In 2015, James MacDonald went on a worldwide missions trip that was so stressful, he needed a safari in South Africa to help him recover from it. At least, that’s what MacDonald, the recently-fired founder of Harvest Bible Chapel, claimed to justify the church paying for the safari for him and two others, according to his bodyguard at the time, Jacob Ross.
But that’s not all.
In a letter Ross submitted to Harvest leadership in late January and was recently leaked to me, Ross writes that MacDonald wasn’t satisfied with his initial budget of $5,000 for the safari. “James decided he wanted to shoot a high value animal,” Ross writes, “a sable to be specific, which cost $15,000 to $20,000.”
So, Ross writes that MacDonald called Fred Adams, former Harvest CFO, and got him to wire additional money from the church to the safari company, “citing his stress from the trip and need for a relaxing vacation doing something he enjoyed.”
[pullquote]“’James decided he wanted to shoot a high value animal . . . a sable to be specific, which cost $15,000 to $20,000.’ So, Ross writes that MacDonald called Fred Adams, former Harvest CFO, and got him to wire additional money from the church.”[/pullquote]Ross also writes that on the same missions trip, Harvest paid for a three- to four-day stay at a resort in the Dominican Republic for MacDonald, Ross, and Harvest Executive Pastor Jeff Donaldson. (Both Donaldson and Ross had also joined MacDonald on the safari.)Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of “Hurt and Healed by the Church” by Ryan George. To donate, click here.
Not only did Harvest pay for the three men, Ross wrote, the church also paid for their wives to fly out and join them. “Again, James justified this expense as the result of the extreme stress he was under on the trip.”
These are just two of numerous incidents in Ross’ letter, showing that MacDonald lived large on the church’s dime. Plus, Ross is not the only former Harvest employee alleging these things. A letter by another former employee alleges that while Harvest was imposing “austerity measures” like removing the coffee and water dispensers, MacDonald was remodeling his office for $150,000 and authorizing a $40,000 fence for a whitetail trophy deer herd at Camp Harvest.
These expenditures were in addition to MacDonald’s salary, which the church continues to keep private. However, Dave Corning, a founding elder who chaired the elder board for 21 years, told me that in 2009, MacDonald was making a combined $550,000 from both the church and Walk in the Word, MacDonald’s broadcast ministry.
Six Devastating Letters Sent to Elders, but Suppressed
Ross’ letter was one of six letters by former and present staff that were presented to Harvest elders about five weeks ago, according to Elder Dan George and former Elder Mike Dunwoody.
These letters are devastating, documenting scores of incidents where MacDonald mocked, threatened, and belittled staff, contractors, and other Christian leaders; lied and reneged on promises; raged at those around him; and prospered financially at the church’s expense. I reached out to the church and MacDonald for comment about these letters, but they did not respond.
[pullquote]”Dunwoody and George said when the elder board met on February 5th, Harvest Assistant Senior Pastor Rick Donald . . . adamantly opposed releasing the letters. So they were withheld.”[/pullquote]I have read all six of the letters, though only five were given to me to publish. I am releasing information today from two of them, which relate to finances—Ross’ letter and a letter by Dean Butters, former executive director of business operations at Harvest. Both Ross and Butters authenticated their letters with me but declined to comment due to non-disclosure agreements.Dunwoody and George said these six letters were key in the board’s decision to fire MacDonald. (The final straw was MacDonald’s vile recorded comments that were aired on Mancow Muller’s Chicago radio show.)
But Dunwoody and George added that the full board almost didn’t get to see the letters. They said most of the letters initially were sent to Campus Pastor Greg Bradshaw, who had been asked by the board to review the letters with three other elders. Dunwoody and George said when the elder board met on February 5th, Harvest Assistant Senior Pastor Rick Donald, who was on the board at the time but has since stepped down, adamantly opposed releasing the letters to the board. So they were withheld. I reached out to Donald for comment, but he did not respond.
However, George said he was able to obtain all the letters independently soon after that meeting. And on February 7th, George and several elders met with MacDonald at Harvest’s Elgin campus. And at that meeting, George said he presented the letters to the group, and MacDonald argued that the letters should not go to the elders. Instead, MacDonald said they should go to Crossroads Resolution Group, the company Harvest had hired to manage their “reconciliation process” with aggrieved parties.
