Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens
Date: August 25, 2015 12:11PM
I knew Paul and Helen Young personally and a lot more happened than Helen being labelled a "Nephilm" (although I am sure that was possible given that I have been called the same). Being called a Nephilim, by the way, is something of an honorary title given only to very special people.
John Stevens once said that most things are grey and streaky [not black and white], and in the Young's case it was definitely true. In their case, I observed a case where the pastor was abused and maligned by sheep and certain "elders." The Young's definitely made some mistakes. But it just goes to show that it isn't always leaders abusing sheep -- it can go the other way.
Paul once told me toward the end that he did not understand Brother Stevens any longer, but did not elaborate. It also seems as I recall, that was a time when many former pastors and elders of that age group were on the outs. At the time, Coniah Chapel (I think) was something of an aberration, but my opinion is that when those older leaders started being pushed out it was likely he beginning of the end. The rest of us, like myself, were just too young and inexperienced to be principle pastor of anything other than a lemonade stand.
My own opinion is that John was a man of God (and I suppose that is a point that one could argue depending on perspective and experience), warts and all, but I think that his failing was that he did not listen very well -- and that's a trait similar to many who followed him. I have heard it said that when one idolizes a leader, one tends to emulate the worst of their traits. In this case it seems that they definitely do ...