My time in the church

[JB482]

I was in the church for 14 years. I came in the church during the Kingdom conference in LA in 1972. I was saved a year prior to that. I met a brother in Torrance where I was living he invited me to the conference. At the time I thought it was great! So much life and love of Christ! With all the saints. After the conference I moved to Phoenix because a new church was starting there and my parents were living in Phoenix too but they weren't Christian. I moved in with the Beck's with another single brother. It was a awesome church life there until 1974 .then the consolidations came and everyone had to move to Anaheim or San Diego. I went to San Diego. It was a big change being uprooted like that. I never had a good feeling about it . it was wrong! The first year and a half in Phoenix was the best time I had in the 14 years I spent in the church. Then in 1976 I left the church in San Diego and after a few months went to Atlanta for 5 years in the church there then to Iowa.But as far back as 1974 I knew inwardly that the blessing of the Lord was leaving the church but you could never discuss it with anyone . I could sense the clergy laity with the leading ones.I read other christian books by saints from the past. I was always aware that a lot of things in the church were not right but like I said who could you tell or talk about it to? By 1986 I was so sick of it I left for good!! I became worldly for many years.but the Lord Jesus never left me. I'm back with Jesus and have the sweetness of His love. Our fellowship is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ! Amen

[Ohio]

Welcome JB482! Thanks for sharing your story.

It's truly amazing to see how a church which prides itself on being "LOCAL" could endure more manipulation from headquarters than any denomination.

And once again you have confirmed that the blessings from the Head would wane with every ministry mandate.

[JB482]

I enjoy reading all the posts. It can be bittersweet but healing too.

[countmeworthy]

Hey!
I think I remember you. I was in San Diego from 1975-1978. My name is Carol. I stay in touch with Bob Bird who lives in Wisconsin now. Darlene and Roger Beck moved back to Phoenix but Roger has passed away. Colleen and Joe Penner also live in Phoenix and are close to Darlene I believe. I do not keep in touch with them though nor do I know how to reach them.

I last visited San Diego in 2005. Boy had it changed. Les And Carolyn were still there. I had a nice visit. Carla And Jim Rodman were there too and Melody and Brian were there as well. I don't think you knew Brian.

A bit of my testimony is in the thread :Why did you leave the LC".

[aron]

Originally Posted by countmeworthy

Hey!
I think I remember you. I was in San Diego from 1975-1978. .

The thing I remember of San Diego mid-'70s is the music. The song tapes from San Diego were renowned throughout the LC. They had a wall of guitars, going "chunka-chunka-chunka", and then the voices! Tremendous! I still listen to them. Long Beach had the song-writing, but San Diego had the guitar army.

[JB482]

Originally Posted by aron

The thing I remember of San Diego mid-'70s is the music. The song tapes from San Diego were renowned throughout the LC. They had a wall of guitars, going "chunka-chunka-chunka", and then the voices! Tremendous! I still listen to them. Long Beach had the song-writing, but San Diego had the guitar army.

They did have some great guitar players in San Diego and the singing was awesome. Roger Beck was always involved with it as he cared much for it. He was a precious brother

[countmeworthy]

Originally Posted by aron

The thing I remember of San Diego mid-'70s is the music. The song tapes from San Diego were renowned throughout the LC. They had a wall of guitars, going "chunka-chunka-chunka", and then the voices! Tremendous! I still listen to them. Long Beach had the song-writing, but San Diego had the guitar army.

WOW!! How 'bout that! I knew San Diego was known as a young people's church as most of the saints were in their early 20s. We had a lot of 'singins" and the psalms were #1 onmy lst followed by the songs in the supplement.

I did not know our guitar group was LC renowned!! chunka-chunka-chunka

[JB482]

Originally Posted by countmeworthy

Hey!
I think I remember you. I was in San Diego from 1975-1978. My name is Carol. I stay in touch with Bob Bird who lives in Wisconsin now. Darlene and Roger Beck moved back to Phoenix but Roger has passed away. Colleen and Joe Penner also live in Phoenix and are close to Darlene I believe. I do not keep in touch with them though nor do I know how to reach them.

I last visited San Diego in 2005. Boy had it changed. Les And Carolyn were still there. I had a nice visit. Carla And Jim Rodman were there too and Melody and Brian were there as well. I don't think you knew Brian.

A bit of my testimony is in the thread :Why did you leave the LC".

I remember all those saints you mentioned.there are many good memories from that time. I remember the time some of us brothers lived at Ocean Beach for the gospel.

[JB482]

Originally Posted by JB482

I remember all those saints you mentioned.there are many good memories from that time. I remember the time some of us brothers lived at Ocean Beach for the gospel.

