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Saddened
False humility is deprecating one's own sanctity, gifts, talents, and accomplishments for the sake of receiving praise or adulation from others. The picture next to the definition, well lets just say his initials were Mike Villamor, no, well it should have been because he certainly personifies it; and he does so at everyone elses expense.

A user by any other name is still a user, and Mike uses people in the absolute worst ways. But mostly he uses them for the $$ that he can talk them out of. We gave up vacations and who went to Disneyland?

Saddened

We know the stewardship campaign money is being used to supplement the general fund. I can remember when it was purposefully removed from the bulletin so that the congregation would not see the amount slipping away and ask why. I know that they will say that they had to use the money and because of the tax accountability status of TPC (see my previous post on this subject) they are not accountable to ask the congregations opinion on the matter.

There are such good people who are stuck in that church thinking that it is the only place God is moving. I was that same person and God revealed to me that it is not because of the leaders that He was moving it was because of the heart of His people. There are so many people who love God and walk faithfully with him at TPC, I know that the Holy Spirit is speaking to them and they just can't accept it.

I would remind those who are there and reading this forum that it is you who have a personal relationship with Christ and it is your body which is His temple. God does move outside the walls of TPC! In fact I believe you will be shocked at what His hands and feet have been doing elsewhere when you look around.

I want to welcome you, Why bother! and thank you for sharing your story. So many of us have experienced the same exact thing, the 2 class citizen. I said, this was going to be the way once SOMA was introduced to TPC. Recently I saw a couple different women from TPWOC about in Marysville, I all most laughed when I greeted them, I could not get the image of copycats out of my thoughts. They looked like carbon copies of Cyndi. TP is wanting to clone their sheep into little, small minuscule Mikes and Cyndis that BLINDLY follow them without questioning. That just says how much they honor a person, we are to be copying Jesus. All honor is to go to the one who gave up His life so we can live. Mike is not the way to heaven, but that idea would only be clarified when one reads their bible for themselves and seeking God's direction for themselves.

One thing that I truly learned from my experience from TP was to trust my first impression. Not to hestitate when the first red flag pops up, be like Joseph with Potiphar's wife. TP twists and distorts God's word to fit their desires for the moment and before you know it you are thinking TP is all that and nothing, no where is going to have God in it. Surprise! I have found freedom in the church I am presently attending. I am NO longer enslaved to Mike's theology. It would be an answer to prayer if all the attendees, leaders, deacons, staff, soma (whatever their name is)students saw that they are not free to worship God as He had intended them to be.

God doesn't call the qualified, God qualifies the call, who would that be? Read your bible for yourselves and ask questions. Yes, ask questions of your leaders and their ideals, God has told us to. Working your way to the top slot in TP is not getting into heaven. It is not by works, but by grace that you find your way to God. Not to Mike and his kingdom.

Welcome Why Bother?. It is always bittersweet to welcome another person to the forum. Sweet to see that someone's eyes have opened, bitter to know another heart is aching and in pain. I also came out of soma and now I question it all. I was told I had so much potential for God's Kingdom and as soon as I came out of soma I would be ready to work for God. Why couldn't I help God before? Did the apostles have to attend SOMA first? Or did they just listen to the teachings of Jesus and go out, eager to spread His words? I've read God's Word. I am eager. Doesn't that mean something??

Thankfully, God's Kingdom doesn't actually work that way. I can serve Him and His Kingdom every day of my life without any training on how to honor an apostle.

Former Attender, you make another good point. TP isn't all bad. A lot of good has come from TP over the years. There are still wonderful, loving, men and women of God who attend TP. Saddly, it seems that many of the leaders have lost their way. Mike, in particular, has lost sight of God's calling, he's become blinded by his own prideful nature. Many of the others have fallen into idol worship, worshiping the leaders, seeking their approval, seeking position, etc. Over the last several years, the doctrine has changed, and it's been done so subtly that only a few noticed it at first. TP is in trouble. I pray for those men and women who continue to fight the good fight, and hold on to what is good. I also pray for those who continue to be deceived. I pray that God would reveal to them and that they would have eyes to see what's really going on. I pray for those who know the truth, but for what ever reason, are afraid to leave, that God would comfort them and give them courage and strength.

I've heard that TP is NOT even giving out grocery cards from the benevolence ministry anymore. Can anyone confirm this?

Let's clarify: Traitors and liars do their deeds because there is something in it for themselves.

The people who post here left Turning Point with grief in their hearts. Later, they felt compelled to tell their TRUE stories here because they were concerned that others were being decieived by false teaching, shackled by unbiblical authoritarian leadership, and robbed by greedy and unaccountable pastors. Those who posted here had nothing to benefit, knowing they would be thought of as "bad" for standing up for the truth.

