IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS THINKING OF LEAVING THIS NETWORK, PLEASE HAVE THEM READ THIS BLOG FIRST!
Introduction:
I have been asked to share some of my reflections regarding our January 2015 separation from The Potters House /CFM /The Door fellowship of Churches. Though at first unsure, thinking of the amount of pastors (& congregants) that have already gone through & will go through their own separation from The Potters House /CFM /The Door, these reflections will be helpful for those processing this journey.
Due to the heavy shepherding culture of The Potters House, separation from them is difficult, this post is to help people process that journey better.
For posterity, the following list of 62 (over 55%) pastors no longer in the Potters House UK &/or churches shut down is not exhaustive and (does not include the amount of congregants that leave nor the multiple dozens of redirected pastors) is only from memory. However what it does show, is that statistically a significant number of current pastors will go through their own separation from Potters House within the next few years. When this post was written in the UK number was 32 & has now grown to 62
Peter Bayerman –
(Started Walthamstow - No Longer in PH);
David Vicary (Bury St Edmunds: Walthamstow: UK leader - No Longer
in PH);
John Galt (Bury St. Edmunds- No Longer in PH);
Dave Foster (Scotland churches shut down- No Longer in PH);
Neil Watts? (Started Cambridge - church shut down- No Longer in
PH);
Trevor Bradshaw (Started Torquay - church shut down- No Longer in
PH);
Jon Spurgeon (started Wembley, the church left PH - No Longer in
PH);
Toks Odofin (Started Shepherds Bush, the church left the
fellowship- No Longer in PH);
Clement Okusi (started Croydon - the church split, No Longer in
PH);
Kevin Brown (Dundee church shut down- No Longer in PH);
George Tafla (started Kilburn church shut down- No Longer in PH);
John Onelum (started Ealing; Manor Park church shut down- No Longer
in PH);
Tony Ogunike; (Shepherds Bush, Church shut down - No Longer in PH)
Kelvin Roy-Palmer (started Tottenham Church; Missionary to Ghana;
Guyana; West Bromwich- No Longer in PH);
Julian Mabey; (Norwich;
Bury St Edmunds; Missionary - No Longer in PH)
Kantz Mizra (Barry, Wales church shut down- No Longer in PH);
Craig Thomas (started Cardiff - No Longer in PH);
Everton Brown (started Watford - Church shut down, No Longer in
PH);
Roy Hewitt (started Wandsworth - No Longer in PH);
Easton Wilson (started Bolton - No Longer in PH);
Jason Morris (started Wolverhampton - No Longer in PH);
Chris ? (started Woolwich- No Longer in PH);
Kodjo Abolou (Started Lyon church shut down- No Longer in PH);
Fola Oyediran (started Jos; Nigeria; Church shut down, & Dublin
church - No Longer in PH);
Gary Taylor (Newcastle- No Longer in PH);
Michael Nicholau (Started Edmonton - church shut down- No Longer in
PH);
Alex Amaku (Started Kilburn, church shut down- No Longer in PH);
Nigel Davies (started Norwich- No Longer in PH);
Michael Lopez (Nottingham- No Longer in PH);
Jim Calhoun (sic) (Edinburgh, church shut down- No Longer in PH);
Richard Tull (Started Merton & Clapham church - both shut down-
No Longer in PH);
Topps Oluwatobi (Started Hackney - church shut down- No Longer in
PH);
Andrew Martin (Brighton- No Longer in PH);
Clyde Planter (Bristol- No Longer in PH);
Emmanuel Okonkwo (Anthony Village Lagos; Nigeria- No Longer in PH),
Ashley Charles (Canterbury church - No Longer in PH),
Paul Pritchard (Started Stockport church shut down- No Longer in
PH);
Kosi Amesu (Manchester church - No Longer in PH);
Yomi Oluwatobi (Liverpool- church shut down- No Longer in PH);
Juvencio Da Silva (Started Streatham, Oldham, both churches shut
down);
Ephraim Morgan (Started Openshaw Manchester, church shut down - No
longer in PH);
Christian Chukuwelu (Brighton- No Longer in PH);
Ben Baiden (Started Deptford - Church shut down);
George Oduro Mensah (Started Spelthorne - Church shut
down);
Jonathon Beckford (Started Oxford, Church shut down);
Luke Saunders (Started Crawley Church - Church shut down - No
Longer in PH)
Linton Robinson (started Church in wales - Church shut down - No
longer in PH)
Mark Claxton (Started Chelmsford – no Longer in PH)
John Amponsah (Coventry – Church shut down)
Allister Cameron (Glasgow – Church shut
down – No Longer in PH)
Rexton Davidison (Stratford – Church shut
down)
Nana Owusu (Colliers Wood – Church shut down)
Sean Woolmer (Newcastle – No longer in PH)
Tass Sawyer (started Church in Chatham? - Church shut down -
No longer in PH)
Nathan Plamer (Walthamstow Worship leader / Pastored in
Southampton) - No Longer in PH
Dominic Dorrant (Streatham - Church shut down).
