Updates on former groups

[ex-shep]

The post just did not fit in the other threads; so it worked best as its own post. After being out 25 years, there is study of contrasts. There was a campus group at "Midwest State" that was tied directly into the Shepherding Discipleship Movement. I lost a friend to a fundamentalist shepherding group with campus concentrations in the Midwest and the South. Then there was a pentecostal bible school where I was a prospective student who was turned down for admission. [For the record, there never were, except for some understandable initial disappointment, any hard feelings.]

The shepherding group was loosely sponsored by a charismatic Methodist church in town. I never found out until a couple years after I graduated. After a prominent speaker in the Shepherding Movement came to speak on campus, the most senior members of the church were alarmed by the teaching. They saw right through the doctrine. It did not take long for them to realize that something was decidedly fishy. The pastor and campus leader were eventually confronted on the shepherding. The campus leader was in process of leaving for a new ministry opportunity. [He is today well known and respected in the area for his work with the homeless] I remember he had already tendered his resignation effective the end of the school year. Before his last day, he diligently worked with another campus fellowship to merge the groups under their oversight. I knew the person of the other fellowship well. He was a quiet man with a good head on his shoulder. It was good thinking on all involved. The pastor simply resigned without comment and left town. He has never been heard from since. The church today has a great pastor and a loving supportive community.

The group I lost my friend only seems to have done nothing more than damage control. I was in the same group 2005- 2007. The reforms had mixed results. The church I was in was very transparent about their history. I was able to sort out my past experiences and have a good church home. My wife and I were ushers and we had fun at it. There a church in a college town the next town over. I loved it. There were other churches worthy of the hall of shame. After a period of long quiet, the complaints are starting to pour in again. Pretty much same old same old. The church I attended actually left the group completely c.2007 We left in 2007 as we were moving back to Ohio from Texas.

My friend "Tammy" actually left in 1993. Her recovery has been slow and tedious. She always manages to stay in the right direction Sometimes I will get calls or emails on questions she may have. I am blown away as the questions relate back to concerns I kept in prayer decades ago. The greatest blessing is that Tammy and I after a 24 years absence are once again good friends. Shelly is blessed to have here around too.

The bible school moved to another state and became affiliated with mainline pentecostal denomination over 10 years ago. I confess I had a lot of emotional upheaval and resentment when I first read of the news. It appears my fears were unfounded. The denomination brought some excellent professors to the faculty while keeping some of the best qualified men and women prior to the merger. There was one incident in the local news where a former student found himself in trouble with the law. The administration was upfront with the media, saddened by the incident and were willing do anything to maintain the best relations with the local community. My cult antennae never went up. I read it as a genuine apology from the heart. Many alumni are aware the circumstances of my leaving and understand. For those who may have trouble, I politely say that the Lord simply had other ideas, which is true and a good pat answer. Today I have many alumni friends on Facebook. Even though I was never a student per se I was accepted as a friend of the school and am always invited to alumni activities.

The preceding was mixed bag of experience to say to the least. The road to recovery is painful hard work. There are rewards down the road. I admit my crystal ball is in the shop [sic] but the post might give the reader something to look forward to as time goes on.