Thursday 11 June 2015

Surviving Separation from the Potters House Network of Churches

 “Reflections on Separation from The Potters House (Not TD Jakes) /The Door /CFM Churches”. 

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 intensive, invasive, controlling & 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 56 (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 55.

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)
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.

Most have heard the adage do not throw out the baby out with the bathwater, but the challenge is recognising what is the bath water to be thrown away and what is the baby to be kept? PH do not allow TV’s, Social Media, Cinemas, Pastors to have Beards, Alcohol, Brides to walk up the aisle on their wedding day, Holidays without permission, Mixing with ex members, Bible college, mixing with other churches and you have to sign contracts. The baby to be kept in Christianity will always be Love, Prayer, Fasting, Bible reading, Worship, and Evangelism.

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. 

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.

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).


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. 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.......

73 comments:

  1. I was a part of this fellowship for ten years I was the door director. We left last July a lot of things I saw that I didn't agree with talking down on other church's pastor calling homosexuals fags over the pulpit but what did it for me is I had a good pastor friend that left but in a right manner and yet I was told to stay away from them that they were rebels and that they are out of the covering and are out of the will of God this man was apart of this fellowship 22 years and they just cut him off. Well I made a stand and confronted them with what I felt was wrong and it didn't go well so I decided it was time for me and my family to leave and when we did all our friends basically said not to talk to them that I was a rebel and had a rebellious spirit upon me even though I didn't backslide and to this day were are still serving Christ faithfully. This read really helped me and encouraged me thank u. I remember hearing u preach here in San Antonio Texas at pastor Rubi church

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  2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  3. Clement: I'd never heard of you until moments ago when I linked to this piece from a posting at Escape the Fellowship @Yahoo. I was in the Fellowship near the beginning. Saved through Victory Chapel in Flagstaff, Arizona, in 1973. I left in 1983. It took me about 5 years to start to feel comfortable with life again and another 10 years or so to really get right with God. Been serving Him now with hope and faith for many years. You have done a fine job explaining what those leaving will find out as they move forward with their new lives. I will offer one more piece of advice for anyone who walks away from PH. In the initial flush of giddy freedom, don't do anything you can't undo. Don't get tripped up by a sin that devastates your soul. Keep boundaries of clean living and stay close to the Lord. Mitchell is wrong: God will not be after you to punish you. It is Satan who will lead you to punishment and separation. Don't be so foolish as to follow. Stand up to temptation and follow the map in your hand, God's Holy Word.

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  4. In any situation I always like to hear both sides to a story as I know some can be based on favouritism or just biased, the more I tried to seek some answers the more difficult it was, I really questioned this and it left me feeling uncomfortable.. I'm not trying to get into anyone's personal business as I've been through my own issues with churches in general, and it's left a sour taste in my mouth, all that to say I know there is no perfect church like there are no perfect people.. It hurts me when I see these thing's transpire and I wonder what does God actually think of all this division in the body of Christ? There's a lot more I'd like to say, but for now I'll remain quiet, until such times that a suitable time occurs. Ultimately God builds his church...

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  5. The couple who canterbury who left why?

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    1. No idea..... they are contactable via facebook.... God bless.

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  6. Hello,

    Great peace Mr Okusi, I won't make it obvious about which couple I am talking as I am getting a sense that that this isn't right time, but I got reminded about an incident that took place that put me off going to that new church branch alone (not the potter's house fellowship altogether, as I simply returned to another church and regularly enjoy it).

    I think that the couple I am about to talk about should honestly explain to the current and past members exactly WHY they left ( in fact got removed from pastoring position) but told participants otherwise which was untrue.

    I didn't know what to make of it, As from my observation the couple was not acting pastoring role (And I don't particularly mean sinning) at all but desperately trying to please some groups in the church or even trying to fit in which is not bad thing as we are all human, I'm sure we can understand the pressures of pioneering while also setting an example, up keeping an image and being there to guide people is very difficult, it is hard to be a practicing Christian let alone a Pastoring role I'm sure we could all agree!
    So back to my thoughts on the couple being removed from pastoring position and being put on disciplinary but instead left-

    This same couple who instigated minor issues with me, then pandering to church attendees about issues that didn't concern them as there were friendships formed outside of the church. Are the same couple with the same pastor who stated 'wish not to tell anyone to not influence others but hopes and encourages members to stay within the fellowship' I suspect he is scared to be confronted as I have personally witnessed this pastoring being judgmental others wrong doings, and biased approach to me, the reason for me stating this is because this couple have been greeted by former church members who have been mutual with them and have ignored these people; which I think is disgusting and very rude. This just goes to show the arrongnance of the same couple who having brief knowledge of their background should find humility otherwise God will show them otherwise.

    Anyways I'm glad God reassured and I do believen Karma, I'm still for the truth to come out, the main reason isn't particularly for me but just because it is important that members are aware of what they are getting themselves into.

