A Revealing Letter From a Member of John Macarthur's Grace Community Church Regarding its Cult-like Control
Bob,
Yes, I am discouraged, but not in despair. I wont’ ask questions because I
already know the answers: “Now the elders [at Grace Community Church] are very godly men and I am sure they are very prayerful about their decisions and are doing as God has
allowed them”, or “You need to get “plugged in”; “where are you serving the
body of Christ around here”, “are you involved in a bible study group”, “in
what way are you responsible for this?”, “if you were doing your part to
make things better around here, you would have no time for the ungodly
criticism”, “this may fall in the category of “sowing discord among the
brethren, maybe we should start the Matthew 18 process.”…. So the answers
will be either of these or a variation of sorts and so I am selective about
my questions. I have been concerned about the spiritual state of some of the
leaders for several years now. Since I could not be certain, I thought to
stay until the Lord made it very clear where and when I should depart.
If you are correct in your assessment, then, as He did with the church of
Ephesus and so many others, I think that God will also shut down this
corporation in a very short period of time and when it is least suspected;
when all appears to be flourishing.
There is much distrust and suspicion among the members (in general);
(members distrust other members, elders distrust people in their fellowship
groups, elders distrust other elders, laymen and seminary students are at
odds, men distrust women and vice versa and so on. I am told that dossiers
are kept on certain members / attendees and cameras used for locating
certain people in attendance. However, in spite of all this, when an
outsider comes around “starting trouble”, there is great solidarity.
A Revealing Letter From a Member of John Macarthur's Grace Community Church Regarding its Cult-like Control
Monday, June 15, 2009
Bob...
God has blessed me with much discernment and I have been conducting my own
“in-house” research for several years. I have attempted to talk to several
people about my concerns, (members and some leaders)—when the issues have
become so wrong and blatant that I felt something must be done immediately;
sometimes with a good outcome and other times not.
RECORDS TRACKING
GCC requires all member to “register attendance” weekly (so they can better
shepherd us) on cards provided in the pews and I am sure this information is
entered into a database along with the giving records. Recently, they
announced the consolidation on one card for tracking attendance records and
“comment cards / prayer requests) for more efficiency. So, for certain,
tithing and missionary giving are being tracked. The “Faith Promises” (a new
form of committing funds to Missionaries) is being tracked, but so far, they
are not requesting names for the “Commitment”; (this is only between the
person and God and the contribution is made only if God provides.)
MISSIONARY CONTRIBUTIONS
According to the Pastors there has been such a shortfall lately in
missionary giving and with the economic downturn throughout the world a
separate program was started over a year ago to help existing missionaries
and send new ones. Sometimes it is very costly to send new families over.
Consider a family of 5 or more, first sending them abroad to live for a year
or more to an institution to learn the language (if applicable), must take
place prior to being placed in the field.
I can think of three major sources now, (in addition to the funds members
send over separately) of contributing to missionaries: (1) “Adopt a
Missionary” program, (2) Faith Promise (mentioned above) / also known as
“Commitment to the Commission” and the annual Short-Term Mission Trips
The short-term mission trips are a major source of income. Every member is
encouraged to go at least once. Many go multiple times after a
well-organized marketing campaign (which includes sending a letter to at
least 100 people—family, friends, church members, co-workers, dentists,
doctors and any other people in their sphere of influence) and each person
attempting to raise several thousand dollars. Contributing one’s own funds
is greatly discouraged, as it prevents other people from being a blessing in
this missionary effort. The money is sent directly to the church; noting
which “team” the contribution is being made for. From my understanding, as
long as the person sends at least 100 letters they are “guaranteed” they
will make the trip. I estimate that the excess of contributions are roughly
2 to 3 times more than the actual travel and living expenses (usually on a
missionary compound) airfare). I have been told that the excess funds are
given directly to the missionaries [Editor's note: How could this be proven?]. Upon return, pictures, videos and many, many wonderful presentations are made in the Sunday morning fellowship groups. In addition to a different family being featured each Sunday in the
bulletin, each member also was encouraged to take a full-sized 2009
“Missionary Calendar” to hang on the wall as a daily reminder to pray for
them.
Also, regarding missionaries, it is very interesting to note that GCC oldest
(longest serving / longest on the mission field) missionary, a featured
often in the Sunday bulletin, Marjorie Farley (Prison Ministries) says that
GCC has contributed nothing to her in the entire time as a missionary. This
fact (that GCC had given her zero dollars in 40+ years) was re-confirmed by
Marge during the annual Missionary week visit.
SMALL GROUPS AND SERVING
According to a friend in the Guild, somehow the leaders quickly figure out
what your capabilities are, (probably from talking to friends) and guide
members into the areas they will be best suited for serving. So, some women
are selected to be Facilitators, others the person who decides who goes in
which group. When I inquired about being in a group which is led by a
friend, I was told that I would have to contact a certain person who would
decide where to place me. I have not yet followed up on this.
