it feels as though a tremendous evil has been done, a spiritual rape.)

* Poor Behavioral Controls / Impulsive Nature (Like small children, many psychopaths have difficulty regulating their emotions... Rage and abuse, alternating with token expressions of love and approval, produce an addictive cycle for both abuser and abused, as well as create a sense of hopelessness in the latter. This dynamic has also been recognized in relation to domestic abuse and the battering of women.)

* Early Behavior Problems / Juvenile Delinquency (They often "get by"... conning.)

* Irresponsibility / Unreliability (They may be totally oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they inflict upon others, something which they regard as neither their problem nor their responsibility. Psychopaths rarely accept blame for their failures or mistakes. Scapegoating is common, blaming followers, those outside the group, a member's family, the government, Satan -- anyone and everyone but the leader. The blaming may follow a ritualized procedure such as a trial, "hot seat" denunciation, or public confession... Blame is a powerful reinforcer or passivity and obedience, producing guilt, shame, terror and conformity in the followers.)

* Promiscuous Sexual Behavior / Infidelity (Sexual acting out of all sorts [is] usually practiced by cult leaders. Conversely, there is often stringent sexual control of the followers... In any case, due to the power imbalance between leader and followers, sexual contact is never truly consensual and is likely to have damaging consequences for the follower.)

* Lack of Realistic Life Plan / Parasitic Lifestyle (The flip-side of this erratic life planning is the all-encompassing promise for the future that the... leader makes to his followers.... The leader is the first to proclaim the utopian nature of the group, which is usually simply another justification for irrational behavior and stringent controls... The leader's sense of entitlement is often demonstrated by the contrast between his luxurious lifestyle... They may complain of being "burned out" due to the burden of "caring for" their followers, sometimes stating they do not have long to live, instilling fear and guilt in their devotees and encouraging further servitude.)

* Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility (Leaders change their image and that of the group as needed... [They] have an innate ability to attract followers who have the skills and connections that the leaders lack. The longevity of the group is dependent on the willingness of the leadership to adapt as needed and preserve the group.)

Is Your Apostle a Narcissist?

The overall definition of someone with a narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by a combination of severe limitations in understanding other people and their feelings, as well as an excessive pursuit of what are called narcissistic supplies, such as admiration, attention, status, understanding, support, money, power, control, or perfection in some form. While all of us need these supplies in adequate amounts to feel a sense of well being, the narcissist pursues them with an unrelenting desperation and a keen ability to manipulate others...Click on the link to read more. [power2serve.net]

To those reading, don't think that TPC is the only church with the Holy Spirit. Don't think that you couldn't find a church family somewhere else. That is what I thought. TPC was the only church I'd ever known. My friends were there, my whole social circle was there. But these are not reasons to stay in an unhealthy church. I have seen Mike being worshiped, I have seen Cyndi being worshiped and idolized. It's sickening and unbiblical. The church has been falling apart for some time, now they are grasping at straws to try and return the church to what it was.

Get out now before you find yourself worshiping a man. God is a jealous God, He wants your worship to be only for Him. Remember that the next time Mike tells you how great he is or how sinless his life is or whatever he says to make himself look better.

Keep reading, keep learning, and ASK QUESTIONS!

Now that I have read every single post in this thread - took me a whole 3 days! - and before I say anything else, I feel led to say this -

Jackie, I am so sorry to hear what's happening to you. Of all the people we met at TP, you were the only one who seemed to even care, to truly care about others, and not just about yourself. Of all the people we met at TP, you were the one who stood out the most. Your genuine love, generosity and concern was the ONE reason we stayed as long as we did. If there's anyone I can think of in my entire walk with Christ (going on about 30 years now) that is truly a servant of the Lord, Jackie's name would be at the top of the list.

So, Jackie, know that we care, know that we know the truth and know that we'll be with you (even if only in Spirit) every step of the way. You're not alone.