George said Donald and Elder Steve Huston, who chaired the elder executive committee before it was dissolved, argued strongly in favor of MacDonald’s suggestion.
Despite their wishes, George distributed the letters to the other elders—the last of them going to the board on February 12th, the same day MacDonald was fired.
More Evidence MacDonald Spent Church’s Money for Lavish Lifestyle
Like Ross, Butters’ letter documents numerous incidents where MacDonald spent the church’s money to support his lavish lifestyle. And apparently, MacDonald’s African safari was not an isolated incident. Butters writes that MacDonald “led various hunting trips throughout the U.S. and Africa for his friends and couched them as a business expense.”
Butters also said that when MacDonald moved from his Inverness home to his Elgin home, the church paid $50,000 to move and store his personal possessions. Butters added that MacDonald also donated a broken hot tub to the church that cost more to fix than to replace. Yet according to Butters, MacDonald took an $8,000 tax write-off for the donation.
Butters letter also reveals that MacDonald and other executives at Harvest were given bonuses when the church hit certain “revenue target(s).” He adds that one year, someone manipulated the books, attributing income from Camp Harvest to the general fund so church executives would qualify for bonuses.
Butters also writes that MacDonald:
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Bought more than $500 in cigars with church funds
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Tipped a waitress $400 with church funds
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Spent more than $50,000 of church money on his camp site the first year of “Act Like Men Palooza.”
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Demanded that fiber optic cable be installed at Camp Harvest so the internet service would be faster, costing $20,000 per month on a three-year contract.
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Demanded that the church pay to repair his truck after he scraped and dented it on one of the columns in the Elgin church parking garage, blaming security for “setting the cones up wrong.”
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Demanded that his office be remodeled in 2013 for about $150,000, while all senior and middle management, and their direct reports, took a 10-percent pay cut. The church had also removed coffee/water for employees as “austerity measures” due to low giving. (Ross also writes about the remodel, noting that many expenses “exceeded reasonable,” including Ross’ “custom built in hardwood desk that cost several thousand dollars.”)
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During the same time period, the church bought fencing for the new deer herd at Camp Harvest for over $40,000.
Harvest’s “Black Budget” & “Executive Checkbook”
It’s not clear how the church justified paying for MacDonald’s lavish personal expenses, or how these expenses were budgeted. I sent emails this week to the elder board, as well as Harvest CFO Jeff Sharda, but no one responded.
However, as I reported earlier in WORLD Magazine, two former Harvest executives said the church hid about 20-percent of its budget from all but top church staffers and the executive committee (EC). Both said this so-called “black budget” was controlled by Fred Adams.
Also, this week, Bill Sperling—a former member of the EC and a current elder and church treasurer—gave some insight to MacDonald’s spending at a question and answer meeting. According to Sperling, the church maintained an “executive checkbook” that amounted to one-percent of the annual income of the church—about $250,000. Sperling admitted that this “checkbook” was “too liberal” and “not dotting i’s and crossing t’s.” He added that members of the former executive committee knew about this checkbook, as well as the auditors. (Capin Crouse conducts annual audits of Harvest.)
[pullquote]”According to Sperling, the church maintained an ‘executive checkbook’ that amounted to one-percent of the annual income of the church—about $250,000. . . . He added that members of the former executive committee knew about this checkbook, as well as the auditors.”[/pullquote]Four of the five members of the former executive committee remain on Harvest’s elder board. They are Bill Sperling, Steve Huston, Jeff Smith, and Sam Booras. Former EC member Ron Duitsman resigned in February.Sperling’s account seems consistent with what Ross wrote in his letter. Ross said that MacDonald had a church credit card “that was given outside of normal church protocol—set up directly through Fred (Adams).” Ross said he and MacDonald’s former assistant, Chiquita Brown, were also issued credit cards tied to that account.
Ross said he was instructed to put “anything related to James on James’ card.” At the end of each month, Ross said he would give the card statements directly to Adams with descriptions of each charge. Ross said these monthly charges were “regularly in excess of $10,000,” and occasionally as high as “$20,000 to over $30,000.”
