March 19, 2008

Dear John Doe,

Let me say first that I am thankful that you took the time to participate in the exit interview process. I do not take this effort lightly and although this is a “painful pill to swallow,” I am thankful to our loving Father for His guidance and correction.

I am truly sorry for any part of my expression that has been me and not Christ. I know this happens and has happened. I understand that people can act in a way that causes pain to another, even though they feel they have a good and proper reason. If I have been defensive, it is for what I perceived to be an affront to the many men and women who are both here now and all over the world serving Christ. This in no way condones the attitude, and I ask your forgiveness if I have offended you in any way.

I also know that by not being more transparent with the failures of GGWO and Pastor Stevens, it has allowed for the thought that I was possibly covering or condoning their sins. I am sorry that this act was perceived as such and that there was no apparent vehicle in place to discuss this further. My heart in this situation is the same as has been expressed toward any who have failed; this is to learn from the mistake and go on, not to revel in the humiliation of another. I believe this to be the essence of the grace message that we all have loved and embraced for so many years.

The events of the last few years have been of great spiritual value to Sue and me. We have had to adjust to the changing aspects of many elements of ministry and relationships in our lives and cling to the eternal. The events of GGWO clearly revealed the need for accountability on all levels of church government, and the pain of those events have etched this truth deep in our hearts. Our prayer for all of those involved, worldwide, is that we can glean great value and purpose from these tragedies. Our hope and prayer is this for you also.

On al local level, Living Grace Ministries has and is continuing to institute policies and church structure that would guard against such an event happening here. We are all sorry that this could not come more expediently than it had but, thankfully, it is happening.

I would like to close with a sincere “thank you” from Sue, me, and our children for all the faithful deeds and acts of kindness you have shown us, Living Grace Church, and the lost for so many years. We know that this does not go unrewarded, and we fell privileged to have served our Lord with you. Our Prayers are with you, knowing that God is going to produce the same blessed fruit in your lives where ever He may lead you.

Love in Christ,

Pastor Tom & Sue Powell

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March 18, 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus;

The Board of Elders (BOE) of Living Grace Ministries would like to thank you for your willingness to participate in our recent Exit Interviews of people that had left our church over the last couple of years. Collectively, the information gathered form these interviews led to many recommendations by the BOE to the church and will be our primary focus in the proceeding months to come. We appreciated your candid comments, and understand the time sacrificed on your behalf. Thank you.

The BOE acknowledges that it has some culpability, although unintentional, related to potentially hurt feelings, sorrow, or offending members of LGM, including those who have left the church over the last 2-3 years. The BOE desires reconciliation and healing of all those who have left LGM. IT believes that such healing and reconciliation can only be achieved through repentance and forgiveness based on the Finished Work of Christ accomplished on our behalf at Calvary. As an expression of this heartfelt desire and prayer the BOE recommended that both Pastor Powell and the BOE send a letter to each person who participated in the exit interviews.

It is our heartfelt hope that you will forgive us for nay hurt feelings that you may have experienced as a result of your time with us at Living Grace Ministries. For this we are truly sorry. While it was never our intention that anyone should be offended, we do understand that we could have done a better job listening and being more sensitive to the stress that recent changes in LGM may have caused those who were attending. We also acknowledge that many people within LGM were carrying disproportionate burdens as related to some of the ministries within the church. Lastly, separations are emotionally difficult for all concerned. If our responses to your departure from LGM seemed unfeeling we again ask your forgiveness, and we want to assure you that we are thankful for all you have done for the Body of Christ in our local church while you were worshipping and serving the Lord with us. We are reminded of Paul’s prayer and encouragement to the Philippians in Chapter 1, verses 3-6, “ I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy
because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” We, together with you, praise the Lord that the completion of the good work He has begun in each of us is ultimately His responsibility, and not ours. And He who promised is faithful. AMEN

May the Lord Jesus Christ grant you peace and joy as you continue your walk with Him.

Sincerely,

The Board of Elders
Living Grace Ministries
106 South 28th
Tacoma, WA 98403



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Um... did anyone.. anyone get a phone call from one of the board of elders regarding their concern for our well being. The only elders who called (prior to these letters) are the ones who all left the church after the meetings to discuss the letters.

Yes I also got the same two prefab letters.

Not one phone call to anyone from Powell or any of the "concerned" board of elders.

Check your PMs Ultra Poneros

On al local level, Living Grace Ministries has and is continuing to institute policies and church structure that would guard against such an event happening here. We are all sorry that this could not come more expediently than it had but, thankfully, it is happening.

