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Old 09-24-2008, 02:46 AM   #10
Indiana
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 718
Default Re: Handling Matters In House in the Local Churches

I want to share my correspondence with Ransford, from 02
and my attempts at fellowship regarding him.

From: Ransford Ackah (ransjohanna@yahoo.com)


Sent: Thu 4/18/02 11:34 PM
To: Steve Isitt (sisitt@msn.com)

Dear Brother Steve,
We are in a battle front, and precious lives are being destroyed here in Africa by the system and practices of LSM, so for our sake any material that will help us to stand for the truth against the evil practices of LSM is greatly needed.

It is only the truth that will set people free. You have no idea what great impact your small booklet did among us here. Many more saints are making photocopies just to read. I will wait for the next one by the weekend thank you. Keep praying for us.
Ransford.

----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Isitt
To: Ransford
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2002 4:54 PM
Subject: Re: another book is available, brother Ransford


Dear Ransford,

I am glad to receive this report from you. The booklet was written out of a deep regard for the oneness of the Body of Christ and with much feeling. There is another book available that is much stronger and more complete. I don't think any of us should be unaware of the real factors of division that occurred among us. I feel those factors should be defined. This second book does deal with the Philip Lee factor as well as brother Lee's forceful "push" in the new way, and failure to deal with Philip. It is a most serious book that I am before the Lord for how to use, or if to use it. I will probably send it to you by the end of the week.

Praise the Lord, Ransford! His praise shall continually be in our mouth.

Steve I.


----- Original Message -----
From: Ransford Ackah
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2002 12:50 AM
To: Steve Isitt
Subject: Thank You

Dearest Brother Steve,
The booklet you sent to me concerning the "Wake of the new way" was very helpful. Last month before the LSM people had their so called Blending Conference here in Accra-Ghana, all the leading ones from the various localities came together to pray. During that time we read through your booklet. It was a such an eyes opening for all of us. We made photocopies and distributed them among many of the elders. Many testified afterwards that, that small booklet has served as an eye opening to them all.
Thank you for your obedience and faithfulness to the Lord in writing that small piece of information. It met the need at the right time, may the Lord bless you. You mentioned that you are writing one about Philip Lee, I hope you will send me a copy. Thank you.

The unfortunate thing is that the LSM did not have the impact they were looking for. For all the money they spent their influence were not felt at all in Ghana. Many did not hear about their conference, the damage was limited. In Accra, there were only two brothers who went to their meetings because of the vain promises but apart from that the saints here are very clear about their deviation from the truth. We have been burdened to read the "Normal Christian Church Life" again to the saints. Many of the behaviour and practices of the LSM are complete deviation from what Watchman Nee wrote and what the scripture teaches.
We are doing finer and may the Lord bless you.
In Christ.
Ransford

It’s Not a Matter of Right and Wrong

Brother Steve,
After reading your emails and the attached documents, I just have the following points to fellowship with you:
1) Taken that you have the right intention to "straighten out" the problems in the Lord's recovery, I felt that the way you are taking is not the proper way, but instead will generate more problems. I say this because of two reasons:
a. This is not the way shown to us in the scriptures. Just to get things "right" is never the way the Lord has led us. There were many things the Corinthians had wronged Paul, but Paul never took the attitude to "straighten them out" by helping them to get the facts straight and so on. In stead he preached the crucified Christ to them. There has to be the experience of the cross, the crucified Christ, in order to have the Body life. There are portions in the Word which show us that God does not care just to be "right" or "fair" or "just." Although He is a righteous God, He carries out His righteousness in the realm of life. Was Noah getting drunk and becoming naked right or wrong? Humanly speaking, we all agree that it was a mistake. However, God did not try to straighten out Noah; instead, God allowed and used Noah to curse his son Ham who saw his father's nakedness and told his brothers about it. It seems that Ham was doing the right thing to try to let his brothers know so that they can help their father out. But Ham violated the principle of life which God honors and desires so much. Noah did not get the curse, but Ham did. This is just one portion of the word which reveals this aspect of our touching God's matters. I hope that this may help to open up a new realm to you.
b. This has never been the way practiced by us in the Lord's recovery as long as I have been here (for the last 36 years). There has been rebellion and turmoils in the recovery both in the east and the west in the past years, but there has never been one case where "getting things straight" resolved anything, but instead, if it ever took place, brought in more confusion and complications.
Steve, I hope that you would realize that the problems that occurred in the recovery are not ordinary problems as in the world. Beside the factual side of things, that is, the mishandling and misrepresentation,etc., there are something called hidden ambition and pride involved which are extremely complicated and subjective. If there is one little bit of impurity in the motive, you are through, regardless of how righteous and correct you are in handling the matters. I really hope that you will not be misguided by your superficial view that things can be resolved by just getting the facts out and face up to them. I don't even know what you called it "the facts" are really the genuine facts. Only the Lord knows. I hope that you will not presume that you know the real facts. You should have a fear for that, especially knowing that human beings are so complicated from the fall which has involved them with ambition, pride, the flesh, and the self. These are ugly things and they are hidden and subtle. Only the cross of Christ can deal with them.
2) The second point is that since you mentioned that you are now under disciplined by the brothers in your area, I consider that as a very serious matter which you need to take to heart to be before the Lord to seek His mercy for repentance and restoration. I don't know who you are and I don't know anything about you, but the brothers in your area do. I just feel that you should take the Lord's soverignty in this arrangement to be reconciled to Him and to the brothers in your church life there. Otherwise, if your own standing is questionable, how can you try to help others to get out of their problems?
This is all that I want to say. I hope that my frank words would not offend you. If you think that I am wrong, then just let it be that I am wrong. Even Paul said that he dared not judge anything, even himself, before the time comes. So in the mean time, let us be in fear and trembling before Him that we may not do or say anything that would hinder His building work on earth.
This is my final email to you. I do not feel that I have the capacity and the time to address to those matters which you are concerned about. May the Lord be gracious to you.
In Christ,
James Lee