    Yours Sincerely
    God Bless

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  7. Morning Clement Okusi

    This article is really helpful and is evening bringing back memories; I am just looking at old photo's of friends from the fellowship, I got this feeling of sadness that although I still worship at the fellowship, due to life's commitments I cannot be a full time ministry member and don't think I ever will be, and currently attend another church.

    Although I got flashes of the positive plus good times, I was saddened to see that some of some the attendee's, ministry members who were very charismatic have a complete new life away from church, and some have gone to resent the church both adults and young people.

    Could you explain why former members of this church find it hard emotionally from this church when leaving?

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    1. You are repeatedly taught that God fitly frames the church and if this is where you got saved then this is where you are to stay and never leave or you are out of the will of God and will go to hell. Also you see how everyone gets cut off and bad mouthed after they leave the church and you are terrified to leave. That's how they keep people there and keep the church from finding out why people really leave, by cutting them off. This fellowship is very abusive, all churches in the fellowship are the same and do the same.

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  8. Fola Oyediran was not removed. He passed away, please correct this it is very offensive.

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    1. Hi anonymous, several months before my friend Fola Oyediran died he formally left the Potters House.

      Such was Nigel Browns anger at this, that he refused (initially) to attend Folas Funeral. It was myself who called him & persuade him to change the time of the pastors meetings (which clashed with the funeral) to allow Pastors to attend - Shalom.

      PS Happy to discuss ANY topic (within reason & context) however I do not usually dialouge with annonymous people.

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    2. I went to Norwich PH which Nigel Brown took over from Nigel Davies. Let us say, he had a real spirit of cronyism than Christ. The more I read Scripture, the more it came to life at the Potter's House about those who 'serve their own belly' and preach the Gospel for the wrong reasons. However (Phillipians if I remember correctly) it is still good the Gospel is preached. The Norwich Church got started off the back of a Billy Graham revival meeting. Nigel Davies registered as a pastor to receive those who answered the altar call. Neil Watts (if I've got this the right way round) was received by Nigel Davies, his twin Andy Watts was received by a CofE Church if memory serves, but went over to the PH when his brother Neil spoke of 'taking the world for Jesus Christ'. I liked them both, but the one could see the PH is an extension of one man's ego and that a real spirit of evil runs in that fellowship. No Crosses? I came to the conclusion it is so the focus of the congregants is the Pastor not Christ. But as Paul wrote, it is good that the Gospel was preached.

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  9. I am having problems with the PH after 11 years attending the church. i have not finally made a decision but thank you for your blog it has given me food for thought

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  10. I didn't know about a ban on beards. I do remember a couple of guys from Canada on a fellowship trip in Israel were surprised I was a Pastor and had a beard. Its a strange rule if true.

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    1. Hey Paul, this is classic ph, most rules are not written down but preached. Hopefully now you think about it most ph pastors are clean shaven....lol.

      PS how are you doing? long time no hear?

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    2. Hi Clement
      It's been years. Hope you're all well. I have just found this thread. You may have heard the sad news already that Michael Lopez passed away from a heart attack yesterday. Very tragic 😢
      Look forward to hearing from you and T soon x

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  11. Due to the ungodly teaching and leadership of Nicolas Kyriacon. Lead pastor of Potters House Nottingham my son's father Keli Semme as failed to father his son.
    Four years ago I spoke to Nicolas asking if he could mediate contact between Keli and his first born and I believe only child. His repose was:"If you peruse Keli having a relationship with his son it will have detrimental consiquences."
    It was clear that he had been paired possible with a female member.
    Keli as always been a sheep even under the leadership of his previous spiritual father Apostle Alfred William.Who was a true father to us but like a prodigal son. My son's father Keli Semme joined this church therefore selling is soul to the devil.
    If a church can nor support and encour age building strong relationships between a father and a son. Then what form of love is truly in existence amongst this community?
    What a church community thinks about an individual is irrelevant to God's judgement upon their lives.
    Now that my son is growing and living with out his father I have solely placed judgement in the hands of God our creator who is the Alpha and Omaga.
    Potters House Nottingham is not a Christian community that the spirit of God dwells in.
    But a dwelling place that permits the wicked evil intentions of man

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    1. Josephine, the whole fellowship is a cult, they welcome you with open arms, indoctrinate you with false doctrine, use you and abuse and once you begin to see the truth and try to leave, they lie about you and say that you are a rebel and a backslider, and tell everyone in the church to cut you off. Same story over and over again, I know because I was in this fellowship for 20 years and gave over 200,000 to the church and after finding out that the pastor was a crook and wasn't honest with the finances, we left and now nobody talks to us, even though we are still christians and go to a different church. The emotional and physical damage this fellowship does to you is beyond words! Stay away from this fellowship please!!!!

