All the music, the meetings youre hardly sleeping. Return to homepage. At the height of her depression, she started having dark fantasies. As the pastor of a Twin Cities church, I was bothered by the Feb. 27 front page article No Bibles, no hymnals, no pews. She took her pen to mark up my arm and then told me I wasnt allowed to wash it off. Then in the second year, we went from 300 to 400 [members], then from 400 to 500 and then it just started to climb.. What does a conversation with God sound like. One case that all seven of the former Gospel Outreach members talked about involved a boy who, as a teenager, allegedly molested a number of young girls. That was, like, a big rule: You dont talk to anybody that left the church, Abigail said. Services are Sat at 4 and 6 and Sun 9 & 11. Guest Speaker John Dickerson | Message 84 of 127, Guest Speaker Kyle Idleman | Message 98 of 127, Guest Speaker Jon Weece | Message 114 of 127, Guest Speaker Kyle Idleman | Message 116 of 127, Guest Speaker Bob Merritt | Message 117 of 127, A Time To Think About What Really Matters, To Have Relationships that Flourish (Greg Speck), Proven Biblical Money Principles (Dave Ramsey). "It's not a suit-and-tie place.". "Most of my adult life I had not attended church except for maybe on the holidays," she said. In the church, when they find out youve been touched, youre [considered] dirty. It messed with your immune systems, the stress and the amount of sleep we were getting it just wasnt good for your body., As a teenager, Sarah was prone to illness and infections, which she later attributed to stress. Skipping meetings and playing hookie werent really options, according to DeSoto. Hed long been depressed, they said, and about a year after he left the church he killed himself. Merritt said that even though he is feeling a sense of loss from his retirement, he felt the timing was right. "All I need to do is talk about my own weaknesses and my own failures, my own blunders in life," he said. So over 50,000 people are watching us and listening to us every week. Many Gospel Outreach members live in the suburban-style homes along St. James Place. There were these ingrained gender roles. Interacting with attendees was a huge plus But I see a lot of the baggage in my marriage. "It's just less formal.". . al. Notably, Guatemalan dictator Gen. Efrain Rios Montt became a convert and, following a 1982 military coup in that country, he employed Gospel Outreach in the notorious rural pacification program known as beans and bullets. Church members supplied food, medicine and clothing to local residents before Montts forces came in and razed their villages, killing hundreds of indigenous Mayans and rendering survivors wards of the government. Watching. Trusted by 5,200 companies and developers. If you would prefer not to see ads, we have another option. She asked if anything was sexual, Villareal said. "They come into a church, there's a lobby, there's a caf, there's a bookstoreIt feels like a movie theater almost where you have comfortable seats. At that point I was particularly vulnerable and I fell into a relationship with someone toxic from a sister church [in Olympia].. I would cut my legs, just places nobody would see higher up on my thighs. But in this message, Pastor Jason Strand teaches about what it Use an Android phone or Google Chrome for desktop? My son, who was 15 years old at the time, said, I just want to know why my dad's angry all the time. And it wrecked me, he said. Watch Featured Messages Series Teaching Pastor Category Chauvin was working as a part-time teacher when she first heard that Todd had molested two girls. He had sexually abused me. Bob Merritt is the retired senior pastor of Eagle Brook Church in suburban Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, a megachurch. I agreed to go back. And we never talked about it again., Sarah blames the church culture more than her own parents. Merritt is also the author of several books, includingDone with That: Escape the Struggle of Your Old Life andGet Wise: Make Great Decisions Every Day. And it just about took me out.. As for Todd, hes still a regular member of the church. Thats frowned on., Chauvin, who is now 34, was entering sixth grade when the Gospel Outreach school opened, and she remembers it as a turning point. Youd have to spend hours searching your soul . More drastically, the number of Minnesotans who say they don't believe in God has tripled in the past decade. It was not a large pool, she said. Ive worked a lot on that, and now Im able to pursue things I like. Abigail said Joshs suicide continued to weigh on her, though she stayed in the church for more than a year afterwards. And if you point out that somethings wrong or doesnt seem right? I was just trying to keep all the balls in the air. Eventually someone cries and then we can go to choir practice it was really so predictable like that. I just had a couple of really discerning board members who saw it. They left and financiallythe church didnt feela thing (All this is initial. At Gospel Outreach, an all-male group of elders sits atop the hierarchy. Specialties: Eastside is a non-denominational church serving the communities of Anaheim, Bellflower, and La Habra, California, as well as Park Rapids, Minnesota. No church Id want to attend or be associated with. Were just trying to reach people for Jesus Christ so that they can see their lives change as they begin to follow him. So, what keeps people in it for the long haul? By year 10, Merritt said the church had grown to over 5,000 people. He dug a little deeper and got to the real issues of where my anger was coming from and my unwillingness to forgive people and those kinds of things.. [9], The Church has a Baptist confession of faith and is a member of Converge. After that, girls were not allowed to play paintball. From the moment youre born you start memorizing catechism. She means Martin Luthers Small Catechism, a book published in 1529 to teach kids about the Ten Commandments, the Sacrament of the Eucharist and other elements of Lutheran faith. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. Its definitely a cult, said Esther Mandville, a 24-year-old former member who was raised in Gospel Outreach. ), DeSoto said kids are expected to maintain a cheerful demeanor. It is affiliated with Converge. In the days that followed, other former members reached out wanting to tell their own stories. Merritt said he plans to take the next few months to quiet his mind to figure out what God is calling him to do next. and State College Blvd. I think there may have been issues down the road for the church as if often the case when well-known pastors leave). Church greeter Shelley Stelton has a more common backstory. I lived VERY close to there at the time. A lot of times, God doesnt show us what is ahead. I should be in the office, interacting with my colleagues and thinking about the message and getting busy with writing that. But what about you? I mean, its molestation.. That's where I really kind of misbehaved, and at home as well, he said. Months after announcing his plans to retire, the 63-year-old Merritt officially stepped down as Eagle Brooks senior pastor on his March 1 birthday, giving way to longtime teaching pastor Jason Strand to assume his position. I told my mom and [my parents] had him buy me a new pair of rollerblades. I wasnt doing well, he admitted. Theyre fallen from grace. Allow this non-statistician to hazard a guess myamateur interpretation of the data tells me that the mature people were primarily there forJesus, not Chuck, and they stayed and kept giving. We are open with our plans, and the cost it will take to accomplish them, because they are God-sized plans, and every time weve opened a new building, its been because God has been a part of it. "Although we would have loved to become a part of the community, we have made the difficult decision to not pursue the development at . After the attempt, she remained despondent and numb. Most people who leave do go a bit wild because they dont know how to function in the real world, so they [church leaders] use them as examples: Look at him; he went into sin., Esther Mandville struggled after leaving, as many do. Worse was getting singled out for judgment. I was like, What do you mean? She said, If you have to think about it, it probably wasnt., She told me if I became virtuous then the Lord would give me a husband and take me away from all the abuse.. After over nearly three decades of leading what has grown to become the largest church in Minnesota, pastor Bob Merritt has retired from the nine-campus Eagle Brook Church. But beneath it, I was this man angry at everybody for not getting in line and not doing their job right or whatever it might be. Other voices: From the lab or nature, look to China for COVIDs origin, Jermaine Fowler: How forgotten Black history has been recovered by rogue scholars, Hastings delivers improbable rally to stun defending champ St. Michael-Albertville in 3A wrestling final, John Shipley: Timing on Lindsay Whalen decision seems odd, Two graduates allege in lawsuits sexual groping by fellow students, frat-like culture at St. Thomas Academy, Boys section hockey: Mahtomedi breaks away late from Chisago Lakes to earn state tourney return, How much is too much? That was it. She told me if I just put my head down and come under, if I became virtuous, then the Lord would give me a husband to take me away from all the abuse.. Wed all be in the classroom early before school, listening to Bastille or some other emo music. Robinson, meanwhile, was treated differently after word spread about her allegations. So much of it is being told the same thing over and over again until you develop a language and phrases not used in the outside world., Sarah remembers the schedule as exhausting. Stelton was raised Lutheran. She said it took her a while to be ready for that. It does not award high school diplomas or offer special education. The tiredness is just showing your true soul, so you need to repent for being grumpy.. I remember seeing Chuck Swindoll at an E.V. Villareal, Chauvin and others said things grew even more regimented around the turn of the century when Gospel Outreach opened a full-time school. And, to be honest, if you struggle with this, you probably dont think you need to tune in. He worked out an agreement with Strand that he will always be available to offer advice but will not do so in an encroaching manner. Many church members assumed that Durkins son, Jim Durkin, Jr., would take over, but instead it was a man named David Sczepanski, whod been among the early residents at Lighthouse Ranch. Any success weve experienced has little to do with us, and everything to do with the grace of God. ), Basically the culture [of Gospel Outreach], with the ultimate leadership being the men, it really lends itself to abuse, Chauvin said. Ah, yes, but the next statistic was even more interesting to me: 1,000 people leaveand giving stays the same? Then there were the fines. Eagle Brook's approach to church has Minnesotans showing up in droves, and senior pastor Bob Merritt says it's partly because Eagle Brook tries to make the church experience less weird. An stage adorned with American flags was recently erected on the basketball court across from the church. It's the type of music he says people listen to during the week -- so why not Sunday? 