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:
Jo Ann's Story Part 3
"My story is only half written here. I have left out our experience with our adoption and the role that the church played. I have left out the years that my husband spent writing a book for the “Leaders in Action” series by the prompting of DJV, only to never have it published once he went ‘radioactive’ with the editor, David Vaughan. And I have left out the story of Stoneridge Subdivision, and the lack of church discipline and follow through toward the developer, who is related to the Vaughan family. I have left out the impact the Liberty experience had on my two older children, and on my husband. I have left out the many friendships that the theology of Liberty destroyed, because of dissent and gossip. I have left out the most important point to make here. The position that David J. Vaughan holds has the power of healing or destruction. He too often uses it for his protection and self-promotion, creating destruction in the lives of others.
Epilogue.
First, vulnerability, whether emotional, spiritual, or physical, creates victims. People who stay at a church that preaches and practices what Liberty does, are vulnerable on some platform. The evidence in that is from the feedback that we are getting from outside of the church, that our stories are remarkable.
Second, isolation must occur for abuse and threat of further abuse to take place. The protocol at Liberty is to handle things ‘privately’. There is a reason for this. We are not allowed to speak about these issues. This is isolation. The leadership is doing damage control, to protect their actions.
Third, things are not what they always appear. A blue polyester suit and a baby boy does not make a man of character. Neither does an academic sermon and a charismatic personality. Dictates that are preached in the sermons are not necessarily followed in private.
Fourth, without vindication, the victim is seen as lying, and the perpetrator grows strength. It justifies the action of the perpetrator, allowing room for another similar act to occur.
Fifth, acts of wrong that go unstopped, repeat them selves, sometimes to a greater degree. Thus, the general population is agreeing to, and promoting the occurrences. To be silent, is still taking a side.
Sixth, perpetrators are not concerned with their victims. They see themselves as the victim. Not calling it out, enables this behavior."
Jo Ann's Story Part 3
"My story is only half written here. I have left out our experience with our adoption and the role that the church played. I have left out the years that my husband spent writing a book for the “Leaders in Action” series by the prompting of DJV, only to never have it published once he went ‘radioactive’ with the editor, David Vaughan. And I have left out the story of Stoneridge Subdivision, and the lack of church discipline and follow through toward the developer, who is related to the Vaughan family. I have left out the impact the Liberty experience had on my two older children, and on my husband. I have left out the many friendships that the theology of Liberty destroyed, because of dissent and gossip. I have left out the most important point to make here. The position that David J. Vaughan holds has the power of healing or destruction. He too often uses it for his protection and self-promotion, creating destruction in the lives of others.
Epilogue.
I write my story, because as in my foreword, to be silent is to allow others to be hurt by the perpetrator. I am hoping to share enough that others will draw their own conclusions of similarity in their interactions with DJV and the Liberty institutions. May the blinders begin to come off, as they eventually did with us. May others come forward with their story, to offer the private side of this church.
In my foreword, I shared my story of physical rape. I did so, because I see many similarities with the spiritual rape occurring at Liberty Christian Church.
First, vulnerability, whether emotional, spiritual, or physical, creates victims. People who stay at a church that preaches and practices what Liberty does, are vulnerable on some platform. The evidence in that is from the feedback that we are getting from outside of the church, that our stories are remarkable.
Second, isolation must occur for abuse and threat of further abuse to take place. The protocol at Liberty is to handle things ‘privately’. There is a reason for this. We are not allowed to speak about these issues. This is isolation. The leadership is doing damage control, to protect their actions.
Third, things are not what they always appear. A blue polyester suit and a baby boy does not make a man of character. Neither does an academic sermon and a charismatic personality. Dictates that are preached in the sermons are not necessarily followed in private.
Fourth, without vindication, the victim is seen as lying, and the perpetrator grows strength. It justifies the action of the perpetrator, allowing room for another similar act to occur.
Fifth, acts of wrong that go unstopped, repeat them selves, sometimes to a greater degree. Thus, the general population is agreeing to, and promoting the occurrences. To be silent, is still taking a side.
Sixth, perpetrators are not concerned with their victims. They see themselves as the victim. Not calling it out, enables this behavior."
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!
It's really hard to be sympathetic to certain stories. It's great that you finally saw the light and are no longer attending Liberty, but I have a hard time reading it knowing you were one of the ones who talked bad about and shunned (not that you're the only one) my family (and others) when we left Liberty for many of the same reasons listed above.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comment, Anon Ymous. I didn't write this to gain sympathy. I wrote it to expose some serious brainwashing that is taking place. I think many of us sharing on this blog are united in saying, we were part of the problem. We drank the Kool Aid, and believed that it was Godly to hold up certain standards that DJV preached on. It was not. No excuses made for my behavior back then. I am deeply sorry for all pain I passed onto others for my short sightedness, unvoiced, submissive approach. I wish you would have shared your name, but I understand a need for anonymity. I welcome the opportunity to specifically address you and your family, or if you are more comfortable, to do so off line in a face book message. I am sorry if I have left you and your family with bitterness.
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