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  12. Hi, you may or may not remember me but I really hope you see this. My names Christine I was the white girl from the woolwich branch who was kicked out because it was believed I was a wolfs in sheeps clothing. Anyway it's a lot more complicated. I need, desperately spiritual guidance as it was too hard soul distorting that I gave up. As a result me and my husband divorced. I am a sinner and have backslid. I which to seek Jesus again. Not sure if his calling me or I have unresolved issues but I need him in my life. I need a church to attend to and one where a pastor may be patient as I'm afraid to trust one now. Do you have any suggestions. Thanks

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    1. Christine, I would like to help you. My email is maggiescraggle@outlook.com

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    2. Christine, I would like to help you. My email is maggiescraggle@outlook.com

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  13. Catherine Wilson7 December 2017 at 20:42

    Dear Clement Okusi,

    First of all, thank you for your blog. I have found it very helpful as will others who suffered after leaving the Potters House. I didn't know you personally but I have heard of you within the fellowship. Anyway, I joined Nottingham PH when Steve and Melanie Ware were there and continued on when Michael Lopez took over. It caused me deep anxiety for many years and I was hospitalised for psychosis. I didn't ever want to go back to Christianity after the PH, but God is gracious and patient and has brought me home. I now have a proper perspective of God, as my Father and friend, not something which the PH promoted. Anyway Clement, I can already see that God is using you through this blog to reach many people who have been wounded by PH. I'll pray for you and hope that many will come to know Jesus through you. God bless you and your family. Cathy Wilson, Nottingham

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    1. Dear Catherine, thank you for your comments, glad the blog helped.

      Praying that you find the love & grace of God to keep moving on - God bless.

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    2. Thank you Clement, I remember you. I attended ph Nottingham on and off for many years, but straight from the start because i had prior church experience it was obvious that there was doctrinal error,but because i so loved those people because of God,that where there, i served and waited. Yet with the limited biblical knowledge I had it was immposible to maintain enough energy to commit to the constant pressures within the church and then being aware that judgement is cast on those who dont tow the line. The people that are praised there are the movers and shakers or the people that show commitment to potters house doctrine alone. Problem is your expected to go against your own concsience to commit, for the bible says if we are not entirely sure about doing something and we do it anyway that we have corrupting ourselves(hence having a teacher that can teach instead of just making you feel better is needed). corrupting their growing clarity of faith it becomes difficult for attendees to have any other trust than in there pastor and the system of ph. They can no longer endure sound doctrine and will indeed fight against the very word of (although unknowingly to uphold the ph system) God. when you learn we are set free from the law although there is a matching of the law when growing well because there is no law against love,and a growing christian increasingly loves,and then when you ask something like should i tithe, you are NOT told give from your heart ,you are told first, if you dont give ten percent specifically to your pastor that you have broken Gods law. This is actually a cultic way of control because the person doesnt understand they can give freely but that there salvation depends on the ten percent,amongst the many other laws they have there .
      Its actually AMAZING how hard it is to speak to someone that wont examine what they hear and believe that by even mentioning this is an attack on there eternal existence,but thats what wolves do , they manipulate us with laws so that we are comfortable in our catholic works salvation ,as in i do this and that so im secure , even when there is a wolf around and who can spot a wolf if you think hes a puppy.

      Any current potters never trust in your pastor instead listen love serve and trust in the lord and you will have all that you need to nourish and encourage your brothers. And please please please start reading your bibles cover to cover , not a sentence here and a sentence their because the leaders there twist odd sentences and change others around which would be obvious if you read it yourself, then the problems for you, now you know , will start. EXAMINE, TEST EXAMINE, TEST.

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    3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    4. Hi, we have a new website about CFM. Please check it out, if you want to publish information on there, please e-mail us. https://www.mitchellism.com

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  14. Hi Pst Clement Okusi, I remember your baptism, your testimony and your focused nature. I would say we need to know the difference between being fellowship minded or kingdom minded. Fellowship is good yet it must be for the for the kingdom. Im pleased God is using you and never saw or see you as the enemy but a co worker. I prayed Lord if your hand is with him we will see in time and you have remained hungry for lost souls. Was never a close buddy yet admired your focused nature and your genuine hello to me in passing(hard to fake year in year out) May God continue to bless the ministry and every lost soul won for his kingdom

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  15. May God bless all who have been through pain sine leaving PH.

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  16. Leaving but still in love with Jesus.20 August 2018 at 06:49

    Hi there,

    I have some questions ...
    I am currently in a Potter's House but have had many red flags go off and believe the Holy Spirit is warning me to leave.