Daniel Leung (Started Preston - Left to go Hillsong Sydney) - No
Longer in PH
Stanley Gadagah (Coventry) - No Longer in PH
Chandi (Birmingham - Church shut down) - No Longer in PH
Neil McCann (Glasgow
- Church shut down) - No Longer in PH
Joe Stephens (South
London Church) - No Longer in PH
Louis (Swindon Church)
- No Longer in PH
Freedom
When separating from a heavy handed controlling shepherding network, you can
feel a tremendous sense of freedom and release from their legalism & control. My wife & I were able to attend more Saturday evening restaurants,
shows and family gatherings together in the first nine months out of PH then we
did in the five years prior. The danger however, is that is in this ‘new found freedom’ you drop your guard,
cross boundaries and enter into devastating sin. This is often, used by the
network as a controlling mechanism of ‘look what happens when you leave PH’ to the extent
there is an expectation that those who leave PH will fail. PH has been known to speak negatively & curse those who have separated from them.
Different people will take different amounts of time to process leaving a network like PH; some say it took them several years to readjust to a more balanced biblical lifestyle. For us the most challenging part was the first ninety days but gradually we began to heal and readjust to a new paradigm & recalibration of ministry.
What to do?
Maintain boundaries and resist temptation, but generally unless something obviously needs to be changed immediately, proceed slowly, give it at least six – twelve months before making major changes. For example we have not had a TV in our home for twenty years (PH ministry rule) and though we have been out of the network for a year now we still do not have one (yet).
This may seem strange to those outside of PH, but is an exemplar of the PH culture. One of the first questions ex members are often asked by those still in PH is "have you got a TV?". This is regarded by some within PH as "backsliding".
Faith
When you become a part of a church network, it invariably shapes your thinking & worldview, especially if you are ‘saved’ in it. You buy into their ethos and vision. In fact these might have been the very qualities that attracted you to them in the first place.
However the danger with this is that your Christian worldview becomes limited & even distorted by your insular context. In other words you must believe that God is bigger, wider, deeper, higher and more accurate than you or your networks theological viewpoint.
Faith
When you become a part of a church network, it invariably shapes your thinking & worldview, especially if you are ‘saved’ in it. You buy into their ethos and vision. In fact these might have been the very qualities that attracted you to them in the first place.
However the danger with this is that your Christian worldview becomes limited & even distorted by your insular context. In other words you must believe that God is bigger, wider, deeper, higher and more accurate than you or your networks theological viewpoint.
Ephesians 3:20 (TLB) says this: Now
glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do
far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of-- infinitely
beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.
If your faith is confined only to the perspective of your network, then should you be separated from that network, your faith may struggle to adapt, especially if some (erroneously) equate separation from a network as separation from Christ, the will of God or the Church universal (Matthew 16:18).
This means you must have a reservoir of scripture and theological understanding upon which you can draw upon to help you move towards your God ordained destiny and future. You must know that your destiny is never limited to a network or leader but like Joseph and David, is bound up in the bundle of the living with God himself (Genesis 37-50; 1st Samuel 25:29).
What to do?
You must cultivate a broader viewpoint of Christianity, which requires you connecting with perspectives & people beyond your network. This may also involve reading other authors and perspectives than those espoused by your network. For others this may involve biblical courses and education (many can be done online). I obtained University degrees (BD Spurgeons & MA Regents) in theology whilst pastoring full time, which enabled me to get a broader perspective.
You do not need formal theological education to pastor successfully, but one of the things formal education does is teach you is to ‘ask’ and ‘answer’ the "right" questions’ (1st Peter 3:15). Many controlling networks do not like people to ask certain questions or to think independently and this can lead to accusations of rebellion and independence.
Finances
When you become part of a network invariably your finances become entwined in it, by virtue of your giving into the vision of the network via tithes, offerings, pledges, love offerings, world evangelism, mission, conferences, etc. For example, many sincere congregants and pastors have made huge financial sacrifices in supporting their network only to fall out with them later. One congregant gave a quarter of a million dollars to a church in support of his pastors vision, only for his pastor to be unfairly forced out a little while later.
