Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
There is also a huge difference between what Nee might have written in a book a quarter century ago and what dramatic changes Lee instituted that "very first special elders and co-workers conference. This is when the concept of the work began. Few of the saints realize the magnitude of effect this meeting had on the churches. With charts and statistics, Witness Lee and Max Rapoport came forth to launch the movement. It was boldly declared that the churches would use Witness Lee as the exclusive source of teaching and Max would serve as the coordinator to bring the various churches, with their elders, into a unified movement. Two life-study messages a week were going to be given in Anaheim. Ministry stations were set up in various cities to repeat his messages through designated brothers. Some smaller churches consolidated to the larger localities where there was a ministry station. The official list of twelve men who could give conferences was announced. From that time on, the individual churches would be called to account if they were moving “independently.” In addition to coordinating the elders to act in a single direction, Max was charged to assist the various churches to be more effective with gospel preaching and outreach." -- DR
|
Anyone who knows the history of the LC system knows that prior to 1974 both Watchman Nee and Witness Lee held meetings and trainings for coworkers and elders. They also know that Witness Lee was the exclusive source of teaching in the LC system. They know he was operating Stream Publishers. They also know that Los Angeles was the center of the work in the US where Witness Lee held conferences and 3 week trainings and where people were sent out by him to start churches and he also orchestrated a consolidation. He and his sons also started Daystar to make money for "the work". Not to mention he had Christian Chen excommunicated down in Brazil using Titus Chu as his tool to get the job done. This all happened
BEFORE 1974. And the list goes on and on.
So definitely the concept of "the work" existed way before 1974 with Witness Lee firmly at the helm. Anything that happened in 1974 and beyond was merely a continuation of what was already there in essence, form and concept.
If Don Rutledge happened not to know any of these things so what? Lots of people do know it and the Internet with forums like this help them know it even more!