    Unfortunately, it appears that the fellowships deception and control is only mostly revealed when a member enters into ministry, therefore making it appear a squeaky clean church to any outsider.
    Unfortunately for me, I made a stuff up a month ago, for which I was stood down from ministry, therefore when I leave I fully expect it will be told of me that I am a bitter backslider - despite the fact I have been a born-again Christian for 19 years(I am 27).
    Coincidentally, as I had also just entered ministry around the time of the offense, it coincides with the time I started to see the red flags. Worse, that my talk with the pastor about my situation actually revealed and confirmed more spiritual abuse and control.
    So I expect leaving church will not be pretty and I will be labelled rebellious and back-sliden, even though I love Jesus with all my heart, am yielded to Him and will go on to serve Him.

    One question I have is that when a member is stood down from ministry for committing an offense, do the pastors preach a specific sermon that targets the individual that committed the offense?
    My pastor used an example in his sermon that was identical to my situation... I am the only one in our entire church who comes from that background. I would reveal more but am afraid my current members may see my comments and identify me.
    Even my friend beside me expressed disgust to me later and believed it was targeted.
    I cannot express how degraded I felt at that moment.
    After so much hard work and time and money invested, it felt they had turned on me in an instant and been incredibly callous with my treatment.

    One of my biggest red flags was the handling of church discipline of a young engaged couple. Weeks before their wedding it was brought to light they had made a stuff-up and had slept-together. So weeks prior to their wedding the pastor cancelled the entire wedding and the couple were made to tell friends and family it was off. I think this is absolutely appalling and a form of public shaming. Not only that, but they have family overseas so many family members may have already purchased airfares.
    I could say much on this subject as to why I believe it is unbiblical and wrong but won't.

    The other big red flag was finding out that if a person like the couple confesses to having made a stuff-up, they are stood down from ministry. HOWEVER, if caught later, they are straight thrown out of church. I believe this to be unbiblical and should only be used in cases of unrepentant sin, or walking in that particular sin - not one off offenses. It is to be used as a extreme measure and only as a last resort to restore someone(Correct me if I am wrong.)

    There have been many, many red flags but on order not to bore I will not list them.
    Me leaving will not be out of bitterness as I firmly believed God called me into Potter's House when He did, and used it to grow me, but now it is time to move on.
    I believe the way pastors are viewed in church is idolatry.
    I am saved by grace, not by works(E.g tithing - this yet again should come from a conviction from God to give - not because an organisation told me so).
    My biggest reason for leaving however is the control within the church and the push for the organisation - I do not follow the convictions of man, but God. I do not here to build or preach an organisation, but Christ's kingdom.
    God bless!

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    1. I was a member of the Flagstaff AZ congregation from 79-90. Your sin is ABSOLUTELY preached from the pulpit. I am sorry this happened. It becomes quite toxic when we can't confess our sins to one another. I found this article by Clement Okusi spot-on. When finally out, life is scary, and the pendulum swings the other way. But God is faithful. I met Jesus at PH, and thankful He never gave up on me. There IS life after PH in Him!

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  17. To God be the glory everything will be made perfect in Jesus name. Amen. My God continue to bless his children and guide them through all life's trials and tribulations. Judgement belongs to God a d not to man. I know the God whom I serve I live in joy handing all the unjust actions of men unto him. I am only just seeing this text again. I strongly remain prayerful that all the captives will be set free. To live a life worth the glory of God. Amen.

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  18. Sister Ana thank you very much for your words of encouragement to God be the glory.AMEN.

    Dear Sister Catherine Wilson,
    I want you to know that God loves you. No matter what trails and tribulations you may have faced and are facing. Understand that God permitted it. Please please please, do not give up. I plead with you to continue and engage in your personal relationship with God. You are strong, resilient and beautiful. Both in flesh and spirit in whom God created in his perfection.

    Our faith is a journey and needs nurturing. If you are not prepared yet to be part of a church community. There are lots of amazing tools and materials out there for you to feed on. Start talking and engaging with God directly. Bring out a chair and invite him into your life. Believe it or not he is carrying you this very moment. I promise you that he will never let us go. The most wonderful thing in the world is the blood of Jesus which was shed so that both you and I may have mercy. Start today with connection with him and be spirit lead. We seem to focus more on men when God is always by our side. Communicate directly with him and allow him to Guide you. Know that his love is ours till eternity and you don't have to earn it. It is your birth right. I love you and will pray for you.It shall and will be well with you in Jesus name Amen. To God be the glory for great things he shall do. Stay blessed. Remember judgment belongs to God and not man. I love you xxx

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  19. The list of 45 pastors you have provided are quite high but however what it doesn't say is why some of these churches have shut down or why some of these pastors have been removed. Some have been removed on account of sexual immorality and others such as Pastor Ben is still in the fellowship and serving Jesus!

    you have stated in your article that PH does not allow TV’s, Cinemas, Beards, Alcohol, Brides to walk up the aisle on their wedding day, bible college, mixing with other churches and you have to sign contracts. Most of this is utter rubbish! Firstly PH does not control rather advice. One of our pastor handed over his church to go and study theology just months and he is expected to return once this is completed. I have heard clement actually running a scheme where he had asked his members to sign certain contracts, this doesn’t happen in the church that I attend. I have actually heard Clement preach several times, once he mentioned how he walks up to his church members randomly and plucks the phone out of their hands to check what they are looking at. Clement is a great preacher and his preaching has helped me personally but I don't believe slandering other churches is Christ like and bears the fruit of the spirit. I understand that you have been hurt and may have had some differences with the leaders of PH. As a Christian I could have respected you just walking away and serving Jesus peacefully rather than going to the length of writing inaccurate information in blogs.

