Local Church Discussions - View Single Post - My Experiences of the Local Church

Admin · 09-24-2011, 07:26 AM

Originally posted 7/15/2009

Posted by Joanna Tysoe

Hello and welcome to the forum Joy
I too am from NZ and started in the LC in Palmerston North. I came along a little later than you I think. A whole lot of people had moved away and there was just a small group meeting there when I joined this group. I must say that I enjoyed the first 5 years , as the Christians were very loving and genuine. We passed through suffering and good times together and there was true brotherly love towards each other. However, after this time the Lord started to move us all about the country. We could not understand it at the time and cried to the Lord a lot, as we missed the group very much. During this time we realised that our individual walk with the Lord was severly lacking and that most of our experience was a group experience. It bothered us a lot. Eventually we moved to Hamilton and it was there that we saw the vain application of man's methods and processes. It became more important to follow a way rather than a person. We becam more bothered as the years went by. But we stuck with the group, as the 'vision' of oneness held us captive and we would suffer anything to maintain it. In all, we stayed in the group for nearly 30 years! But because we moved a lot, God often provided other Christian fellowship for us as well. 3 years ago now, I was made aware of the most recent conflict over Titus Chu. On what grounds did they dissassociate with him I thought? Certainly nothing biblical. All of a sudden I realised that what ever oneness the group possessed before, it was all now a mere outward show. I decided then to leave. It has been a rocky time. Yes, many tears and loneliness. My family has had a hard time too. Gratefuully I can thank God that they have been preserved. My children are all going on with the Lord in various other bible believing groups. My husband and I are meeting with a small local open brethren church down the road. Mostly we are learning to be humble and to learn from them. We still have a lot of baggage to loose as you can guess, but God is good. He is teaching us. It is great to hear of another sister here who has exited the LC and kept her family and her faith.

09-24-2011, 07:26 AM	#2
Admin He came not to be Served but Serve Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 39	Re: My Experiences of the Local Church - Joy Hillary Originally posted 7/15/2009 Posted by Joanna Tysoe Hello and welcome to the forum Joy I too am from NZ and started in the LC in Palmerston North. I came along a little later than you I think. A whole lot of people had moved away and there was just a small group meeting there when I joined this group. I must say that I enjoyed the first 5 years , as the Christians were very loving and genuine. We passed through suffering and good times together and there was true brotherly love towards each other. However, after this time the Lord started to move us all about the country. We could not understand it at the time and cried to the Lord a lot, as we missed the group very much. During this time we realised that our individual walk with the Lord was severly lacking and that most of our experience was a group experience. It bothered us a lot. Eventually we moved to Hamilton and it was there that we saw the vain application of man's methods and processes. It became more important to follow a way rather than a person. We becam more bothered as the years went by. But we stuck with the group, as the 'vision' of oneness held us captive and we would suffer anything to maintain it. In all, we stayed in the group for nearly 30 years! But because we moved a lot, God often provided other Christian fellowship for us as well. 3 years ago now, I was made aware of the most recent conflict over Titus Chu. On what grounds did they dissassociate with him I thought? Certainly nothing biblical. All of a sudden I realised that what ever oneness the group possessed before, it was all now a mere outward show. I decided then to leave. It has been a rocky time. Yes, many tears and loneliness. My family has had a hard time too. Gratefuully I can thank God that they have been preserved. My children are all going on with the Lord in various other bible believing groups. My husband and I are meeting with a small local open brethren church down the road. Mostly we are learning to be humble and to learn from them. We still have a lot of baggage to loose as you can guess, but God is good. He is teaching us. It is great to hear of another sister here who has exited the LC and kept her family and her faith.