anyway, keep focused on Him. He really is all we need, and when we look to Him to meet our desires and needs, we want for nothing. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want!” Psalm 23

No more shepherding for me except by THE Shepherd~Juli

I actually had read the post on your blog and that is what really got me thinking. After much searching I had realized that my identity had become in my church not Christ. So thank you for being honest and sharing your story!

Of this I am certain: where there is lack of peace, lack of joy, the Spirit of God is NOT at work. When I look at the fruit (or lack of) in my brothers and sisters lives, it clearly shows an absence of the SPirit’s leading. They are following man, clearly. But can I tell them that? No, it must be the Spirit of God to convince them.

Some are called to speak the truth, like the prophets of old, and for that I am glad. Some have a word given to them from the Lord, some have warnings, others have encouragement. You will find in this site many with such giftings and burdens – each unique, each being used by the Lord for healing, while still being healed themselves of many things.

Again, so glad you are seeking intimacy with Christ and have a mother who is undoubtedly praying for you! Blessings, Juli

I first want to say that I completely understand what you are trying to say along the lines of gossip and being device. I can say that for many of the individuals on here, that is not their heart. I have shared very little on this sit, but have felt an over abundance of love. Knowing that I am being prayed for by other members in the body of Christ has been extremely encouraging. They have been very nonbiased and mainly just encouraging me that God is in control and to stay near to Him during this season of life.
I have grown up in my church (which only became a SGM church like five years ago) and have recently seen a huge difference in the leadership. I dearly love that church family, the pastors leading (I believe they truly believe they are doing the right thing) but there comes a point in time that one has to consider why the body of Christ is not being encouraged.

I have always done the right things, served at all the functions, and said the right things. I was strong in my belief and followed God with all that was earthly possible of me to do. I was even a leader in the youth ministry, yet after I got out of high school I felt lost. I could no longer keep up this pace of a work mentality (even though it was expected.) It took three years for me to figure out that I was in bondage to my local church and that I had held my church as an idol. It is amazing what happens when you let go of an idol. I used to feel that I would be trapped forever in the area of legalism and how I judged others yet when God opened my eyes I was free. It was almost as if I was born again (so to speak). There are still some things I love about SGM but at the same time there needs to be the ability to question things (like a Berean) without it being called device or gossip.
I will always love my former church family and my heart still goes out to many of them, especially the teens. God has placed a heavy burden in my soul for the teens and it kills me to see them slowly dying. The local church should be drawing teens to the amazing God we serve and showing them His unconditional love. Instead I am watching as they are spiritually dying and no one seems to care.
I guess what my point is, is that no one here will say that SGM or the leadership should be perfect. That would be crazy to say. We all understand that we all have sin and will sin against each other, but when it comes to sheep fearing their shepherds something is wrong. The fact that so many on this site had started to become aware of things in their church and all of us have the same concerns should be a red flag to SGM leadership and something to be prayerfully consideirng.

I can’t help but wonder why, if you are sickened reading this, do you persist?  If I come upon carneige on the roadside, I don’t pull over and sit with it.  I drive on past the dead deer carcus.  If you see us this way, why not simply pull away and drive off to another site?

Not so much Stunned as confused

“Many of us HAVE gone directly and privately to the offending pastor.  There we found out that accountability within SGM often goes one way only – from the top down.  In case after case, the concerns and even sins brought before these pastors, as seen by those of us who rubbed shoulders with them weekly (or more), were turned around on us.  Instead of the pastors examining their own hearts and actions, instead of them taking a stance of humility, they accused us of sometimes long lists of sins.  The wounds and errors that emerged from these “meetings” span two decades.  What you see here is the fruit of these pastors’ and apostles’ actions and responses, or lack thereof.
This site has been a place of revelation and healing for many of us who didn’t know the SGM problem was so widespread.  We have learned that we are not alone or crazy and that there is life and healing after SGM.”

Sinnersavedbygrace said:

“…figure out what really matters because if you don’t then all you are doing is hurting more people and causing disunity”

What really matters is all of the families/individuals who thought they were giving their lives up for Jesus and the church and found out differently when the spirit of legalism controlling those who they had trusted devastated their lives. What really matters are the kids who nearly had their faith in the Lord Jesus ground into dust because of these leaders and the kids who are in SGM churches who are just getting by until they can get out. Some of them can’t fake it anymore and some parents are seeing the fallout. Hopefully, their eyes will be opened to the truth of what is happening before it is too late. There are so many that are hurting all around in the SGM, why don’t you all care about them?? :/

I would imagine you’d be a fan of RememberingWhoChrist-is, as you share the same email and IP address. Your credibility took a little dip, but I’m still interested in what you have to say.

Please inform me which of my comments have sickened you and why. Please be specific-who knows, maybe I’m sorry I said them. I AM sorry for some of the things I’ve said here-maybe you’ll find one such statement.

I’d also be interested in knowing why you might feel that my past is controlling my future. That’s quite an assumption, as I haven’t posted about my past in quite some time.

BTW-the Body of Christ can not be broken apart- have faith.

As I have read your comments and responses I see people who feel “wronged” by SGM and feel so much better after getting their feelings out there…I would ask you if this is the right venue for that. I can only say how I feel after reading Jim’s comments on this site and I must say they sickened me. Some of the comments left really picked up my heart but time and again Jim you came back and brought it back around. It sounds as if you do not want reconciliation but more if this SGM bashing. Please search your heart for truth because it sounds as if your past is controlling your future. try glorifying Christ and taking yourself out of the picture and i am sure you will find the heart to forgive these SGM people. Ryan it sounds like you have had a tough time my brother and I feel for you. I can’t tell you how many times fellow Christians have let me down. its going to happen guys. Jesus didn’t say it would be easy to pick up His cross and follow Him and I think I can remember the disciples quarreling once or twice. I really hope you guys get it together and figure out what really matters because if you don’t then all you are doing is hurting more people and causing disunity. I find that after i have read your comments (minus two very peaceful ones, saddened and rememberingwhochrist-is) all you guys are doing is venting your anger and honestly i think its time you guys grew up and moved on…try picking on something less destructive like i don’t know lets say….something that doesn’t break the body of Christ apart.( try looking at your own hearts, i know it works for me)

Actually, as a body, we must only only focus on our hearts, but seek to care for those ensnared by sin. To not do so is the opposite of love.

Even if they are pastors in SGM.

Now you all are talking my language! 

Happy Kwanza!

Ryan may actually be hurt by the accusations of slander, oh, yes, he really said gossip because he’s new to this shunning and demonizing that happens to those of us that have not been able to assimilate into the collective.

The rest of us, however, find this accusation rather tedious. You accuse Stunned of comedic sarcasm and suggested stand-up. I would seriously caution you against it for stand up comedy requires fresh material and improvisation, neither of which seems to flourish under the tutelage of Mahaney and his drones. (or was that clones.)

I’m sure that we’ve seen the last of Saddened.

While I’ve given up hope for any real reform in SGM, I am encouraged to see a decline in the walking wounded, and an increase in the walking strong.

I’m glad that Ryan is among the latter.