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As for Todd, hes still a regular member of the church. Chauvin recalls watching the movie version of Taming of the Shrew because it fits into their theology very well, she said. Merritt said there were times he verbally misbehaved at home and around the church staff. "All I need to do is talk about my own weaknesses and my own failures, my own blunders in life," he said. Hed long been depressed, they said, and about a year after he left the church he killed himself. Have you ever lost sleep over a heated disagreement or harsh words? We are open with our plans, and the cost it will take to accomplish them, because they are God-sized plans, and every time weve opened a new building, its been because God has been a part of it. It really was manifested among my staff. I don't think the congregation was aware of all the backstory. Robinson and others said that eventually Todd wound up admitting to at least some of the crimes hed been accused of, but his only punishment was that he wouldnt be allowed to marry anybody in the church. I would often get three or four hours [of sleep] a night because there was always a new recital or a project or a play.. I couldnt imagine being romantic with any of them. 'Resenting God': When Christians Feel Anger, Where Churches Fail, and Why the Bible Is Vital, Actor Corbin Bernsens powerful message about hate and anger', Harvest Bible Chapel formally disqualifies former pastor James MacDonald, citing 1 Timothy 5, Pastor Jonathan Stockstill says ministry leaders should have character, not just gifts. Its all very interesting, looking at it afterwards, she said. Come for some fun, worship and fellowship. So, instead of avoiding eye contact, let's face the tough stuff together, using the Bible as our guide. Im always checking on people around me.. It is affiliated with Converge. He didnt show Abraham what was ahead. It became something where your whole life is that church, she said. Search past episodes of Eagle Brook Church Podcast. Villareal said her stepfather regularly abused her and her mother for years, starting shortly after he married her mom, continuing during their missionary work in Mexico and following their move to Humboldt County. It could have been a number of things. DeSoto said his older brothers disaffection began with typical teenage angst and questioning. Unfortunately, the cons are many. List of the largest evangelical church auditoriums, Growing Eagle Brook Church prepares expansion to Rochester, Thousands flock to Eagle Brook megachurch as pastor retires, Eagle Brook megachurch adds a site with Kmart buy, How Eagle Brook Became The Biggest Church In Minnesota. At Gospel Outreach, an all-male group of elders sits atop the hierarchy. Pat Anderson is a big tent Republican. If you would prefer not to see ads, we have another option. [4] In 2005, it inaugurated a new building at Lino Lakes, Minnesota, with a caf, a bookstore and a 2,100 seat auditorium. Instead, there are lots of blue jeans. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. He called me outside and told me that because I was living with my fianc I was in an evil spirit and I was a puppet of the devil., Mandville believes there are plenty of good people at Gospel Outreach, including their parents, but my dad has really bad depression and a really horrible guilt complex. 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. in Fullerton, CA sometime in 1982 thru 1984 (probably closer to 1984). He said I could have just told him I wanted to leave, but I had been telling him, Sarah said. I've learned over the years as I've observed this stuff, it's not rational; it's emotional. Abigail Mandville, Esthers younger sister, said instruction both in school and out was more about indoctrination than education. Many church members assumed that Durkins son, Jim Durkin, Jr., would take over, but instead it was a man named David Sczepanski, whod been among the early residents at Lighthouse Ranch. Ive worked a lot on that, and now Im able to pursue things I like. and State College Blvd. "They wanted to come back.". First published on April 17, 2017 / 10:10 PM. The school is extremely emotionally abusive and taxing, she said. Thats not what this is. In the 70s and 80s the Gospel Outreach movement spread around the globe, establishing churches in U.S. cities from Alaska to Hawaii to New York and sending missionaries to Europe and Central and South America. Bitterness. 1 Corinthians 3:4-7 (ESV). They left and financiallythe church didnt feela thing (All this is initial. We all have disfunction, he said. Sorry, Im gonna cry. Merritt led the church for . Can doubts and faith coexist? You Betcha: Real advice for real marriages. Thats frowned on., Chauvin, who is now 34, was entering sixth grade when the Gospel Outreach school opened, and she remembers it as a turning point. Although it was unusual when compared to her traditional faith experiences, she loved the music and energy. As a child you see this weird inner sanctum vibe going on, he said. [3] In 1995, the church was renamed Eagle Brook Church. And this guy basically interviewed all my friends, my family members, my staff, anybody who knew me and asked two questions: What's good about Bob? Put this image on your website to promote the show -, Report inappropriate content or request to remove this page. There were scripts you could follow. *Empowered by God to reach others for Christ* What does a conversation with God sound like. Anyone who finds themselves on the outs will be shunned completely. The 8,000-square-foot church resembles a convention center, with the peaked roofline of its cream-colored exterior set off against a backdrop of spindly redwoods. Brainwashing is kind of an overused phrase, but it really is brainwashing.. She was told that Sczepanski had a talk with Todd and warned him not to do anything like that again or else Sczepanski would be legally obligated to report him. She said it took her a while to be ready for that. The mother of one of the victims caught him when he was pushing her daughter on a swing, she said. [5][6] As of 2019, it had opened 8 campuses in different cities in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. I find it interesting that when the Republicans voted to put the two amendments to the state Constitution (marriage and voter ID) on the ballot for the fall elections, there was critical outcry for bringing up moral issues and side-stepping the real fiscal issues. But if lying is your pattern, its most certainly hurting your relationshipswith the people in your life and with God. The strictly enforced insularity of Gospel Outreach acts as a containment mechanism, a way to keep members dependent and submissive, DeSoto said. That's where I really kind of misbehaved, and at home as well, he said. Perhaps Pat Anderson is smart enough to realize that those who voted her out will not let her aberrant opinions become the policy of the Republican Party. Its got to line up with my giftings. Like, Im 9 and I forget my notebook thats $20. She paid her