The Bible Study Groups, Women’s Teas and Conferences present opportunities
for gathering information; mostly through “sharing time” and (as you
mentioned) Prayer Requests. Mostly these are small groups within the groups
(almost always in circles) and always guided by a Facilitator who
participates beforehand in a group meeting of Facilitators. After the
presentation, the small groups are formed and a pre-determined list of
questions (typed before the meeting) is used to guide the group during the
time of “sharing”. It is very difficult to obtain a copy of this list if you
are not a Facilitator. Lastly, prayer requests are made and distributed via
email to everyone in attendance.
For the monthly teas, I have noticed the following: (1) These meetings
(like many of the Bible Studies) do not meet during the summer school break;
so that families can have more time together. And since the Facilitators are
usually always mothers there are no teas during summer. (2) Testimonies are
always from women who have led a rather “good: life, “clean and dignified”
with almost everyone I have ever heard being saved from I am never sure
what, and usually ends with a cute story about how they met their husband
and came to TMS. (3) For future attendance, women are told to stay with the
same table. So making any attempt to try to meet some of the other 75+ women
in attendance makes them upset and creates suspicion that possibly the
person is trying to avoid accountability. I remember once going and asking
if I could sit with some friends I had already knew before and I was
encourage to go back to the table I had been before.
FELLOWSHIP GROUPS
Incidentally, some of the Sunday morning fellowship groups also have
established guidelines for moving to another group. Members are asked that
if they want to visit or switch groups to first discuss this with their
flock Pastor so that they can be sure the change is being made for the right
reasons and not to escape accountability. According to leadership, the
reason for this is that the Pastors are so burdened with some many people
who want no accountability, (probably for sin issues) so they run from group
to group.
On the other hand, this may not be such a big problem due to sectarianism.
JH is known as the “Counseling Experts”, Sojourners, “The Old Testament
Scholars”, Grace Life, “The Theological Gurus” etc. And most people speak
very forcefully and pridefully about their fellowship group and their reason
for their unyielding commitment to the group. Reactions ranging from polite
tolerance to a thinly disguised contempt are shown to anyone who say they
are in another group.
In my opinion, a large number of the fellowship members are sinfully
entrenched in sectarianism and are so attached to their group, they would
not change for any reason.
BIBLE STUDIES
Each Fellowship Group has numerous Bible Study Groups, usually led by a
Seminary Student (teaching from the Bible) and an older Layman or another
Seminary Student and later breaking out into smaller groups. Also the women
from each Study meet once per month separate from the once per month men’s
meetings. In the Bible Study, we take turns praying aloud for the person to
our right or left. The requests are all written down and sent via email so
the entire group will be praying for you. Someone is always in charge of
leading each of these groups.
We have been reminded that these Pastors are the shepherds of our souls and
must give an account to God someday for this responsibility.
ANNUAL PRAYER DAY
Once per year an annual prayer day is held; usually in the basement of the
one of the campus buildings. Observation a couple of years ago:
Several leaders are sitting in various locations scattered around the room.
Upon entrance several people sitting at a table near the door hand out 7 -
10 cards with prayer requests. Each person quietly finds a seat and begins
to silently read through the cards and pray in silence. Upon completion, the
staff in the front collects the cards and issue new ones. Eventually Pastor
MacArthur and his wife comes in, collects cards and begin silently praying.
The annual prayer day ends in time for evening service.
Note: The room (filled with several hundred people) was as quiet as a
funeral home—except for one sound: The sobs of a man sitting down on
the 3rdrow. No one addresses the man or even appear to notice him. To my
recollection, he cried the entire time. In the meantime, a large screen in
front continued to roll listing what we should be praying for: (1) The
upcoming Shepherd’s Conference and attendees, (2) Missionaries abroad (3)
For a submissive congregation so as not to grieve the Leaders and several
more (which I do not recall).
-----------------------------------
So, it seems that the suggested order / counsel from the Fellowship
Shepherds is as follows:
(1) Attend “big” church Sunday morning
(2) Get “plugged into” a fellowship group and attend each week
(3) Actively serve in the Fellowship group
(4) Get “plugged into” a Bible Study (within your Fellowship group) for
accountability
(5) Serve the body of believers in your Bible Study
(6) Attend Sunday evening service
(7) Take some Logos classes (Hebrews, OT, etc) and / or the Women’s Teas,
Every Womans Grace, periodic conferences etc….
These are strongly suggested in the order shown. If one attempts to do #7
without having done 1 – 5, this would be seen as going against the godly
council of the Leaders.