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    1. Hi Anonymous, thanks for your comments, I sense your sincerity which is why I published your comments.

      1). The list is now 47 & rising & you are correct that 4 out of 47 of the listed pastors were removed for moral failure & that maybe 5 of the listed pastors are still attend PH (2 because their wives won’t leave). But you still agree the number is high (close to 50% attrition!!).

      I would also add that all if not most that went through separations from PH are still serving Jesus.

      2). unfortunately you are unaware or ill informed about most of the rules & creeping legalism of PH. I will surmise that you are from the Preston Church which is still quite young.

      I have preached in this church, great folks & leaders......shame they had to leave in order to do a bible degree. My assistant sent Nigel Brown an email that I had completed a theology degree. This email was then sent to Greg / Wayman Mitchell to demonstrate "rebellion" on my part. If you send me your details privately I will happily forward you the email.

      However your pastor got into some trouble with Nigel Brown for not wearing a tie during the area rallies. Also he was criticised for having a black stage backdrop & Hillsong style pulpit & ministry (ironically).

      PH DO NOT allow TV’s/ Cinema’s/Alcohol/ Brides to walk up the aisle/Pastors to have beards/ mixing with other churches & attending Bible colleges.

      3). The comment about the phones was a joke which you guys laughed at .

      4). Glad my preaching helped you personally.

      5). A blog helping many folks to survive a difficult period in their lives is hardly slander. Thousands of people worldwide have read this blog over the last 4 years & yours is maybe the 2nd or 3rd negative (sort of) comment I’ve had.

      The sad reality is that PH was birthed when Wayman Mitchell pulled out 300 churches from Foursquare in the early 80’s. Since then thousands (maybe 5000?) of churches have left the fellowship, including a few weeks ago Neil McCann from National leader of New Zealand (Ignite) - 8 Churches.

      You can read about it here https://nzgate.blogspot.com/

      A few of the others include Larry Neville (Praise chapel) – 4300 churches & Tommy Alverez (New Destiny) – 150 Churches, Ron Jones – 50 Churches & Rudy Van Dierman – 8 Churches.

      I get it, you love your church & what God appears to be doing, but there is a dark side to PH (trust me, I’ve seen it) & it is only a matter of time before you see it too.

      Much love to all the saints in your church - In Christ.

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  20. My father Phillip Carvell was one of the first of the 'leaders' from Potters House Australia who left due to not agreeing with their teachings. Not only was he shunned by many good friends, other pastors, who also didn't agree, turned against him maybe out of fear. The long term effects this had on our family as a whole have been devastating and Wayman Mitchell and Mike Mastin will one day be held accountable for destroying lives. My father spent over 16 years serving that church earning a pittance of 'love offerings' as an evangelist which also destroyed our family financially while the Mastis travelled between Aus and USA enjoying a carefree life. So much hypocrisy.

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  21. Hello Pastor, God bless you for this blog. We have been saved before joining PH but have been attending for a year now with my husband. We are migrants from an African country and both have tertiary education. Recently, I notice that they do not like us asking questions about their doctrine, and the one that surprises me is that women are not allowed to lead prayers, worship etc. Please is this the same in all PH branches or just ours? We are beginning t consider some of the teachings as not bible-based and the thought of this realisation scares us.

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    1. Hi, if you Google Potters House / CFM / The Door, there is lots of info.

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    2. Women can do nursery. The end.

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  22. Hi there, I absolutely agree with you on the difficulties of leaving a church such as the Potter's House. I was just wondering how you came to find the details of the pastors who left? The reason I'm asking is that my father's name is in your list. His church was shut down, and he became a member of the congregation for 10+ years before formally leaving, but only relatively recently. Because he was a congregation member when he left, I am wondering how the information came to be known around the fellowship.

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  23. Hi anonymous, without more information hard to answer your question.

    There is lots of information by ex PH members on the internet, just google it.

    I attended Praise Chapel (ex PH) Conference in 2018 & they have 4300 churches worldwide.

