Spiritual Abuse Forum???

[LaVonne]

Originally Posted by pelathais

6. Sherri, is this why you bring up Lois Gibson's very well known site now? Are you trying to garner comments like Barb's to deflect from the fact that you have failed to "get with the program?"

Lois has been out there for years and is consistently among the top Google searches for "United Pentecostal Church." Further, "Sarge" has been a main stay since the old FCF days. She doesn't proselytize and I've never seen her ever be antagonistic. But she has never made a secret about who she is and where her web site is.

Many other posters to AFF, NFCF and FCF have had links to her website in their sig lines. Recently Steve Epley complained that AFF was beginning to sound like "Lois' site" because of the "easy believism" and other inaccurate characterizations. This was followed with similar comments on other threads.

Let's not play the "get along just to get along" game with eeach other. We should really be trying to lift one another closer to God. From my negative experiences in the UPC and among Apostolics in general I have observed that the various peer pressure tactics combined with the "code of silence on complaints" and the "angry shunning" actually remove Apostolics from the presence of God.

If you've been around Pentecost for at least a decade outside of the core regions, you have seen how what I have described has destroyed entire congregations as well as countless individual lives.

Finally, I remember a recent comment by an AFF poster when he described the state/district of Kansas as being "small" and "not contributing a whole lot of money to headquarters..." I had to laugh. This man actually played along with a very aggressive program led by a late KS D.S. that was designed to keep the Kansas District small and to keep they contributions to "headquarters" very small.

You really have to laugh at such duplicity- except it's not real duplicity: the man actually believes what he says and can't figure out why trying to keep a "clean district" has resulted in the virtual demise of that district. Just can't figure out why revival has largely passed them by.
Just like the rest of the UPC can't figure out what it will take to bring "real revival." They know what it takes. It's just that they will resist revival until their daying day.

What in the world is this supposed to mean?

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by CareyM

What in the world is this supposed to mean?

When a person asks a question, it means they desire more information about the subject of the question.

All human languages contain statements that can be offered in the form of a question.

Or do you intend to play "the game" with me? Is that why you asked what my question meant? Are you also, "agenda driven?"

[Barb]

Originally Posted by CareyM

What in the world is this supposed to mean?

I honestly don't know either, girl, and am frankly hurting too much physically right now to dig into it...but it's okay. Pela has always showed me the utmost respect, and I am sure he feels the same for Sherri.

[Barb]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Do you also wish that the UPC had dropped the policies that caused folks like this to leave?

I obviously don't speak for Sherri, or Brother Cupples. In fact, I'm probably making Sherri mad by pushing this. But Sarah, how sincere are you in what you say?

I can sincerely say that I wish they had not left.

I can sincerely say that I wish 'things' had not happened that caused them to leave.

And I can sincerely say that though they are not numbered with the UPCI, they are still a part of 'us'.

Originally Posted by Rev

I think Coonskinner knows the woman. He didn't seem to think to highly of her.

No, Coonskinner does not know me personally- only via contact through these boards. We both have a mutual respect for one another and he's even called me "sister."

Originally Posted by Barb

Anyway, she read some of my posts and thinking I was a nice enough sort, she asked me to write an article for her site. My piece could be about anything I chose to write about and she would not edit.

She remained true to her word, and even wrote a nice note at the end of the article.

This is quite true. And her article has remained along with her email so people could give her feedback.

Hello there, Barb!

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Barb

I honestly don't know either, girl, and am frankly hurting too much physically right now to dig into it...but it's okay. Pela has always showed me the utmost respect, and I am sure he feels the same for Sherri.

I'm sorry to hear about your pain, Sister Barb. I'll be praying for you in a few minutes.

I don't know Sherri, but I do respect her's and her husband's ministry highly. They do some incredible things and don't take a pile of other people's money to do it. "Love & Truth" Ministries is awesome.

The UPC is also "awesome" in my book; except in the areas that generate the "negative testimonies" and the "spiritual abuse." We need to talk about these things among ourselves more so that "outsiders" won't have to do the talking for us. jmho...

[LaVonne]

Originally Posted by pelathais

When a person asks a question, it means they desire more information about the subject of the question.

All human languages contain statements that can be offered in the form of a question.

Or do you intend to play "the game" with me? Is that why you asked what my question meant? Are you also, "agenda driven?"

I am not "agenda driven". I'm just trying to figure out what you mean by Sherri "failing to get with the program". If you mean that just because she's not UPC, that's she not "with the program"...then you've got serious problems!

[StMark]

DIDN"T I TELL YOU I WAS ABOUT TO TELL HER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by CareyM

I am not "agenda driven". I'm just trying to figure out what you mean by Sherri "failing to get with the program". If you mean that just because she's not UPC, that's she not "with the program"...then you've got serious problems!

I hope that my last post gives you some idea of my respect for the Cupples.

I was trying to be ironic with the "failing to get with the program..." remark. In fact, I think we need to work a little harder to catch up with Sherri.