From Barbara Aho of Watch Unto Prayer
The Transformation of John Macarthur’s Grace Community Church
How CHANGE AGENTS Are Transitioning GCC into the New World Order
Barbara Aho “Watch Unto Prayer ”
Dear Watchmen,
I have recently posted an expose about the transformation of John
Macarthur’s Grace Community Church by agents of the Church Growth
Movement. This excellent piece of investigative research was authored by
Bob Johnson, who has witnessed first hand the transformational Purpose-
Driven, Church Growth model in operation in the GCC singles’
ministries.
The transformation of Grace Community Church is also being accomplished
from within by change agents in its international ministry, The Master’s
Academy International (TMAI) whose worldwide centers are staffed to
a large extent by graduates of John Macarthur’s The Masters Seminary.
TMAI is a church growth organization whose stated mission is to “train
church leaders worldwide.” TMAI, however, is involved in community transformation worldwide. TMAI also partners with foreign governments, and UN-NGOs.
A goal of the church growth movement is to merge churches into a partnership with business and government.
This “three-legged stool” inspired by TQM guru, Peter Drucker—the
merger of church, business and government—is called Communitarianism.
President Barack Obama is also a Communitarian who has made it known
that his administration will facilitate an alliance of churches with business
and government to establish a New World Order. To this end, President
Obama recently signed an Executive Order establishing the White House
Office for Faith-Based and Community Partnerships.
Few Christians, if any, in Macarthur’s church, seminary or international
ministry know that a fundamental shift is taking place within their respective
ministries to transform them into Communitarian entities that will
merge with the New World Order. Because John Macarthur preaches against
the Purpose Driven and Church Growth Movements, there is widespread
ignorance and denial of the fact that he fellowships with and endorses those
who promote the Purpose Driven movement, that GCC has its own Purpose Driven ministries and that certain GCC leaders have church growth backgrounds. Another well-hidden fact documented in Bob’s expose is the spiritual lineage of John Macarthur at the highest level of the ecumenical movement. John Macarthur’s father, Dr. Jack Macarthur, belonged to the inner circle of Henrietta Mears which launched Fuller Theological Seminary, the National Association of Evangelicals, the US Center for World Missions, and the global network of apostate Evangelical organizations that are leading multitudes into the One World Religion of the Antichrist.
John Macarthur’s influence extends throughout the Christian community,
for many Christians who are not involved in his ministries do follow
his teachings. Even for those who are not directly influenced through
Macarthur’s church, his various ministries, teachings, books or study bibles,
Bob Johnson’s expose is a “must read,” for it will equip them to understand
the Communitarian agenda and to recognize it’s presence in other
ministries and churches.
There is a wealth of original research in this expose that has never
seen the light of day or been touched upon by other articles or books on
the church growth movement. To our knowledge, no other expose of church
transformation explains the spiritual dynamic of invoking demons, esoterically termed “egregores,” within the cell groups that are the hallmark of the Church Growth Movement and Communitarianism. We appreciate the depth of insight and thoroughness of Bob’s research and believe that all Christians will profit by reading his expose.
From Despatch Magazine, Australia
TO: Bob Johnson, writer of the investigative work “The Transformation of John Macarthur’s Grace Community Church.”
FROM: Endtime Ministries, Despatch Magazine, Australia.
Dear Bob,
Congratulations on the depth and expanse of the critique above, it was
compulsive reading, I could not put it down until I had finished reading it!
It will be a very useful source of much data for years to come. We have been aware of these matters and related stuff for over 25 years, I thought I was unshockable – but your critique has shocked me!!! I knew MacArthur was doctrinally unsound for many years now, but this complete almost “set-up” by his family (father anyway) since way back is horrifying. It is as though the MacArthur ministries were front ministries designed to deceive fundamental type Christians. It is all a horrible scene, the evangelical/Protestant churches with the Vatican will be used to lead-up the New World Order religious branch, merged with business and government. Good to see the Jewish conspiracy in all this as well – so often overlooked by many investigators.
We have used some of your material in Despatch magazine this issue, and this will direct our readers to your material… We will put the whole critique on our Website. Thank you for all the work done in the material; it is not wasted effort I can assure you, although so many, many will not read it and will remain stubbornly deceived. May God protect you and yours, and keep us all in His peace -while we work to expose the horrors of the Antichrist system in our midst.
“The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his
wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the
dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.” Psalm 110:5-7.
Yours because of Calvary,
Wendy B. Howard, editor of Despatch magazine.
———————-
Dear Bob,
Greetings to you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We were so touched by your recent e-mail, what a humble fellow you are.
We look up to such excellence of investigative work that you showed in your
expose on the Church Growth Movement, and respect your bravery in
attempting to warn the church of MacArthur, even risking arrest etc…
Laurie Addison, our co-worker, was stunned by your critique, he was very
impressed. Enough of patting you on the back, and down to business…
Wendy B. Howard, editor of Despatch magazine
From Niki Raapana, Founder of the Anti-Communitarian League
Bob,
I didn’t make the connection between you the author of that awesome
article… I get so many thank you letters that I just assumed you were another person writing to thank me for sending them to your article! I’ve got several
of those since I posted it. Now that I see it’s you, I’m honored to
make your aquaintence.