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  24. Hello, I'm currently attending a PH in the states. The pastor's wife is well known from her father who is very big in the PH community. Born and breed in the PH community. They are pioneering a "baby church" here in my state. At first it was pretty amazing, their goal to outreach to "every one", planting churches to spread God's word. But they use tactics that are manipulative and guilt trip you, serious spiritual abuse. I fell hard wanting to please God. Going to every service, prayer before service, cleaning the church, help count tithe, and fellowship. They were pushing us to discipleship. Telling my husband to cover his tattoos, and if you didn't do their secret standards you were treated badly. If you questioned them about their "standards" they would lie to your face. People would come that had problems, like no food and they were looked down on. If you didn't tithe you were looked down on. They expected accountability, which felt more like prison. The friendship's didn't feel genuine. Anything I confided in with someone, it was in the sermon next service. Everything you did they were watching you. Pushing me to quit school, to have more kids, and in reality these 2 women advising me were miserable as stay at home moms. The pastor's wife would contradict what she would be advising me to do, it felt wrong. I didn't feel good at all. I started counseling at a Christian based service and the pastor's wife got furious, then caught herself. She stated that is why she is here to carry my burdens. I thought isn't that why Jesus died for us. I thought I was going crazy, but their are plenty of accounts stating the similar stories across the internet. My counselor suggested I look up legalism. Your right when you stated it looks fine from the outside, until they want you to discipleship, and still not all their standards are given. I truly have fear of going to another church. Because my walk with God is new, I do not understand what is right. PH was the first church we committed to. You research Christianity and there are so many different types and beliefs. My husband did tell the pastor we are going to a different church and not to contact us, but i know we will be the big example in his next sermon. I totally feel hurt, mislead, and brainwashed. Not knowing what to believe. Christian women wearing head covers in some churches, tithing is looked at differently in different churches. New law vs old law. To understand conviction vs condemnation. This experience has took a toll on me. Everyone wants to be holy and right, forgetting the teachings of Jesus. I understand why people don't go to church or fall away from God. Who can you trust? No man for sure. Spiritual warfare is real, but we oppress one another in the church. Heartbreaking and discouraging.
    Thanks for sharing your experience.
    God Bless

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    1. I feel your pain & confusion. A good place to start with would be reading the words of Jesus in the New testament - bless you.

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  25. im just on here passing time as its raining and i cant work dont know why i even clicked on it but i do remember nigel davies and evonne in muspole street and peter bayerman opening walthamstow for all its faults which are many i got saved there and probably would never have been welcome anywhere else i have seen so many young lives damaged since then but met my wife witnessing on the street and we are both saddened by the missed opportunity for so many who would be still serving God today but will maybe never go to any church again. Shaun in lincolnshire

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    1. Hi Shaun, God is good, man is not.

      Pray you fulfill your God ordained destiny.

      Shalom

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  26. I have been a member of this church for over 10 years, I am a pastor's wife. I have been a member to several branches due to moving etc and to be honest I have had my own doubts regarding the fellowship especially looking back over my first years of salvation, ministry standards were very strict and sometimes the pressure was intense. However moving to different branches has made me realise that not every PH is the same, I think it's down to the individual pastor and how he deals with things and works with people. Some of the standards that Clement has mentioned are just not true. Every wedding I've been too the bride walked down the isle and even my husband has a beard so not sure where that's come from. Yes, there are standards that I may not 100% agree with but would we agree with everything any church does? In conclusion yes there are some negative things about PH as in all churches but there are also many positive things to say also. My prayer is that people do not simply follow PH but God, read and seak God for yourselves.
    God bless

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  27. Hi, this blog was written 5 years ago & is still being read by many here in The UK & the rest of the world.

    Given the high turnover rate within PH, it is biblically wise that current members have a plan B.

    Hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

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  28. Thanks you for your point of view. Many of use are spiritual abuse by the potters pastors and people . Many many Stay there by the potterhouse. Becuase they are afraid to take plan b.Iam very happy that Iam out. Thanks for your side Story.

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  29. Hi i'm from a PH in Germany, since 2004. I remember you preaching in our church. I'm ten years married and have three children,all in PH. After Reading this Blog i started questioning some teachings there.
    The church hast many good things going on,but Most of the issues Here discussed, Sound familiar top me. Sometimes i think about leaving the church, because i feel Kind of controlled and honestly: 3 Service in a normal Werk plus worship rehearsal is a Lot of time i spend there.
    When I read the Bible, I find some PH teachings opposite to the word of God, especially speaking in tongues.
    I can't leave Right now, cause I fear it would destroy my marriage and my children. Do you have an advice or experience in that situation? I have no life,no friends outside of the church. I'm a part of the worship team and also part of the (I don't know the correct English word) church council/staff. I feel really confused an condemned. I don't know how to come through this....please pray for me

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    1. Hi,

      Have fond memories of preaching in Germany.

      Busyness is a common characteristic of discipleship within ph..... this can be good, but is often used as a means of control.