Ross said in 2015, MacDonald instructed him to book a vacation at a resort in Naples, Florida, for MacDonald and his wife, Kathy, and to charge it to his church-issued credit card. Ross said MacDonald authorized him to spend “whatever was necessary.” Ross added, “(MacDonald) told me he’d call Fred and his friends on the elder board to justify the expense as necessary due to the tough year he had and the toll it took on him.” Ross said the vacation cost more than $20,000.
According to Rusty Leonard of the watchdog group, Ministry Watch, using church funds for personal use normally qualifies as embezzlement. However, if MacDonald’s spending was approved by the executive committee, it’s not legally embezzlement because the board gave MacDonald the cover he needed to take the money.
However, Leonard said he suspects the IRS might view some of MacDonald’s expenditures as income. So, if MacDonald didn’t pay tax on that income, it could be considered tax evasion.
Ross & Butters Break Silence Due to Hope for Change
Ross said he left his position after continued berating by MacDonald, calling him “stupid,” “incompetent,” “worthless,” and “of no use to him,” proved too much. Ross said he remained silent until now because of a mixture of fear and a desire to not “harm my church.”
He said he finally broke his silence because he believed the vast majority of staff, elders, and members of Harvest are “not privy to many of the situations” he highlighted in his letter. Ross added, “Those who are seeking to make the correct decision regarding the future of Harvest Bible Chapel simply can’t without the correct information.”
Similarly, Butters writes that he left the church because his “ability to continue believing the best about (the leaders over him) diminished.” He added that the “things I was seeing with my eyes, hearing with my ears, and feeling in my soul became more convincing than the narrative that was continually being spun.”
Butters said he wrote his letter “with the hope that it will help to prevent others from being spiritually manipulated and brutalized by James MacDonald and others at Harvest Bible Chapel who carry out his commands.”
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139 Responses
As a Jail Chaplain, I constantly am trying to answer questions from inmates about church leaders who have fallen from grace. They believe what the Bible says, that once we receive Christ, we are a new creation. These incarcerated men and women don’t understand. And they look to follow in the footsteps of Godly leaders with their new found faith.
None of us get it. It saddens us and brings the church body to it’s knees.
Jesus had 12 disciples. One was a backstabbing crook. The Bible gives only one picture of infallible leadership, and that is Jesus Himself.
Some leaders were not called by God. And we do not follow any Pastor/Elder/Deacon/Teacher/Missionary. We follow Christ.
Pastor MaryAnn, I am so grateful to God for you and the fact that you are pouring Christ’s love into these men and women who are babies in Christ, I am thankful they have you there to turn to and answer their questions. God bless your ministry. Jean
Sadly this sounds like a repeat of the Jim and Tammy Bakker episode and how lavish they live all while begging for money. How sad.
Yes it does. Jim Bakker was convicted of 24 felony counts and after 5 years in prison, sadly has a New Church outside of Branson Missouri. Google it and you will be amazed!
So sad what this does to the church!
If you ever read my book, “The Magna Carta of Tithing”, you will see why these leaders are SO successful at robbing the church! I describe how the Crystal Cathedral AND Mars Hill Church went down the same exact path as HBC. I wrote and published this book 4 years ago, James MacDonald told me to my face “it was the most poorly written book he ever read.” Now, HIS books are anathema in Christian book stores and mine will become quite popular soon.
My heart hurts. I was defending James MacDonald (I no longer call him Pastor) up until a couple days ago when I found out the joke about Nancy was true. I had such a hard time believing that he would stoop so low. I’ve been at Harvest for almost 13 years. The Lord was working, changing me , challenging me. I though “surely this can’t be true.God is using James” .
Julie, I deeply apologize for judging you very wrongly. Thank you so much for speaking truth! God Bless you!!!
Beautiful comment. You are not alone in how you feel. My heart hurts too. What a great example of apology btw.
Here’s is more current info about Rabbi Trust: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/rabbitrust.asp
Julie,
I would love to see/hear information regarding MacDonald and Mark Driscolls venture “churches planting churches” that they started after the Haiti Earthquake. I was on staff at Mars Hill Church for many years and there were consistent rumors about where the millions of dollars that were raised in relief for Haiti went. A RICO lawsuit was filed against Driscoll because of these kind of things but was dropped due to lack of funds to continue. Knowing what we know now about both Driscoll and MacDonald there is a high likelihood that they joined together and fleeced us in the name of helping Haitians.