I particularly like and appreciate the way you explain how it all fits
together. Just this line, “TQM is everywhere now in the USA. It’s TQM
in business, but COPS in policing, and Outcome-based education in
education and school to work and it’s in the churches.” is so
perfectly understandable.
The oldest form of the dialectic I’ve found is in ancient Egypt when
it was called “communitarian-ra” in the Jewish captive communities
where the rabbis controlled everyone. Leading Talmudic scholars define
the Talmud as a dialectic. The rabbi was the faciliatator and the
congregation had to agree with all their decisions, based in
dialectical “reasoning.” When I finally realized their “arguments”
lasted hundreds of years throughout generations of rabbis it made a
lot more sense that Marx was the son of a long line of rabbis.
Your article is the very best explanation of communitarianism I’ve
seen to date. Thank you.
Niki
James Sundquist, Author of “Who’s Driving The Purpose Driven Church,” Confirms the Presence of the Purpose Driven Model in John Macarthur’s Church Ministries.
On Nov 8, 2008, at 5:41 PM, bob johnson wrote:
James,
It’s been a while since I sent you the pages on Grace Church’s singles ministry’s. Bob Klenck viewed those pages and said, “Not only is the PD program at Grace, but I can see it is going at full speed.” What do you say? Do the pages show to you that the PD movement has infiltrated Grace Church under J Macarthur?
Bob Johnson
———————
Hi Bob,
Sorry I have not responded sooner. To answer your question…I do see many transformation philosophies that echo Rick Warren or hybrid it…
Bob Klenck may be right, but I would put it this way, PD movement has infiltrated Grace Church under a different name or disguise…though perhaps only a partial disguise if PDL book was actually used or was only temporarily used…
Hope this helps!
Bessings
James
Response From a Former Grace Community Church Attendee
November 21, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Mike,
I have read Bob Johnson’s paper, and have checked many of his footnoted links. As a former attendee of Grace Community Church for over 3 years, it did not surprise me to learn of his findings. As Bob Johnson wrote, both the Guild & the Foundry were following the Rick Warren model for small groups. I could not find any mistakes in Bob’s paper because it was FACTS based, not mere speculations.
I recently heard the interview Pastor John Coleman did with Bob Johnson, & it found it to be credible & truthful. There was a time when Pastor John, and Bob Klenck dismissed many of Bob Johnson’s claims, but the evidence against John MacArthur and Grace Community Church got so overwhelming, that they had to face the facts that ALL of Bob Johnson’s findings were 100% true. The recent John Coleman (11-26-09) show featured he & Dr. Bob Klenck discussing the slanderous name calling from Phil Johnson of Grace Community Church, & Grace To You. Phil called Pastor John a “crackpot” & Bob Johnson a lunatic. Why? Phil Johnson makes over $190,000.00 a year as the director of Grace To You. I suspect he is trying to protect John MacArthur & his OWN job. Phil Johnson did not refute any FACTS in Bob’s paper because he CAN’T. How can he argue with facts? His ad hominen attacks were pathetic coming from a man of God, but what else did he have to work with? Nothing…
I urge your readers to read Bob Johnson’s paper with an open mind & check out his footnotes. Be an Acts 17 Berean. I am confident they will come to the same conclusion I have that Bob Johnson, Pastor John, & Dr. Klenck are correct about John MacArthur & Grace Community Church.
Sometimes the real truth hurts, but God wants us to see & believe the truth, not an image, idol, or a facade no matter it’s reputation or pedigree. Your open blog is the door to the truth. May it remain open.
Ron
From a Christian in Britain
I have just read your wonderful work entitled “The Transformation of John Macarthur’s Grace Community Church –How Change Agents are Transitioning GCC into the New World Order”, it is a very impressive, important and detailed piece of investigating. Well done! You are a wise and gifted person.
I believe your incredible essay will greatly help myself and others in understanding what is happening in our modern world. Thank you so much for posting this on the web.
Communitarianism. Leadership Training, Thought Leadership, Diversity, Sustainability, Paradigm Shift, Change Agents, Team Building , Public- Private Partnerships, the Third Way /Sector, etc, it is all happening here too, in Britain .
I have recently attended a conference in London with speakers like Brian Gerrish, Anthony Hilder, Christopher Story, plus others. It is so important that we start untangling this web of wicked hatred that has been, and is being, woven around ordinary, working class people, leading them astray and undermining us all.
Are you a theologian or a minister of some kind? Have you written other articles or books? If so, I would appreciate details.