Another way your finances are entwined in a network is if you are receiving your main income from the network by virtue of your role as a pastor, evangelist, or staff member. Pastors have families to feed and bills to pay like everyone else. Now being separated from the network becomes more than just a theological issue but one of economic survival, especially the older you get (Luke 16:3-9).
Ministers have been known to stay in a network they strongly disagreed with purely for financial reasons to the point of even compromising their conscience before God (Acts 23:1).
PH will regularly challenge working pastors to give up their jobs/careers to go full time in the ministry. This challenge will be presented in noble biblical terms, but BEWARE it is a point in which PH will control you. One well known senior PH evangelist was cancelled by the founder because he simply encouraged Christian music videos as a part of evangelism. He then had to get a job in his mid 60's to feed his family.
If your faith is confined only to the perspective of your network, then should you be separated from that network, your faith may struggle to adapt, especially if some (erroneously) equate separation from a network as separation from Christ, the will of God or the Church universal (Matthew 16:18).
This means you must have a reservoir of scripture and theological understanding upon which you can draw upon to help you move towards your God ordained destiny and future. You must know that your destiny is never limited to a network or leader but like Joseph and David, is bound up in the bundle of the living with God himself (Genesis 37-50; 1st Samuel 25:29).
What to do?
You must cultivate a broader viewpoint of Christianity, which requires you connecting with perspectives & people beyond your network. This may also involve reading other authors and perspectives than those espoused by your network. For others this may involve biblical courses and education (many can be done online). I obtained University degrees (BD Spurgeons & MA Regents) in theology whilst pastoring full time, which enabled me to get a broader perspective.
You do not need formal theological education to pastor successfully, but one of the things formal education does is teach you is to ‘ask’ and ‘answer’ the "right" questions’ (1st Peter 3:15). Many controlling networks do not like people to ask certain questions or to think independently and this can lead to accusations of rebellion and independence.
Finances
When you become part of a network invariably your finances become entwined in it, by virtue of your giving into the vision of the network via tithes, offerings, pledges, love offerings, world evangelism, mission, conferences, etc. For example, many sincere congregants and pastors have made huge financial sacrifices in supporting their network only to fall out with them later. One congregant gave a quarter of a million dollars to a church in support of his pastors vision, only for his pastor to be unfairly forced out a little while later.
Another way your finances are entwined in a network is if you are receiving your main income from the network by virtue of your role as a pastor, evangelist, or staff member. Pastors have families to feed and bills to pay like everyone else. Now being separated from the network becomes more than just a theological issue but one of economic survival, especially the older you get (Luke 16:3-9).
Ministers have been known to stay in a network they strongly disagreed with purely for financial reasons to the point of even compromising their conscience before God (Acts 23:1).
PH will regularly challenge working pastors to give up their jobs/careers to go full time in the ministry. This challenge will be presented in noble biblical terms, but BEWARE it is a point in which PH will control you. One well known senior PH evangelist was cancelled by the founder because he simply encouraged Christian music videos as a part of evangelism. He then had to get a job in his mid 60's to feed his family.
PH are very nervous about pastors who are financially independent from them. We gave one young pastor sound biblical financial advice about having multiple income streams to which the national leader replied "it was immoral for Pastor Clement to tell you that"!
What to do?
You must be a good steward and develop income streams outside of the influence of your network.
In Genesis 2:10-14 God puts Adam in the
Garden of Eden. His job was to maintain the garden, yet God provided
four (income) streams (Pishon, Gihon, Hiddekel, and Euphrates) to help him to do
it. This meant that if one stream dried up, there were other streams
that enabled God’s work to continue.
The hypocrisy, is that many (if not all) of the leaders within PH will have multiple investments (property, stocks, shares, companies, huge retirement fund etc), whilst putting financial pressure on others to sacrifice. Several leaders within PH are multi millionaires and have privately shown me their investments. (Proverbs 10:5).
The hypocrisy, is that many (if not all) of the leaders within PH will have multiple investments (property, stocks, shares, companies, huge retirement fund etc), whilst putting financial pressure on others to sacrifice. Several leaders within PH are multi millionaires and have privately shown me their investments. (Proverbs 10:5).
Friends
This is a big issue - when you become a part of a network invariably over time your friendships become concentrated on those within the network. You become gradually disconnected from relationships outside of the network (especially those that are unsaved), because you become absorbed by the culture and work ethic of the network.