Yes, I’m from harvest and James confessed to a friend of mine that Fred Adams wrote a check to a man (Kim) who was managing the funds for churching helping churches thrubharvest, for $890,000 and then, oops it was gone..the elders at the time, regular elders, were never mm are aware of this. Kimvwas fired, with no accountability. Question is, where did that money go?
I have always tended to give clergy the benefit of the doubt in terms of expenditures because I think that it is too easy to nitpick in that regard but this stuff is completely beyond the pale.
It’s the Elder’s job to oversee all of this shameful spending! If James gets his rocks off by shooting Grizzly Bears and wants to pay for it with his own money, it’s none of our business!
lol, is that you James?
Ken, wake up from your dream. Thanks
Money he got from Harvest. He in fact used people to make money doing his show
If this were all investigated properly, I would venture a guess that some of the campus pastors followed JM’s example of financial mismanagement and lavish spending. I hope when the truth is all brought to light, that all of the deceptive pastors/elders are revealed. That is my prayer ?
I have followed this mess for probably the last 5 years, and I knew about James character issues, and possible money mismanagement. But I am wondering now, if he was ever sincere, ever truly committed to the Gospel. How sad and pathetic, that this sorry excuse for a man has been fleecing his congregation for years, abusing people, demeaning people, pretending to be one thing before the church and being another in his private life. We all sin, we are all pathetic and capable of great unrighteousness, but so much of what he has done seems deliberate, planned and manipulated. And yet the coward is no where to be found, he hasnt got the courage to stand in front of the Members of Harvest, and admit what he has done. And his friendship with that other clown Driscoll, mirror images of eachother, I wasnt aware of the Haiti issues but wouldnt surprise me in the least if the missing funds are in secret bank accounts of the both of them. Act like Men my A** this guy is a complete phony of a man, with his staged hunting trips and his expensive Biker vest, his Custom Harley and his stupid Logo tatoo. . A real man wouldnt have treated his church like an ATM, or its members like expendable garbage. A real man doesnt demean others the way he has. Doesnt try to intimidate or demean Godly women to make himself look important. A real man of God would consider his Church a precious gift, its members something to pour his life into , a real man repects women,holds himself above reproach, learns through his life to control his anger, and as a Leader to motivate others to live their lives worthy of the Gospel as the Apostle Paul did.
I agree. And so does the guys sitting on the thrones in heaven, Jesus and his Dad. From God’s perspective, read Exekiel chapter 34, Jeremiah chapters 22 & 23, AND 1 Samuel chapter 1!! God is NOT sleeping on this case! If JMac, and others, see prison time, it would never surprise me.
How dare he stand up week after week and say, “Harvest, you are loved” then rob people blind to live a selfish lavish lifestyle. Where is James MacDonald right now? Does anyone know?
What makes you think the [You Are Loved] sign is intended for congregants. It was likely speaking to the pocketbooks.
McDonald and anyone who authorized those outlandish expenses can go to jail for fraud and deception. If the members knew what those expenses were, there is no way they would have authorized them. This is one reason why the remaining elders are clinging with white knuckles to hang on to their leadership positions.
Right on all three counts!
Greed and the lust for more are as old as the Garden of Eden. I am sorry for the fall of James MacDonald. I have listened to Walk in the Word occasionally. MacDonald’s sermons seemed
rough on people and for the most part, unloving. It damages the Church at large, for sure. He had
it all and let greed and ego do him in. Too bad. Always enjoyed you on the radio, Julie. I live
in southern Minnesota
Nobody likes it when they realize they have been scammed. The Harvest rank and file members have my sympathy.
I commented some time ago about the Harvest Hubris. Who do the Harvest leaders think they are? It’s obvious that they think they are something great, which precedes their sense of power and entitlement. Instead, they should have realized that leading Christ’s church is a sacred trust that should be done with fear and trembling.