Re: a request for the book‏
From: jamesllee54@hotmail.com
You may not know this sender.Mark as safe|Mark as unsafe

Sent: Sun 4/28/02 4:53 PM
To: Steve Isitt (sisitt@msn.com)
Cc: Dick Taylor (dicktaylr@aol.com)

Dear brother Steve,
Sorry for the delayed reply to your numerous emails. Thank you for your concern over the Africa situation. It was altogether a surprise to get those emails by Ransford because there was not even one thought in us about dealing with him or his group when we planned the International blending conference. We just went on in spite of how he reacted to our blending conference. Thank the Lord that it was really a blessed time for the saints there in Africa to have this time of blending with so many from outside of the continent. They are part of the universal Body of Christ. Anyhow, regarding the books that you have written and being requested by others, I did have some fellowship with brother Dick Taylor, we feel that it would be good for you to hold off releasing that to the public. As you indicated in your email to seek fellowship, we would be open to receive a copy of your books for review and give you our comments. From our experience, we realize that many times presenting the "right facts" of the situation does not necessarily help the people, but instead may get them into the realm of right and wrong, and as you know, there is no real solution in that realm. The Lord is the One who knows the heart. Only when one's heart is right and pure can he see God in all the situations and be benefited by any environment. So, I hope that you would consider the fellowship here and wait on the Lord a little longer and allow time for more fellowship in the Body. If you would send the books to me,
Grace be with you,
Your brother in Christ,
James


----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Isitt
Sent: Friday, April 26, 2002 5:40 AM
To: JamesLee; DickTaylor; dong
Subject: Fw: a request for the book

Dear brothers,

Here, below, is a request for the book. Shall I send it to the brother, one who came into the recovery at the beginning?

I feel there has been much unrighteousness wrought in the recovery, brothers, with many precious ones stumbled and brought into confusion. Brothers, we need a conscience concerning this, do we not.

I ask again for your genuine fellowship over the contents of the book with me and a couple pertinent brothers who were once among us. I tentatively plan to come to Anaheim in early or mid-June. Shall we meet then, brothers?

I honestly don't believe there is a reason not to share this book with others. For many, it will help clarify matters. If you don't feel I should send it out, what is your reason? My desire is to help the saints, and there are many who have questions and deserve answers, honest answers that tell the whole story.

Brothers by Monday I will feel free to go ahead to answer the requests if I have not heard from you. Praise the Lord! for His economy. It surely begins by being open, honest, and real before Him and dealing with sin and all unrighteousness. That is my attitude in the book.

----- Original Message -----
From: Herman Massey
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 12:41 PM
To: 'Steve Isitt'
Subject: RE: another book is available, brother Ransford

Steve, my name is Herman Massey. I have been receiving the emails from various brothers via Ron White. I do not know if you know me, I do not remember you. I was in the “recovery” in Texas since 1964 but because of conscience issues with how people and the Word of God was being handled I stopped assembling with the local church in Oklahoma City where I had served for 15 years. The book that you sent to Ransford and the one you mentioned in this email would be of special interest to me. I love those brothers so deeply. I worked with Benson since I was in college in the early 60s. There is so much ambiguity about so many issues that occurred in the late 80s that have never been made clear to me that I wish that I understood. However I would have no interest in anything that is based on hearsay. If you have documentation or were personally an observer of some of these matters I would like to know the truth for my own peace and assurance. Thank you Steve. Herman

----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Isitt
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2002 8:54 AM
To: Ransford
Subject: Re: another book is available, brother Ransford


Dear Ransford,

I am glad to receive this report from you. The booklet was written out of a deep regard and feeling for the oneness of the Body of Christ. There is another book available that is much stronger and more complete. I don't think any of us should be unaware of the real factors of division that occurred among us. I feel those factors should be defined. This second book does deal with the Philip Lee factor as well as brother Lee's forceful "push" in the new way, and failure to deal with Philip. It is a most serious book that I am before the Lord for how to use, or if to use it. I will probably send it to you by the end of the week.

Praise the Lord, Ransford! His praise shall continually be in our mouth.

Steve I.
----- Original Message -----
From: Ransford Ackah
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2002 12:50 AM
To: Steve Isitt
Subject: Thank You

Dearest Brother Steve,
The booklet you sent to me concerning the "In the Wake of the new way" was very helpful. Last month before the LSM people had their so called Blending Conference here in Accra-Ghana, all the leading ones from the various localities came together to pray. During that time we read through your booklet. It was a such an eyes opening for all of us. We made photocopies and distributed them among many of the elders. Many testified afterwards that, that small booklet has served as an eye opening to them all.
Thank you for your obedience and faithfulness to the Lord in writing that small piece of information. It met the need at the right time, may the Lord bless you. You mentioned that you are writing one about Philip Lee, I hope you will send me a copy. Thank you.

The unfortunate thing is that the LSM did not have the impact they were looking for. For all the money they spent their influence were not felt at all in Ghana. Many did not hear about their conference, the damage was limited. In Accra, there were only two brothers who went to their meetings because of the vain promises but apart from that the saints here are very clear about their deviation from the truth. We have been burdened to read the "Normal Christian Church Life" again to the saints. Many of the behaviour and practices of the LSM are complete deviation from what Watchman Nee wrote and what the scripture teaches.
We are doing finer and may the Lord bless you.
In Christ.
Ransford
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