      Pray you make a God decision,

      Bless you

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  30. Hi,I remember you preaching in our church I think in 2005... I'm from a pH in Germany. After 16 years I'm suspicious about some teachings in the Church.
    There are many good things going on in our church, but many issues discussed in this blog are familiar to me.
    I read the Bible and found out, that many scriptures are used in the context of pH. Some teachings are even opposite to the word of God.
    I'm part of the p&w Team and also in the (I don't know the correct English word) church council/staff, so to think about leaving is like killing myself... I have no life and no friends outside pH.
    I'm 10 years married and love my wife and 3 little children.
    They are all in Ph, and right now,I can't leave, because it would destroy my family.. and they wouldn't understand it.
    I have to stay there, but will keep all this in my heart.
    I feel so confused and condemned,cause I believe, there is no life outside pH.
    Please pray for me... I don't know how to come through this...God bless


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  31. I still have some fond memories of the Potter's House. My wife and I were original members of the fellowship in Edinburgh and remained there through 2 pastoral changes over 7 years.
    My wife and I left not because of any disagreements but purely practical reasons and with the blessing of the pastor at the time (Jim Colquhoun).
    I was, however, a bit unhappy with the way the previous minister was treated after he had invited a non-fellowship evangelist to take some services. Pastor Billy Rae told me that basically, he'd been effectively 'sacked' by the then leadership of the fellowship, interestingly some of the leadership hsve now left.The way pastor Billy was treated made me angry, I have to admit. When Billy announced that he and his lovely wife and family were leaving and going back to Australia, the whole congregation was shocked. My wife & I decided there and then that we were going to keep contact with them and we have to this day. Billy & Jessie joined another fellowship in Australia and are doing great, I am happy to report.
    When we left the fellowship, quite a few folks were upset and others in the fellowship mis-heard or mis-understood why we had left, so when my wife & I and another few folks had turned up at a 'revival' service (to which we had been invited by a member of the congregation) in Dundee (the same fellowship I had ministered a few times before,myself), people were shocked we'd travelled the distance from outwith Edinburgh to get there and shocked we'd come, at all.
    After the service, the pastor (Ronnie Wilkie),who had been my best man at my wedding, came up to my wife and I and basically told us we were not welcome as we were considered 'rebels' by the guest minister, our first fellowship pastor, Mike White. We were told we were not 'allowed' to speak to anyone and had to leave.

    Admittedly, I was very angry and upset, said a few things I shouldn't have said - basically, i pronounced a curse on the Dundee fellowship.....at this point,I need to interject, that I later apologised for what I had said and we decided to keep contact with Ronnie & Jacquie Wilkie and have since seen them and spoken with pastor Mike & Maria White. I conclude by saying that we are all human-beings at the end of the day, whom the Lord loves and He calls us to be 'peaceable' with all men as much as we possibly can. We are encouraged to love one-another as Christ has loved us.....this means that we forgive as often as we need to and more importantly, I think, we must forget the hurts / sins....and keep.moving forward together as the universal church of Christ.
    There is no such thing as the 'perfect' church or fellowship - that is very obvious, but there is a perfect God who has perfect love for all of us dudes and dude-asses. Blessings to everyone.

    Bill Ness.

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    1. Hi Bill,

      Your comments are insightful into the inner workings of PH.

      PH can be summed up as "Good people, Bad system". The problem is over time those "good" people behave in "Bad" ways.

      Imagine your former best man kicking you out of church! "Best man-Bad behaviour".

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  32. Hi Brother Clement,
    Thank you for this post.
    I have been reading this over the last 6 years (ever since it was written) and have found it extremely helpful.
    I first read it when I was still in the Potters House and it gave me food for thought and another perspective on your departure rather than the character assassination attendees are led to believe of anyone who dares leave the Potters House/ CFM Fellowship.
    I was in the Potters House in the UK over 2 decades and left due to personal family issues but even though I left in what would be considered good circumstances - exactly how you describe it in your post is how it turned out for me i.e. I was cut off from people I thought were lifelong friends, examples include:
    1. I met someone I knew for years who still attends potters house outside a local shop who was extremely hostile to me and wouldn’t even say hello

    2. I also met a pastor of the church I attended and he literally turned his back and walked away
    If you reading this and your still in the fellowship – it will happen to you if you ever leave ! Why?
    Because, the only ever LEGITIMATE REASON to leave the fellowship is DEATH! And even for that to be acknowledged in the church you have to have been truly conformed to the fellowships world-view.
    A man who I even considered a dear friend even said to me after I left that leaving was a departure from God – A FALSE STATEMENT! But one he truly believed, and which I also believed about people who had left whilst I was still in the church. To be frank, at one point I was on the verge of launching out and with the way I had been conditioned to think, speak, act I would have been nothing but a loose cannon out there!
    Again, your post has been helpful, balanced and helped me to begin again after leaving and so thank you once again.
    Bless you,

    John Smith

    NB: I am still a Christian and continue serving in ministry at my local church in the UK which is not part of Potters House or CFM!
    NBB: “Free at last! Thank God Almighty, I am free at last!"