1 Corinthians 3:4-7 (ESV) Paul sums up this section with a not-to-be-forgotten truth: it is God who gives the growth, whether in an . Her dad followed her and tried to order her to come back home with him but she resisted, with support from her friends family. And this guy basically interviewed all my friends, my family members, my staff, anybody who knew me and asked two questions: What's good about Bob? Chauvin said that when she turned 16 she was told that it was time for her to be done with school, so she took the high school proficiency exam. DeSoto remembers being intimidated when, as a teenager, he became one of the boys tasked with preparing and serving coffee to the elders at these meetings. The mom came out [of her house] and saw that hed pulled her underwear down and was touching her in her private areas, Chauvin said. Catch & Release. He was failed on so many levels, but a big part was the church., Esther Mandville believes their peers were suffering just as much. We never had a consistent science class. He would punch me, push me into the wall, this or that. Although Eagle Brook will still be his family church, Merritt said he is now just a church member. Criticism & Conflict. As of March 1, 2020, Pastor Jason Strand, 41, is leading Lino Lakes-based Eagle Brook megachurch. Thanks to donors, they built it debt free. I don't think the congregation was aware of all the backstory. . They described the tight-knit congregation of roughly 150 people as zealous and insular and the church as a place where children are forced to spend long hours singing, arranged marriages are the norm and negative emotions are considered selfish and sinful. Pat Anderson is a big tent Republican. Most of us have. Another emailed later that day. You might be surprised to know that most (if not all) Christians have experienced doubt in their faith. And if you allow yourself to get close to a certain line, your emotions override your intellect, Merritt said. The Outpost was unable to confirm the COVID outbreak emails and voicemails left with Gospel Outreach went unreturned, and when we knocked on the churchs doors, no one answered. It was a mixture of clinical depression and the churchs lack of response, or inappropriate response to it, she said. It starts with spanking but leads to much more and reporting it is considered uncovering your fathers nakedness., Sarah said she was beaten and molested by a younger church member. I always liked Chuck Swindoll and through the yearsfound myself blessed by his ministry many times. Eagle Brook will pay $6.2 million for the church's campus, which spans an entire city block on the west side of downtown Minneapolis There was also a huge emphasis on music. If you had a disagreement, you could be ostracized from the community in a moment, he said. Please enter valid email address to continue. Quite often that reason is just made up.. Maybe he has a specific bride in mind. And so what I would say to pastors in this area is, if you've never given yourself the gift of seeing a coach or a counselor, you got to do that because I guarantee that you got some blind spots, some dysfunction, and it's affecting your life, your marriage, your career. If the elders decided he qualified, theyd recommend someone to him for marriage, she said. But the workload and responsibility on Merritts plate as a seminary teacher and pastor might've gotten the better of him as he struggled with issues of anger and depression. She was told that Sczepanski had a talk with Todd and warned him not to do anything like that again or else Sczepanski would be legally obligated to report him. One night, he was told at a church board meeting that he needed to get help or he was going to be fired. Search past episodes of Eagle Brook Church Podcast. If your homework assignment was late you werent allowed to go to choir practice or play on the weekend. Well call her Sarah. I've learned over the years as I've observed this stuff, it's not rational; it's emotional. Former members also allege that elders and other adults regularly discouraged and dismissed reports of physical and sexual abuse of minors, allowing the abuse to continue and spread to others. The heart behind everything we do is to reach people for Christ so that lives are transformed. Have you ever lost sleep over a heated disagreement or harsh words? Asked what she hopes for in telling her story, she just wants the kids still inside to have more information. Bob Merritt | Message 25 of 127. 1 Corinthians 3:4-7 (ESV). In his messages, Merritt often speaks of his past personal struggles. He compiled 240 pages of feedback from all these people and spent three days reading it back to me. Now pursuing a career as a police officer, Villareal has gotten training in how to recognize signs of abuse. Brainwashing is kind of an overused phrase, but it really is brainwashing.. Back in May, two former members of Gospel Outreach of Eureka, a church that grew out of the Christian hippie commune at Lighthouse Ranch, contacted the to report a COVID-19 outbreak among the . This will be the 11th campus. Eagle Brook is one church with multiple locations in Minnesota's Twin Cities metro area. Whether it's the temptation of clicking buy now on Amazon or the seemingly endless pursuit of a life-long dream, no one is immune to discontentment. The most stressful scenario for many of the kids came during the morning circle meetings, where students would gather with Pastor Sczepanski to talk about his latest sermon and other spiritual matters. They dont go very high just Algebra 1. We love the church. Thats you having independent thinking. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. Then I went back the next day to get some of my clothes and theyd already changed all the locks, she said. What did you hear about it? Youre no longer pure in the eyes of God.. Eagle Brook Church is very welcoming to all people, come and hear the truth, the Bible is relavant to today's world. What I don't like about EB is the anonymity of the place. You may not even know what it is, but others do. The former Gospel Outreach members said punishment was typically meted out both at home and at school in one of three ways: monetary fines, psychological torment or physical violence. The very first weekend the Anoka location opened, 6,545 people showed up, with some watching from the hallway as the venue flooded with visitors. [2] In 1991 Bob Merritt became the senior pastor of the 300-member church. I feel a great deal of loss right now, Merritt told The Christian Post after returning from a week out of the country with a group of friends. Im hoping if someone is having doubts and they know about this article, Im hoping they can get some clarity, she said. I know a lot of other girls had health issues when they were there that subsided when they left. I definitely suffered from sleep deprivation and insomnia, Esther Mandville said. Additionally, Eagle Brook staff are not allowed to have lunch alone with somebody of the opposite sex if one person is married. My stepdad makes me do my chores naked and youre asking me if this is sexual? "The kids loved it too," she said. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. However, they wound up talking more about the church itself with the enthusiasm of people whove been waiting to tell their stories. The writer serves on the Republican Partys 6th Congressional District Executive Committee as vice chair representing Anoka County. Its got to line up with my giftings. Chauvins situation was different: She didnt leave by choice. Merritt said there were times he verbally misbehaved at home and around the church staff. "I felt like I belonged, I felt instantly loved, I felt cared for.". She was a proponent of pro-abortion, pro-gay rights Republican. And in the last couple of weekends, we've had 31,000 people [attend] and 25,000 watch online. Excellent fellowshp, all are welcome, friendly and truthful. Eventually she decided she needed to get out. First published on April 17, 2017 / 10:10 PM. My parents didnt intend on being morally wrong [or] bad parents, but they take all their issues to the church. Some people left the church as well because they werent sure I was the guy. Anyone who finds themselves on the outs will be shunned completely. He didnt show Abraham what was ahead. My arms would just be bruised, black and blue, and my parents would be like, Dont antagonize him., The abuse didnt stop there. "The first message that I heard the day I walked in I felt like I was the only person in the room," she said. "Not everybody likes it, and that's OK," Merritt said, describing the sound, which is full of electric guitars and big drum beats. 25K views, 519 likes, 239 loves, 381 comments, 197 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Eagle Brook Church: You are watching today's LIVE service, broadcasting from Lino Lakes, MN. Youre ripped away from everything youve ever known thats really hard, Mandville said. Helping run various weekend and mid week programming, while stressful, was a big building block career wise Hes doing the work; were just trying to keep up. You did go to any and all choir practices or else your zeal was questioned, he said. Abigail Mandville, Esthers younger sister, said instruction both in school and out was more about indoctrination than education. But some churches are growing and one in particular is exploding. Most of us have. She explained that the men will often talk among themselves and decide, My son will marry your daughter.. Instead, there are lots of blue jeans. in Fullerton, but they so not remember this building or site. in Fullerton, CA sometime in 1982 thru 1984 (probably closer to 1984). Others too, she said. The Bible is the foundation for all that we teach and we hope that we can join hands with every Bible-believing church in the Twin Cities to reach as many people for Christ as we can. I dont want anybody to have to go through that.. Abigail said Gospel Outreachs instruction used similar tactics. There is a real grieving thats going on in my own spirit.. He brought me through a full year of counseling. The circle meetings usually end up with everyone fiercely berating one person, trying to get them to break and give themselves over, like breaking a horse, Chauvin said. If youre selfless, if youre here to serve and be a vessel, then you dont have any time or energy to be sad or anxious or depressed. Sczepanski would invoke Incurvatus in se, a Latin phrase used to describe a life turned inward. Villareal and Esther Mandville were also enlisted to teach at age 15 or 16. But a lot of it was I just didn't have any capacity to deal with the demands on my life. He was very physically abusive and my parents would tell me it was my fault because I was antagonizing him, she said. That also had a big part to play in me staying in the church for so long, she said, because they dont teach you how to live on your own how to refill prescriptions or get insurance or apply for a credit card.. And until you give someone the permission to dig around in your life a little bit, you may not ever find out until it's too late..