For the Harvest folks who have decided to find another church, please look for this attitude when making your choice. If church staff tells you that the pastors are somehow annointed, don’t walk out, run! They want you to worship the leadership. Find pastors who want you to worship God alone.
Joe, you are right about checking for abusive leadership. I would add:
Do they tightly control announcements, and church calendar so that 95% or more of it is about paid staff and their activities?
How often do they allow anyone else on the stage other than paid staff? And for how long?
Do they have church membership covenants which focus entirely on what you “the member” must do but say little to nothing about what happens should they the elders fail?
In recent memory, how many staff have left abruptly with little or no real explanation?
Men — If and when the next time Jeff Donaldson has the audacity to take the pulpit in Elgin, have you considered doing what’s needed most? Storm the pulpit, remove him from the Lord’s house, and then open God’s word. It’s probably the kindest, wisest (well, maybe not the wisest!) and most loving thing you can do right now and a step in the right direction in removing the filth and stench at Harvest.
Men, if those in leadership aren’t going to take appropriate measures to purify Christ’s bride, and their track record speaks for itself (they won’t), perhaps you can show them how to clean house.
Here’s a start. The next time you see wolves in sheep’s clothing who happen to look just like Jeff Donaldson, Rick Donald, or Steve Huston, kindly show them the door.
Interesting approach. Does anyone remember when J Mac physically chased a Jehovah’s Witness out of his neighborhood ? He used the wolf analogy in that circumstance.
Thank you so much Julie for standing up against the attacks of the devil that Harvest has done. It must be fearful to know the threats and lies that these people at Harvest have done to try to keep their “secrets “ safe by attacking you and others who have stood up. It kinda reminds me of the story of David and Goliath. The fear of man and greed have kept this machine rolling. You risked so much, but knew the TRUTH and you want to protect the sheep from the wolves. We served in Children’s ministry at Harvest and had our babies dedicated there and my husband was baptized by Jeff Donaldson. We left many years ago when we started wondering why they were putting certain people in leadership who were not qualified. (life group leaders and counselors and staff at Harvest)The constant asking for money was excessive. Our eyes were opened and we left. We are thankful we did. One thing we know is quite a few friends of ours wanted their husbands to be on staff at Harvest, to leave the private sector because the pay was so much better at Harvest. This is very heartbreaking that this has continued on for so long. I pray that justice will be served and that ALL who contributed or covered up will be held accountable.
The animal in the picture is a bear and a cold climate bear (most likely Alaska or Russia, the other side of the world from Africa). The current price for adding a sable to a hunt in South Africa ranges between $5,000-$7,000.
I’m not defending or attacking James McDonald. Im just asking you to please check your facts. As someone familiar with hunting prices, I knew that your first picture and opening paragraph “facts” were inaccurate. It makes me question the veracity of the rest of your claims as well.
How do you know how much money he asked for Nick?
Actually, the Alaska trip was a separate vacation from the Safari. This Alaska picture has been circulating for awhile now. There just isn’t a picture record of the Safari. I wouldn’t question the veracity of Julie’s claims if I were you, since one by one she has been proven right. But, some people refuse to believe anything unless there is a picture so she chose to include this picture, proving James hunts for some pretty exotic game….I don’t think she actually thought anyone would think it was a sable!
Wow… seriously? You think J. Roys, TED, Broken Twig, The Daily Herald, the Tribune, the former elders, former members, former staff , and others just made all this up?
Nick, please read the entire article before you make any bird brain comments. There were OTHER safari trips (plural) in the U.S. and Africa plus the 2nd picture of JMac holding the horns of the elk. Many thanks
Not an Elk, but an enormous white tail, probably taken at a deer ranch. I doubt he’s ever truly hunted.
I looked up sable and safari hunts, a $20,000 cost is common on various sites depending upon where and how many days. I do not doubt Julie’s facts. This man is an absolute menace. He should not be called a pastor but rather IMPOSTER! It is amazing he performed this charade for so long!