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  33. Thank you John,

    Your comments are insights into the inner working of PH.

    This blog has been viewed over 50,000 times with 2,000 views in last 90 days. Your comments will help people.

    Shalom.

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  34. Can somebody tell me, the error in this fellowship because i still can't see the error you guys talked about. You can contact me through my email ubjacob6486@gmail.com

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  35. Thank you Pastor Clement for your vital insights into the culture prevailing within the Potters House Church network/CFM.
    Whilst I was a student at Wolverhampton University, I recall you visited us and preached well at the Wolverhampton Church in ?2007 (then led by Jay Nembhard). Indeed, legalism begets judgmentalism, which is an antithesis to cultivating cordial and harmonious relationships. PH should let God be God, and they should stop playing God in people's lives (especially the emotionally vulnerable). Every Christian must now study the Bible for themselves and seek revelation from God. There is divine fellowship inspired by the Holy Spirit, and there's cultism (often subtly disguised). Let's ask the Holy Spirit for discernment. Shine your eyes, stay alert and don't be deceived and misled.

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    1. Thank you so much for your comments. If you need top contact me, DM on social media - Good bless.

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  36. I left Norwich PH eight years ago due to various issues and am now serving in another church. It wasn’t easy but it was right and time heals some relationships. Control extended to views on everything including politics. Really not healthy.

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  37. I have literally just left PH . I am a pioneer pastor in the UK. Since getting sent out I have began to see PH is off on many doctrines. You are not allowed to disagree or question certain things and still be part of the fellowship. My disagreements were over minor doctrines and nothing fundamental. Since leaving we have already been shunned, slandered and lied about. PH is a bad system that refuses to ever examine itself. The countless stories of people leaving who are now traumatized and wounded are too many to ignore.

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  38. Bless you bro, if you need to chat message me privately on Facebook.

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  39. Hi there my wife and my self helped set up the Bromley potters house with ayo and Caroline akyemi in the Churchill theatre .we also had a lovely meal out with you and them in beckingham I used to be one of ayo ushers and we did a confrance one year as well .we left because the pastor believed in the gossip that my wife’s mother was spreading around the church about my wife life before she got saved and not us plus Ian who was another usher kept asking ayo questions and he didn’t like being challenged on some topics and he left because of that plus a lady called Susan and her husband called Clifford also challenged him on different points of view and he didn’t like his words to be challenged so we left I have often wondered how other people have coped with leaving that type of church it damage me harder then my wife as I truly loved the comrade ship of working side by side with a fellow believer believing you doing gods will 100% only for everyone to get told not to talk to you because you don’t agree with the pastors point of view any way be blessed and if you want to ask more questions feel free to ask and Jesus still loves us all

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  40. Hello. Just left PH after being part of it for about 15 years. The sense of liberation and guilt, and all the in-between emotions have been a trip. My home environment was a hot mess, so church was my place of solace—the selling point of PH is the massive amount of fellowship, even if they involved little to no solid theology.
    Any how,
    What started bothering me was the rude and controlling speech from my former pastor. He made me second guess my desire to further my education; he told me that he was my covering (I thought this was the role of father and the the husband); asked his wife to ask if my sister and I were virgins (not sure if prospective people were interested & asking about us…still how inappropriate!); asked me to “confess” my role of participation (during prayer for healing& deliverance) when I shared info of being molested as a little girl —I didn’t ask for any of that childhood ruining rubbish!; the pastor mocked apologetics & stated we had no need to “apologize”. He guilted and shamed people for not giving “above and beyond” & similar verbal beat down for not fasting past one day for the conference; humiliating indications that people who went up for prayer were not getting healed due to their lack of faith & “words” from evangelists not coming true due to lack of faith of the recipient & to “avoid foolish and ignorant questions”, specially when people genuinely had questions. Any questions about authoritative was no -no…coz”touch not the anointed”.

    And of course, condemning people for not truly getting saved and having Holy Spirit, because certain folks couldn’t just bust out in “tongues”.

    So…after meandering a while & being terrified to go to another church, I am in a non denominational church that does expository teaching & is super keen on its members becoming Biblically literate. I am still learning a lot but I wish I had left sooner. I was just lost, foolish, afraid of losing out on friendships & spiritually lazy ( all I had to do was to ask God for genuine hunger and thirst for His Word, instead of being “spoon fed” @ PH alone)

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  41. Im a former pastor who left recently having pioneered in Swindon, Uk. I have recorded a podcast on my experience. Please give it a listen. This is a dangerous church that will continue to damage people.

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