My question to this statement by Tom is " Then why did the three elders that presented the report after the (3) Saturday all day meetings feel that the best interest for themselves and their families was to turn in their resignations and say their good-bys to the people at the church they had also fellowshipped with at TBS/GGC/LGM for decades?"
If leadership was making an honest effort to these words, why would they have left after giving weeks of their personal time working hard to bring out at those meetings the need to ecknowledge the deeds, and actions for years from Tom's leadership that had caused so many of us to leave.
So many who had voiced their differences over the past years where marked by Tom after meetings as being argumentative and then defamed to others to the point they where shown cold and indifferent attitudes by those who where a party to his words. Who wants to be apart of that after awhile when you know there where meetings going on and you are no longer asked to attend. So as you are forced to take a back sit you are then spoken of as not one with the vision, carnal,a backslider. It is a system that has been life strangling and oppressive for years. It wasn't so much what sins where happening with GGWO as you applied the same behavior towards your church that Stevens had taught you.

Maybe those (3) elders knew what they where in for and said no thank you and left.

Looking back over the years of watching people who came only to leave quickly and are now telling you they saw arrogance from Tom that you over looked and covered for years as trusting God to deal with him as His servant in grace as God was dealing with yourself and maturing you in your own personal areas.
Then you relize that what you where co laboring with Christ drawing others into having a closer walk with Jesus may have been only a kingdom building for Tommy and his good ol'boy's and that's why this repentance letter seems as if he still doesn't get it. He was all about protecting the people who still attend LGM and those who are serving Christ all over the world, from our affront . This statement in his repentance letter was his pure motive for his actions .

You finally leave and find that there are many people who love Christ and are having a great effect on others in our community and the whole world
apart from blessed by assoication with TBS/GGWO/GGC/LGM/IAGM.

I'll be praying,

One of my big problems with GG is that repentance by leaders was always expressed in generalities. No one ever stated what it was specifically they were sorry for. This is what I see here from Tom Powell. Unless we know what he is sorry for, how are we to know if we agree with what he thinks is the problem? The only clue into his thinking I see is when he stated: "I believe this to be the essence of the grace message that we all have loved and embraced for so many years." followed by a paragraph where he talks about the problems of GG. He does not seem to get that this message of grace he is talking about is very likely corrupted by Carl Stevens who used it to protect himself from the needed accountability. The grace message from GG is a mixture of truth and error. Most of the error is in the behavior of the leaders as they set the example of how their teaching should be applied. They used grace as a license to sin while they often preach against it.

The elders, in their letter, acknowledged some culpability. We just do not know for what. But we do know that they believe that: "... such healing and reconciliation can only be achieved through repentance and forgiveness based on the Finished Work of Christ accomplished on our behalf at Calvary." But where is the repentance they are alluding to? Isn't this the part of the letter where they are supposed to say just what they "unintentionally" did wrong and ask for forgiveness?

But my comments are only on what they said at face value. I have know idea what their true intentions might have been in either letter.

Darkness and Quest 2, Bingo, you hit the nail on the head. Couldn't have stated it better myself.

They are simply trying to protect their little kingdom, that is really nothing more than a self important, 'mutual admiration society' ( if i can steal a favorite phrase from Carl).

I did not receive a letter but I must point out a few important points:

1. The letter is unsigned, so who are the elders?
2. Who elected the elders and for how long is their term?
3. What are these elders' credentials?
4. The letter is addressed to an unspecified group of brothers and sisters so what
exactly is the intended target audience for this letter?
5. Who knows what these elders are culpable for?

There are two things I want to say. I have never received a phone call or any letter.

I was never asked to an "Exit Interview" either. So for those of you that did at least your service was valued to some extent.

:angry:

Good point leftout. The Preachah did not receive a letter either but some of his fans showed him theirs.

I never got a letter. I was in that church from age 17-25. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and spent several hours writing my statement in hopes that it would help. I have had the same permanent mailing adress for 24 years. Nothing. yawn, oh well. Have a nice day everybody!

As always, if anyone reads this that is still attending and would like to ask me ANYTHING, please call or email. Levialive@gmail.com

KD, TP, JC, It's not too late if you would like to offer any explanation for the clear and legitamate questions I have repeatedly raised for the last 14 months. About two months ago JC said they were a little busy but they would get to it. I'm so excited I can't wait!

Bump

A lot of little things have become one big thing at LGM.
The longer one stays away, the clearer the deception is.
Most of the people that read this already know this is true.
What can we do?

Do? About what?

What can we do for the poor souls (including the leaders) that are still suffering at LGM?
This is just a rhetorical question because there is no real answer.