Thursday, May 12, 2016

Linda's Story

This blog is for the silenced, the marginalized, and the victims of the many types of abuse that the leadership and members of Liberty Church in O'Fallon Missouri have inflicted on their members and any who opposed their love for control. These are the stories of the witnesses:

Linda's Story
"Hello, my name is Linda and I was spiritually abused. I have been free from this yoke of slavery since 2003. I met the Lord in 1983 and experienced His love, grace(Eph. 2:8) and freedom (Gal. 5:1) until 20XX when I became a member of LCC. That’s when I became entangled with the yoke of bondage. The Law! Christ had been my Savior, my Redeemer, my Refuge, my Shelter, my Strength, my Fortress, my Rock, my God and still is. However, for my years spent under the law, I was expected to serve their gods and drink the kool-aid or be shunned. Truth was not relevant, justice was (John 8:31-32). You did not mess with their gods! Grace was something you declared before a meal, not the unmerited gift of God through sanctification. Sinners (of which I’m one) were demoralized, publicly scorned, humiliated, degraded, rejected and unaccepted (Mark 2:17). If their jesus was standing at the door to their “church”he would send you away saying we do not accept your kind here! Praise God for Ephesians 2:8!!! It was here that many families suffered injustices as Idid. It was here that my family was destroyed. It was here where I was intimidated by the leadership to submit to my abusive husband. It was here where I was accused of gossip when reaching out to friends for help. It was here that I was the subject from the pulpit at a Saturday evening service because I dared to speak out against my abusive husband. It was here that David told the women to shun me. It was here that I was accused of slander against my abusive husband. It was here where I ran to when I left home with my children and asked for help and was told I had to give them back to their father. It was here that I wasn’t allowed to participate in any church/family event and substitute mothering was provided to my children. It was here that I was not allowed to receive communion because of my sins. It was here that I almost believed God was a monster not a Loving Father. It was here that the bible became a book of laws and not The Divine Truth of my God. It was here that the name of Jesus was used as a weapon against His believers not a light for their salvation. It is here that I was lied to. It is here that I was slandered. It was here where I was almost spiritually broken. (Gen. 50:20, John 10:10) It was here where I was spiritually abused. It is here I beg you to flee from. Revelation 3. How many more individuals/families will be destroyed by this leadership in the name of Jesus?
WORTHY IS THE LAMB WHO WAS SLAIN!
WORTHY IS THE KING WHO CONQUORED THE GRAVE!"

Do you have a story to tell? Has Liberty Church hurt you? Email your story to petertkintz@gmail.com and I will have it posted! 

4 comments:

  1. Wow, this is heartbreaking to hear. I am so sorry you were treated this way. So sorry you were not loved, encouraged, supported. I often wonder how God will deal with leaders and men like this who misuse the Word of God as a means to control and have power of women.

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  2. So sorry for your suffering and glad you got free

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  3. Your courage in leaving both your abusive husband and church is inspiring, and I am so glad that you are safe now. Your are a survivor! You did not deserve the treatment you got from them. You probably know by now that your experience has been shared by other women, maybe at this church and certainly at other churches. I hope and trust you will find the way to continue healing and let the strength and love within you shine forth!

    When I was learning about domestic abuse, the Power and Control wheel was a concise way to view the different faces abuse can take on (http://www.theduluthmodel.org/pdf/powerandcontrol.pdf). Your article inspired me to look up how this might come across in a church like the one you describe. Here is one pastor's take on this, for those who are interested: http://www.angelfire.com/ms/domviol/bible.html

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  4. I remember so much of this, without realizing the depth of darkness at the time. My heart broke then, and I know I did some praying, but I wish I would have been bolder and more confident in speaking out against what I saw and knew to be happening. I am so thankful that you are still in love with the Lord! Bless you, sister.

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