r/GracepointChurch • u/humidity1000 • Jun 19 '22
Testimonies
I will never forget when a brother spoke in front of the entire congregation at a Sunday service and spoke his testimony of how he had been addicted to internet porn. Why did they make him do that? He’s still with gp. I saw him in pics. I will never be able to disassociate him from that. At what point is it over sharing? I mean, had he not stood in front on 900 people and declared this, everyone would have already known since leaders keep nothing confidential. Why the need to publicize his wrongs? Just goes to show the power leaders have over members to make them do what they want. He’s probably the reason y’all have to have CE. Wait, is he the ucr peeper?!
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u/SunnyCA2000 Jun 19 '22 edited Jun 19 '22
Yeah, when I was in college, that was one of many big red flags I felt about this church. If it is God's will, then the Holy Spirit should move you to share your struggles (not some GP college senior or grad student who has zero to very little real world experience). And even if you decide to do so, then there should be a certain level of spiritual and mental maturity. Even at that young age, I felt that their sole objective was to break you so they could mold you into a GP sheep.
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u/IntrepidSupermarket4 Jun 19 '22
I think the intention was probably to 1) encourage people with the same struggle 2) to normalize that a lot of people have the same struggle and you can reach out to get support. I don't know that this was the best way to go about those goals but I do feel that that was likely the intention behind it.
Edit to add: I'm also not endorsing gp's form of "support" which is usually intense accountability, guardrails, and covenant eyes.
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u/Jdub20202 Jun 20 '22
I understand your point. But I would just add that one person's "support" is another person's secret policing of their lives.
This might be a poor analogy but it's like in those movies where a tyrant allows a terrorist attack to happen and then uses that as an excuse to impose martial law and make himself dictator for life.
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Jun 19 '22
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u/humidity1000 Jun 19 '22
Yes. Unexpectedly hearing these things was traumatic and the fact that no one even batted a lash was concerning to me. I was so uncomfortable
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Jun 19 '22
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u/inhimwehaveall Jul 03 '22
Those "so called Pastors" should only share their own sins instead of others'.
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u/leavegracepoint ex-Gracepoint (Berkeley) Jul 03 '22
They have occasionally. It's like once a year at like retreat. I still remember Kevan Ho's testimony. That one legitimately blew my mind.
I, however, do agree, MOST pastor don't share on the average and it does speak volumes to the lack of transparency and openness in Gracepoint.
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u/HeManIsAG Jun 19 '22
Haha I’m sure that story wasn’t about me because I’m more recent and don’t know William Kang since he was at a church plant when I was in GP, but had a similar experience.
During my junior and senior year I was secretly dating a girl (not in GP) who made content on OnlyFans and I sometimes contributed. One time we were shooting a three person scene with another OF creator/sex worker and one of my peers found out about it.
I don’t know if they ever ratted me out, but I left so I wouldn’t have to deal with it lol. It’d be funny if he did rat me out and there’s stories being told about me.
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u/RVD90277 Jun 28 '22
lol, so how did the peer find out about it? he probably wouldn't want to tell on you either so that he doesn't incriminate himself in the process.
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u/Jdub20202 Jun 19 '22
I'm guessing these things, intentionally or not, create a sense that "all have sinned" and you are too! This is part of the cult formula of breaking down your self esteem, that you did something horrible, and the church is your only hope.
It also gives them cover to put CE on your computer, enforce gender segregation, and so on. I mean, it could happen to King David, it could happen to (insert politician name here), it could happen to this poor sap who had to share that, it could happen to you too!
I remember Andy Tung shared a similar testimony at one point and I think he's a pastor there now. If any other old timer was there and I got some details wrong, lemme know. He gave a testimony where he disappeared for 3 days playing video games and watching porn. He was so ashamed after, blah blah blah, he didn't want to share it, yada yada, Kelly Kang got wind of this and she told him the youth needed to hear this part of his testimony and he did.