Julie,
Thks for uncovering the numerous sins of JMac and his crew allowing former staff to have the courage to come forward at this critical time. To piggyback on my hero Johnnie Moore and Kairos; the following thots are my spin on this issue. 1. Cigars are less harmful than cigarettes. 2. Coffee removed to keep people from being caffeine addicts. 3. Adhere to the Mormon virtue of a caffeine-free lifestyle. 4. New income generating revenue by charging exorbitant prices for coffee; w/ additional charge for stir sticks, sugar, cream, etc. 5. Tap water is just as refreshing and dispensed water. 6. New income generating revenue by charging exorbitant prices for bottled water; w/ additional charge for hot water, teabags, stir sticks, sugar, cream, etc. 7. Cost savings Safari trip did not include the Mac boys, other staff, Yes-men and spouses. 8. Safari trophies are needed as momentos to mount in his MacMansion on his many bare walls. 9. Donation of broken tubs promotes JMac strong belief that “one man’s treasure is his garbage.” 10. JMac believes in saving Mother Earth by promoting the 3 Rs=- Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce.” Can someone have the IRS and Lisa Madigan investigate these crimes and sins!
Who is responsible for all the debt? Will the leadership current and former liquidate all assets to make things right, be above reproach.
Start by selling the trophies. Why did JM need the church to pay for vacations. He made plenty to do extravagant trips.
What kind kool aid was served at leadership meetings?
What a fool I would feel like if I had been conned by this ungodly (to say the least) man! I would not give another red cent to HBC . The picture alone makes me ragey; I don’t care which “hunt” it came from. Call in the IRS, hire forensic accountants, but get out of that “Church” that allowed all of this to happen.
Amen Julie. Keep up shining the light.
First and foremost I can’t believe Jeff Donaldson dares to stand before ANY congregation. He, like James, has a SEERED conscience. Have you hardened your heart and “forgotten the height from which you have fallen.” (Rev 2:5)
Jeff, you stood before me 3 weeks ago and lied right to my face so convincingly without a blink. Not 10 minutes later Mike Dunwoody told me the exact opposite of what you told me. Only a pathological liar can lie so easily and so convincingly. It usually means they have had great practice honing their skill. We see where Mike stands with his public confession and resignation, willing to sacrifice much for character, integrity, and right standing before God. He still has many personal relationships to heal. Julie’s article shows where your alliance falls and fails.
Now to all seven campus pastors:
I agree with the comment that all campus pastors had some knowledge and are complicit with the spending, actions, speech, and negligence of James McDonald in one manner or another. Consider this: In many states if a bartender continues to serve drinks to an obviously drunk individual and that person goes out gets behind the wheel of a car and kills somebody that bartender is held responsible for damages (Dramshop liability)… Use that same principle here… while James didn’t go out and physically kill anyone— how many congregants’ finances did he kill? Faith did he kill? belief in the church did he kill??? Belief in God did he assassinate?
For each individual that James MacDonald and company negatively impacted… their family–their spiritual walk– their faith in the church– their faith in God—you are partially responsible because you were part of the problem and just stood by passively and said nothing or worse than that told us the opposite of what was really true. You got up each weekend spinning a version that would be acceptable to whatever itching ears wanted to hear (2Tim 4:3) and although you weren’t giving this information in a sermon it was still information you were disseminating to your flock. No better than a false prophet!!! Many times it was only a version of the truth.
By saying nothing, or only a half-truth or a lie by omission, you in essence were saying WE’RE WITH HIM…HE’S OUR BOSS.. YES…HE’S ALL GOOD…AND WE TRUSTED YOU!!!!
I guess that big six-figure income made it easier to say whatever script was handed to you and to stand by him. How does the salary of the campus Pastor for the Evangelical churches across the road from yours compare? Is your big salary something that keeps you from walking away or speaking up?
(Ex 23:8) Do not accept a bribe for a bribe binds those who see and twist the words of the righteous.
(Prov 12:25) An anxious heart weighs a man down.
(Prov 11:15) He who puts up security for another will surely suffer but he who refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe.
I have no idea if any campus Pastor will read this but I hope it reaches the eyes of at least some of them. Particularly Jeff Bradshaw or Mo or Craig Steiner, who is said to be considering resigning. Perhaps one of these men has not reached the point of having a seered conscience
oh and I just wanted to add I’m sickened by the whole financial disclosure because I can’t tell you how my friend, a single mother of two teenagers living on disability who tithed at HBC had to jump through hoops with the benevolence fund team at Elgin to get a stinkin’ mattress for her teenage son to sleep on so he didn’t have to sleep on the floor in her section 8 apartment.!! Not only that they made her wait for months to get the mattress just to make sure she really needed it!!