Most people within PH have few if any real relationships outside of PH.
Should you then become disconnected from the network, you may also find yourself disconnected from those very same friendships. In other words you need to be aware than many of your current and closest relationships in the network are conditional upon you remaining in the network. It is not uncommon for long term friends who were best men and bridesmaids at each other’s weddings to be shunned later because of being separated from the network.
It often surprises and shocks people to find that what they considered to be genuine lifelong friendships and alliances are lost when they are no longer part of the network. Often the refrain is ‘righteousness over relationships’ (thank God he does not think this way otherwise we would be righteously punished for our sins, John 3:16). This becomes even more difficult when the separated one is painted negatively by the network.
Many years ago, I began to view the Church as being much broader than my insular sphere. This brought me into relationships with people that were outside of my network. This became critical when I was at my lowest ebb, because many of these friends (outside of the network) stood by me and my family, for which I am grateful for.
What to do?
You must build and cultivate relationships beyond the control and influence of your network. Proverbs 18:1 says A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment.
Family
One of the common things upon joining a network is that you want your family to also be a part of that network. There are many instances where whole families have joined a network through an initial family member joining. However when there is a separation one of the early causalities can be family relationships. Stories abound of marriages, and families divided over network loyalty. One network founding leader even refused to attend the funeral of his daughter who had left the network along with her husband many years prior.
Unfortunately it is becoming more and more common for leaders tol target the wife of a man who wants to leave. Many times wives will have most of their friends & relationships in the network. This can be taken advantage of by the network.
In 1 Timothy 3:1-5 the order is not ministry first, it is family first. It is family that qualifies you for ministry:
1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence
5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)
This is a fundamental posturing of your life in relation to family and family relationships are not to be trivialised.
What to do?
View your family as a divine priority, spend time with them and do not neglect them.
Forgiveness
Being separated from a network can be painful. For some it is one of the most devastating and traumatic experiences of life. As a result you can feel betrayed, bitter & violated. Therefore one has to intentionally work at guarding ones heart. Proverbs 4:23 says: Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
Now this is not an excuse to tell those who have been hurt or violated ‘get over it’….. I believe God hears and heeds the bitter cries of his people (Exodus 3:9). In 1 Samuel 1:10 it was Hannah’s bitterness of soul that led her to cry out to God. This led to her vow of faith in dedicating her not yet conceived baby son Samuel to God.
Forgiving others does not mean you are letting people get away with it or ignoring the fact that you may have been treated unfairly. What is does mean is that you trust God who sees the bigger picture, whilst also knowing that our relationships are both vertical and horizontal. Jesus is clear that unforgiveness towards our fellow man hinders our relationship with Him (Matthew 6:15; Genesis 50:20).
What to do?
Pray for and forgive those you feel have hurt you.
Facts
When separations occur there are often many sides and perspectives to the whys and hows of what happened. As people try to process whatever limited information they have, facts will be misunderstood, exaggerated and unfortunately twisted. Potters House are experts at shielding their members from the facts & creating a narrative that the person who leaves is at fault (rebel). Such is the information control, that It is not uncommon for people to have died & fellow members had no idea.
As Christians we are people of truth, often for us (at least for me) truth is black and white. So when we hear things that are not true (especially negativity about us) we want to set the record straight. Proverbs 18:17 says: Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight (TLB).
The problem is, you cannot respond to every inaccurate story or account. If you do, you are likely to end up frustrated emotionally and spiritually drained in the process. There is a place for recording your views and your side of the story, but once you have done that and made it available for those who need to hear it, then you must leave it!
This has been a challenge for me, because as those who have debated me know, I like to get my point across. And it has been a great lesson in learning to shut up! In Matthew 27:12-14 (TLB) we read of how Jesus responded to the many accusations against him
12 But when the chief priests and other Jewish leaders made their many accusations against him, Jesus remained silent.
13 "Don't you hear what they are saying?" Pilate demanded.
14 But Jesus said nothing, much to the governor's surprise.
What to do?
Examine your own heart, motives and actions, where have you erred? With integrity state your side of the story as clearly as possible, to the relevant parties and leave it to God to vindicate you.
Psalms 26:1(NKJ) Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip.
Conclusion
Separating from a church network can be painful and traumatic, but it is survivable & thrivable! You need to know that there is life, joy, purpose and destiny in Christ Jesus beyond any organisation.
My prayer is that those who find themselves going through a similar painful situation will come out of it with their relationship with Jesus Christ and their family stronger than ever, knowing their best years are ahead of them.
Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)
Shalom.......
Should you then become disconnected from the network, you may also find yourself disconnected from those very same friendships. In other words you need to be aware than many of your current and closest relationships in the network are conditional upon you remaining in the network. It is not uncommon for long term friends who were best men and bridesmaids at each other’s weddings to be shunned later because of being separated from the network.
It often surprises and shocks people to find that what they considered to be genuine lifelong friendships and alliances are lost when they are no longer part of the network. Often the refrain is ‘righteousness over relationships’ (thank God he does not think this way otherwise we would be righteously punished for our sins, John 3:16). This becomes even more difficult when the separated one is painted negatively by the network.
Many years ago, I began to view the Church as being much broader than my insular sphere. This brought me into relationships with people that were outside of my network. This became critical when I was at my lowest ebb, because many of these friends (outside of the network) stood by me and my family, for which I am grateful for.
What to do?
You must build and cultivate relationships beyond the control and influence of your network. Proverbs 18:1 says A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment.
Family
One of the common things upon joining a network is that you want your family to also be a part of that network. There are many instances where whole families have joined a network through an initial family member joining. However when there is a separation one of the early causalities can be family relationships. Stories abound of marriages, and families divided over network loyalty. One network founding leader even refused to attend the funeral of his daughter who had left the network along with her husband many years prior.
Unfortunately it is becoming more and more common for leaders tol target the wife of a man who wants to leave. Many times wives will have most of their friends & relationships in the network. This can be taken advantage of by the network.
In 1 Timothy 3:1-5 the order is not ministry first, it is family first. It is family that qualifies you for ministry:
1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence
5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)
This is a fundamental posturing of your life in relation to family and family relationships are not to be trivialised.
What to do?
View your family as a divine priority, spend time with them and do not neglect them.
Forgiveness
Being separated from a network can be painful. For some it is one of the most devastating and traumatic experiences of life. As a result you can feel betrayed, bitter & violated. Therefore one has to intentionally work at guarding ones heart. Proverbs 4:23 says: Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
Now this is not an excuse to tell those who have been hurt or violated ‘get over it’….. I believe God hears and heeds the bitter cries of his people (Exodus 3:9). In 1 Samuel 1:10 it was Hannah’s bitterness of soul that led her to cry out to God. This led to her vow of faith in dedicating her not yet conceived baby son Samuel to God.
Forgiving others does not mean you are letting people get away with it or ignoring the fact that you may have been treated unfairly. What is does mean is that you trust God who sees the bigger picture, whilst also knowing that our relationships are both vertical and horizontal. Jesus is clear that unforgiveness towards our fellow man hinders our relationship with Him (Matthew 6:15; Genesis 50:20).
What to do?
Pray for and forgive those you feel have hurt you.
Facts
When separations occur there are often many sides and perspectives to the whys and hows of what happened. As people try to process whatever limited information they have, facts will be misunderstood, exaggerated and unfortunately twisted. Potters House are experts at shielding their members from the facts & creating a narrative that the person who leaves is at fault (rebel). Such is the information control, that It is not uncommon for people to have died & fellow members had no idea.
As Christians we are people of truth, often for us (at least for me) truth is black and white. So when we hear things that are not true (especially negativity about us) we want to set the record straight. Proverbs 18:17 says: Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight (TLB).
The problem is, you cannot respond to every inaccurate story or account. If you do, you are likely to end up frustrated emotionally and spiritually drained in the process. There is a place for recording your views and your side of the story, but once you have done that and made it available for those who need to hear it, then you must leave it!
This has been a challenge for me, because as those who have debated me know, I like to get my point across. And it has been a great lesson in learning to shut up! In Matthew 27:12-14 (TLB) we read of how Jesus responded to the many accusations against him
12 But when the chief priests and other Jewish leaders made their many accusations against him, Jesus remained silent.
13 "Don't you hear what they are saying?" Pilate demanded.
14 But Jesus said nothing, much to the governor's surprise.
What to do?
Examine your own heart, motives and actions, where have you erred? With integrity state your side of the story as clearly as possible, to the relevant parties and leave it to God to vindicate you.
Psalms 26:1(NKJ) Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip.
Conclusion
Separating from a church network can be painful and traumatic, but it is survivable & thrivable! You need to know that there is life, joy, purpose and destiny in Christ Jesus beyond any organisation.
My prayer is that those who find themselves going through a similar painful situation will come out of it with their relationship with Jesus Christ and their family stronger than ever, knowing their best years are ahead of them.
Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)
Shalom.......