debts by doing odd jobs like babysitting and car washing. Amen. I remember looking around the room going, Were all depressed and just not talking about it., All of us were just constantly sick. Theres this divide: Thats the mens meeting.. Hey, are you missing Christmas? Eagle Brook's approach to church has Minnesotans showing up in droves, and senior pastor Bob Merritt says it's partly because Eagle Brook tries to make the church experience less weird. Watching. A lot of times, God doesnt show us what is ahead. I was just getting worse and worse and I realized the church was the culprit of those feelings the culture, the upbringing, the people there and the teachings. Back in May, two former members of Gospel Outreach of Eureka, a church that grew out of the Christian hippie commune at Lighthouse Ranch, contacted the to report a COVID-19 outbreak among the . He worked out an agreement with Strand that he will always be available to offer advice but will not do so in an encroaching manner. You feel like you're truly connecting with people and sharing your faith. In the first year, things were tough for Merritt as there was some contention among the staff and church membership with his hiring. Well, the Apostle Paul knew a thing or two about immature believers and celebrity pastors, and he wrote about them in 1 Corinthians 3, For when one says, I follow Paul, and another, I follow Apollos, are you not being merely human? When I was nine . Her voice broke. After over nearly three decades of leading what has grown to become the largest church in Minnesota, pastor Bob Merritt has retired from the nine-campus Eagle Brook Church. The writer serves on the Republican Partys 6th Congressional District Executive Committee as vice chair representing Anoka County. Any success weve experienced has little to do with us, and everything to do with the grace of God. Another emailed later that day. Much of the education at Gospel Outreach reinforced the churchs strict gender roles, which call on women to be subservient, according to the former members we spoke with. We are one church in nine locations. Other voices: From the lab or nature, look to China for COVIDs origin, Jermaine Fowler: How forgotten Black history has been recovered by rogue scholars, Hastings delivers improbable rally to stun defending champ St. Michael-Albertville in 3A wrestling final, John Shipley: Timing on Lindsay Whalen decision seems odd, Two graduates allege in lawsuits sexual groping by fellow students, frat-like culture at St. Thomas Academy, Boys section hockey: Mahtomedi breaks away late from Chisago Lakes to earn state tourney return, How much is too much? They would push you for honesty but if you werent giving them what they wanted you had to make it up, Mandville said. We never really got much science or literature. Looking back she thinks that this containment, this narrowing of the world into a hermetic and rigidly controlled society, is as damaging as anything else at Gospel Outreach. Our values are to pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion both locally and globally. Resendez is one of more than 20,000 people who finds weekly comfort at Eagle Brook. More drastically, the number of Minnesotans who say they don't believe in God has tripled in the past decade. It starts with spanking but leads to much more and reporting it is considered uncovering your fathers nakedness., Sarah said she was beaten and molested by a younger church member. "Churches can be so weird," he said. And, to be honest, if you struggle with this, you probably dont think you need to tune in. I have to say, It wasnt you; it was me. Its hard to work through those things., Robinson said it took her a while to realize the full extent of how Gospel Outreach affected her. I grew up in the church and its a dark place, Christen Chauvin said in an email. Ray DeSoto, who grew up in the church with his brothers, described Durkin as a positive character who would welcome homeless refugees from the beach into his religious commune. If you do something well, thats God working through you. I would be willing to talk to you about the abuse I witnessed and received. She asked to remain anonymous to protect younger siblings still in the church. It was part of his controlling thing, she said. Abigail Mandville began cutting herself around the time she turned 17. "So we try to reduce the weird factor.". Maybe. What kind of church would remove the Bible from their teaching? I wasnt doing well, he admitted. What happens on the weekend is not always lived out in the office and meetings with upper management and leadership. "It's not about being big, never has been," he said, adding, "It's justGod keep using us, and we'll try to follow.". I just had a couple of really discerning board members who saw it. An stage adorned with American flags was recently erected on the basketball court across from the church. Its definitely a cult, said Esther Mandville, a 24-year-old former member who was raised in Gospel Outreach. Now pursuing a career as a police officer, Villareal has gotten training in how to recognize signs of abuse. Eagle Brook is one church with multiple locations. He would abuse us both, but instead of banding together, we would turn against each other, Villareal said. In the first year, almost didnt make it, he recalled. Boys and girls were very much equals., Villareal remembers an elder or pastor from the church in Grants Pass questioning this practice. The mom came out [of her house] and saw that hed pulled her underwear down and was touching her in her private areas, Chauvin said. Little white lie or major fibdishonesty can happen to the best of us. It messed with our immune systems, the stress and the amount of sleep we were getting it just wasnt good for your body.. Thats you having independent thinking. I was like, What do you mean? She said, If you have to think about it, it probably wasnt., She told me if I became virtuous then the Lord would give me a husband and take me away from all the abuse.. I agreed to go back. He was definitely a major reason, she said. When Id try to say something from my own opinion, they would kind of attack you, Abigail said. It was not fun to be around.. Below youll find some suicide-prevention resources: Advertising supports our journalism. Ill still do certain things like constantly worrying if everyone else around you is okay. There was this sort of false positivity you have to maintain all the time, which can be taxing.. Thats you. Martin Luther employed the phrase to describe human nature as so thoroughly corrupted by original sin that it curvedly, and viciously seeks all things, even God, for its own sake.. I lived VERY close to there at the time. Eagle Brook is great for people scratching the surface of Christianity, and really, getting people to hear the Word is a good thing. Most people who leave do go a bit wild because they dont know how to function in the real world, so they [church leaders] use them as examples: Look at him; he went into sin., Esther Mandville struggled after leaving, as many do.