Please do not call these people “pastors” they are not , if any of them have ever taken even one dollar as payment for anything then they are HIRELINGS that “care not for the sheep” Jesus’ words
The theology of American evangelical Christianity creates the atmosphere and justification for disgusting people like this to flourish unchecked.
Nancy yes!! It needs to be broken down how the theology is used to abuse good people financially so the sheep can get smarter and stop letting the James Macdonalds of the world get created
I am a longtime listener of Walk in the Word from Minnesota. I supported with my giving also. As a divorced man whose wife left me for another man I have felt much pain. But WITW genuinely helped me recover. I liked James and when I took my young son to Niagara Falls in 2005, we had to stop at church for a service. James wasn’t there that day. I was disappointed but the guest speaker Michael Easley did well. Over time, James’s shrieking and groaning style of speaking started to grow tiresome for me. I started listening less often and the giving moved onto other ministries. Something didn’t seem right with all the questions regarding his association with TD Jake’s and recent revelations on how he felt slighted because other ministries got better radio slots was astonishing to me. Somewhere, James lost his way. He is in the hands of God. I pray that he will recognize his sin and repent. Too many leaders love the accolades. We must remain humble lest we stumble.
I BEG TO DIFFER REGARDING BEING IN THE HANDS OF GOD……….
HEBREWS 6:4-6 Clearly states “FOR IT IS IMPOSSIBLE …. read the rest….. WHO PUT HIM TO AN OPEN SHAME. LOST FOREVER, TOSSED DIRECTLY INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE ALONG WITH THE BEAST and the IMAGE OF THE BEAST. NO JUDGEMENT just TOSSED…..
Don’t be fooled by Steve Huston’s Resignation. This is all a slow play by Team 2020. Harvest will be turned over to crooks and Janes will flew with his millions.
Thank you Julie, for shedding more light. The whole situation is a strong warning to us not to drift away and be pulled into the world’s ways. “Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and one who does not serve him.” Malachi 3:18
There is a crisis in the church in its finacial structures – especially in the evangelical community, which exploits the church, as a business, to entitle the members. The local church was an invention of the necessity of finding an authority other than the king or pope, thus it is the standing of the local church that establishes the basis of the corruptions. However, the local church was the composition of the whole community, which included the members of the religious society (those who attend the church services and adhere to the minister’s teaching). The adminstrations of tithes (abundance) – stored to support the community at large, offerings (sacrificial love) offered to support ministers, alms (project funds) given to support the poor, and fees (the contributions to support the costs of the services) – has been allowed to be made into a business construct through the NPO structure, that makes the church, being separate from the state – utterly vulnerable to fraud and deception. Ministers were called to be supported by faith – and when given a salary (like a CEO) they are no longer ministers, but are service providers – in business without owners.This is not just a bad business construct (as boards are inadequate in oversight) but also it makes the church a fraud. The funds of the church were meant to be disclosed – and the congregants kept informed of the use of tithes in the administration of the storehouse (for widows, orphans, aliens, celebrations, community needs and priestly support). Making a church into a business – which is the purpose of the “growth” model of the church – is simply a way to take the resources of the community, the poor, real ministry (by vocational calling and faith support), missions and community celebration, and spending them on the servicing of an increasingly entitled audience, that is as guilty of the mis-use of church funds, as the ministers and boards. The audience wants to be serviced. This is not a worship model, which is meant to overcome the world, but instead is a prostitution model, meant to use the world to service the entitled.
Dave Libby – do you mean like a HARLOT that is in Revelation?
Thanks for shining the Light, Julie. It’s hard not to read this and go “Yeesh!!!” at the sheer level of money wasted…
I feel bad for the animals pictured. The bear seems to say “Oh, the iginomy.” And the Elk/Buck looks embarrassed to be in the “selfie” with James.
It’s not just bad pride-driven financial stewardship, it’s bad ugly pride stewardship of creation. Ugh, dude. Ugh.
Keep bringing the sin to the light to purify, Oh Lord.