On the contrary...Who is it who has covered up their out-of-control personal behaviors, their misuse of the stewardship fund, their decisions to take control of the church, their belief that they are a lead apostle (to whom all the churches in the area will one day become accountable), etc.? Who is it who has betrayed the trust of the people by doing these false things (and many others) that violate God's intention for church overseers?

Are the ones posting on this forum the liars and traitors? Or are the leaders at Turning Point the ones who fit the description? Who has the most to gain or lose by betraying and lying? Decide for yourself.

Yes, I can confirm that. My husband went in there a month or so ago to ask for the grocery card and a gas card and the person in the office told him they no longer give those out to anybody. So sad. A church that doesn't help people? What kind of a church is that?

Dear Why Bother,

I am sorry that you were ever made to feel anything but the very loved child of God that you are by anyone, let alone those who profess to be about the Lords work. The Lord does plant the lonely in families and right now you need a new family where Jesus is Lord and the shepherd of the flock is about his work the way the Word of God spells out the duties and responsibilities of a pastor. In wondering and thinking of why you had to go through this kind of trial not once but twice, the first thing that popped into my mind was the story of Joseph "Besides, although you intended me harm, God intended it for good, so as to bring about the present result ? the survival of many people. And so, fear not. I will sustain you and your children.? Thus he reassured them, speaking kindly to them. (Gen. 50:20-21)" Perhaps there is a reason and while it is not clear now -- it will be in the future. Even though it was hard and painful you have learned a lot and I am sure this will help you to be a better Christian and a better man.

Bless you for your honesty and your commitment to the Lord.

Daughter of Dorcas

Why Bother?

It took great courage for you to post your story here on this site. Thank you for taking such a great risk. My heart broke as I read your story. Unfortunately, it is becoming common place to hear stories such as yours by current and former members of TPc. I find it disheartening that there are many churches such as TPc where people go seeking truth and leave feeling used, abused, no longer needed. I hope this forum has, ultimately, been helpful to you. Please know that there are many here who share in your experience. You are not alone.

TPR

The following questions are from the site www.ChurchAbuse.com
As I read through each one I was reminded of stories and examples from this thread as they relate to TPc. Take time to read each question and see how many examples you can recall, remember or have read.

Here is a questionnaire to determine just how healthy your local church is. To find out how well your church ranks, answer "yes" or "no" to the following 12 questions:

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Does your church tightly control the flow of information within its ranks?YES Remember when TPc ended up in the News Paper because a mom was upset about her daughter being contacted by TPc youth worker via MySpace? There was a memo put out at the office instructing people not to discuss this along with several other issues with anyone who called but instead to allow a pastor to handle the questions.
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Does your spiritual leader use public shaming as a method to gain the compliance of followers?YES Recall the most recent Thursday night meeting accusing a former leader of mis deeds without first allowing that leader to see the "evidence".
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Is your spiritual leader intolerant of questions or critical inquiry?YES There are many of you who can attest to this through your own experience.
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Is your spiritual leader the exclusive means of knowing "truth" or receiving validation?YES Mike claims regularly to have "words of prophesy from God. He ridicules others who have made same claims by saying their dream or vision "isnt weighty, but caused by something they had for dinner".
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Does your spiritual leader have unreasonable fears about the outside world such as evil conspiracies or persecutions?YES Listen to Part two of the TPc series Breaking Point: Crisis is the Seed of Greatness (Part 2). The first 15 minutes is all about how TPC is under attack and being persecuted.
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Are you discouraged to associate with former members, being warned that they are "evil" or "defiling"?YES I dont know if this has happened to many of you. When I left TPc in 96 I was told if I told anyone why I was leaving those people would be told not to associate with me.
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Is leaving your group to join another church equal to leaving God?YES This is what is taught in discipleship and why disciples are required to read Under Cover.
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Does the surrounding community view your church as a cult?YES More and more people are beginning to wonder.
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Does your spiritual leader consider it evil persecution when criticized or questioned?YES When questioned by some, the leader(s) have told them they are "in a dangerous place".
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Do the goals of your spiritual leader seem to supersede any personal goals or individual interests?YES The story of building the deck at the new compound instead of helping the woman who's husband had passed away comes to mind.
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Do you fear being rebuked, shunned, or ignored for expressing a different opinion?YES See the recent stories of others who have posted.
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Do former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances?YES Read this thread.

If you answered "no" to all of the above 12 questions, your church is very healthy. If you answered "yes" to three or more, your church is showing signs of being unhealthy. If you answered "yes" to six or more, your church is very unhealthy. If you answered "yes" to eight or more, your church is more than likely a full-blown authoritarian cult.