I lived at that brothers house Kim Tooly and his wife had that was across the street from the Navel Training center. And we worked at NTC or MCRD. Huston Sorells is another saint I'll always remember. I can hear him now saying "Praise the Lord brother!

[JB482]

Lyndol Butler was in San Diego. In fact I remember the first meeting he came to. He was a friend of Ken Short and Dick Ingram I think they were in the Marines together at one time. Anyway years later when I was in the church in Iowa City in Iowa. Lyndol and his wife were living in Cedar Rapids IA because of his job. They were meeting with the saints there. Lyndol is a dear brother . He was treated very bad by some brothers and lies were told about him. It was horrible. That was in 1986. I soon left the local church for good after that. It was getting so dark and evil it made me sick.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by JB482

Lyndol is a dear brother. He was treated very bad by some brothers and lies were told about him. It was horrible. That was in 1986. I soon left the local church for good after that. It was getting so dark and evil it made me sick.

Back in the mid-80's W. Lee and his son Philip unleashed fleshly ministry zeal throughout the Recovery via his "new way" so-called gospel burden. I saw numerous brothers who formerly "loved the ministry" get beat up by those "absolutely one with the ministry." Leading brothers were no longer evaluated based on maturity, love, fruitfulness, or wisdom in leading the saints, but on blind devotion to Lee and Son and their many destructive programs.

Somehow at the time we were led to believe (the responsibility for this resides with Titus Chu) that the source of all these problems was not Lee himself or his leadership, but with certain of his co-workers. It was truly incredible how deceptive they had become.

Iowa was a battleground state between the Ohio and Texas regions.

[JB482]

I agree with your statement,it was very tumultuous indeed.

[countmeworthy]

Originally Posted by JB482

Lyndol Butler was in San Diego. In fact I remember the first meeting he came to. He was a friend of Ken Short and Dick Ingram I think they were in the Marines together at one time. Anyway years later when I was in the church in Iowa City in Iowa. Lyndol and his wife were living in Cedar Rapids IA because of his job. They were meeting with the saints there. Lyndol is a dear brother . He was treated very bad by some brothers and lies were told about him. It was horrible. That was in 1986. I soon left the local church for good after that. It was getting so dark and evil it made me sick.

Lyndol and Karen eventually left the LC but after a few years out, returned to the LC..lots of drama for them returning back..

A Fazio recently started a thread here but has not returned to post. I heard during the 1986 San Diego turmoil, she stood up and voiced her thoughts. But Les Cites told her to shut up and sit down. LOL... good ole feisty A Fazio! She was/is blessed with brilliant intelligence and a sharp spirit.

John Smith recently passed away and Sonia passed away last year I think. They left the LC in the 86 turmoil I believe when John Ingalls left. Willie and Sandy Samoff left the LC in the late 70s too. Max passed away recently too.

Nice to 'see' some old San Diego saints here on the forum. Btw, Kurt Kunkell made a brief stop here many years ago as did Steve Nelson.

Hope you stick around and share more of your journey!

Blessings always.
Carol

[JB482]

Originally Posted by countmeworthy

Lyndol and Karen eventually left the LC but after a few years out, returned to the LC..lots of drama for them returning back..

A Fazio recently started a thread here but has not returned to post. I heard during the 1986 San Diego turmoil, she stood up and voiced her thoughts. But Les Cites told her to shut up and sit down. LOL... good ole feisty A Fazio! She was/is blessed with brilliant intelligence and a sharp spirit.

John Smith recently passed away and Sonia passed away last year I think. They left the LC in the 86 turmoil I believe when John Ingalls left. Willie and Sandy Samoff left the LC in the late 70s too. Max passed away recently too.

Nice to 'see' some old San Diego saints here on the forum. Btw, Kurt Kunkell made a brief stop here many years ago as did Steve Nelson.

Hope you stick around and share more of your journey!

Blessings always.
Carol

Thanks for sharing the updates on the San Diego saints Carol,somethings I knew but you filled in a lot of blanks for me. When the saints come to mind I always feel the love of our Lord Jesus

[JB482]

A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench: He shall bring forth judgement unto truth. Isaiah 42:3

[countmeworthy]

Originally Posted by JB482

... I became worldly for many years.but the Lord Jesus never left me. I'm back with Jesus and have the sweetness of His love. Our fellowship is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ! Amen

Yes. Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. He began a 'most excellent' in us and He is going to complete it through His Precious Blood and His Holy Spirit.

Paul says "He began a good work in you". I say JESUS began A MOST EXCELLENT WORK in you."

Blessings,
Carol Garza