Migration

[HBJ]

One thing that really still bothers me all there years later is/was migration. Between 1971-1975 I had 8 different addresses due to migration. Who in the world thinks they can establish a church in 6 months or less? I moved so much my education was messed up and had to get tutoring. This was due to the fact that I should have learned something earlier, but it wasn't in the schedule of the previous state/school district when I was in that school. Back to establishing churches: Was the LC so concerned with "the ground of the church" that they just wanted to plant the flag in various cities to show there was a "real" church there? How can you establish relationships in 6 months? I'd like the Lord at the bema seat to show me what good if any came in that time period for me of 8 addresses in 5 years, because I won't lie to God and at this point want to just 'flush' that part of my life away as totally useless. Sorry all but I have to vent.

[Trapped]

Originally Posted by HBJ

One thing that really still bothers me all there years later is/was migration. Between 1971-1975 I had 8 different addresses due to migration. Who in the world thinks they can establish a church in 6 months or less? I moved so much my education was messed up and had to get tutoring. This was due to the fact that I should have learned something earlier, but it wasn't in the schedule of the previous state/school district when I was in that school. Back to establishing churches: Was the LC so concerned with "the ground of the church" that they just wanted to plant the flag in various cities to show there was a "real" church there? How can you establish relationships in 6 months? I'd like the Lord at the bema seat to show me what good if any came in that time period for me of 8 addresses in 5 years, because I won't lie to God and at this point want to just 'flush' that part of my life away as totally useless. Sorry all but I have to vent.

Hi HBJ,

I think behind the "migrations" and the GTCA movement and the "taking the ground" was simply the deceptive cult propaganda that "the Lord's Recovery is spreading like wildfire" or "the ministry is reaching the entire earth"! This is very similar to the false impression Scientology gives its members that it is having a worldwide positive impact - what they call "clearing" the earth. Many "new" localities are simply several families being heavily pushed to "follow the Lamb" and migrate, plus a handful of gospel contacts who were deceived. I know of localities that have gone on in that state for a while, while the saints in it languished because they could only keep coming together week after week with just 8-10 people because they couldn't join with the established larger Christian church there, no growth, no life, no joy, no positive impact on the community. The "lampstand" was established so the leading brothers above them didn't focus on them anymore. Sometimes the church would officially fold after years, without fanfare or announcement.

Unfortunately for church kids who were part of families who migrated frequently, the message to that church kid was often unspoken things like "you are not important in this equation" and "we follow the Lamb and the Lamb clearly doesn't care about your stable relationships and healthy growth as a kid".

I wish I had more encouraging words for you, but from what you've written, the main "good" that seems to have come from that time period for you is that you have a knowledge and a clarity that this kind of thing isn't a good thing. You know that when this kind of thing occurs in a church, maybe it isn't a healthy church. You know what NOT to do with your own kids and what excessive burden NOT to lay on other people's families. Maybe you'll meet a kid one day who is experiencing what you did.....and you'll know to reach out to them and be there for them. Sometimes these kinds of "goods" are the only goods that can come from things. Sometimes things that happened to us really can just be summed up as "that sucked", and it's okay. God can use things that sucked down the line if He wants too.

Feel free to vent anytime.

Trapped

I have been a part of many migrations. They get the concept from the alter and the tent. They say being set, settled and occupied is wrong. And if you're in a locality too long you need to get up and move. When the GTCA first started Minoru did a presentation of how many new churches would be established with saints migrating and new contacts being gained.

Many saints actually do move around in the country along with many to Europe. For children, this is very difficult. All the friends and your childhood mean nothing as you and your family are moving for God's move. Don't matter if you're in high school. In the new locality you will just have to be with other church children for your protection they say. V

Originally Posted by Trapped

Hi HBJ,

I think behind the "migrations" and the GTCA movement and the "taking the ground" was simply the deceptive cult propaganda that "the Lord's Recovery is spreading like wildfire" or "the ministry is reaching the entire earth"! This is very similar to the false impression Scientology gives its members that it is having a worldwide positive impact - what they call "clearing" the earth. Many "new" localities are simply several families being heavily pushed to "follow the Lamb" and migrate, plus a handful of gospel contacts who were deceived. I know of localities that have gone on in that state for a while, while the saints in it languished because they could only keep coming together week after week with just 8-10 people because they couldn't join with the established larger Christian church there, no growth, no life, no joy, no positive impact on the community. The "lampstand" was established so the leading brothers above them didn't focus on them anymore. Sometimes the church would officially fold after years, without fanfare or announcement.

Unfortunately for church kids who were part of families who migrated frequently, the message to that church kid was often unspoken things like "you are not important in this equation" and "we follow the Lamb and the Lamb clearly doesn't care about your stable relationships and healthy growth as a kid".

I wish I had more encouraging words for you, but from what you've written, the main "good" that seems to have come from that time period for you is that you have a knowledge and a clarity that this kind of thing isn't a good thing. You know that when this kind of thing occurs in a church, maybe it isn't a healthy church. You know what NOT to do with your own kids and what excessive burden NOT to lay on other people's families. Maybe you'll meet a kid one day who is experiencing what you did.....and you'll know to reach out to them and be there for them. Sometimes these kinds of "goods" are the only goods that can come from things. Sometimes things that happened to us really can just be summed up as "that sucked", and it's okay. God can use things that sucked down the line if He wants too.

Feel free to vent anytime.

Trapped

[HBJ]

Praise God I am in a real church home now, a Foursquare Church since 1988. I have relationships with other Christians and am part of a family.
We seek the Lord and the Word of God is preached. I truly have been healed by Jesus!

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by HBJ

One thing that really still bothers me all there years later is/was migration. Between 1971-1975 I had 8 different addresses due to migration. Who in the world thinks they can establish a church in 6 months or less? I moved so much my education was messed up and had to get tutoring. This was due to the fact that I should have learned something earlier, but it wasn't in the schedule of the previous state/school district when I was in that school. Back to establishing churches: Was the LC so concerned with "the ground of the church" that they just wanted to plant the flag in various cities to show there was a "real" church there? How can you establish relationships in 6 months? I'd like the Lord at the bema seat to show me what good if any came in that time period for me of 8 addresses in 5 years, because I won't lie to God and at this point want to just 'flush' that part of my life away as totally useless. Sorry all but I have to vent.

I've been through migrations too.
1971-Los Angeles
1972-Phoenix (Kindergarten)
1973-Alburquerque (1st-2nd grade)
1976-Anahiem (2nd grade-5th grade)
Looking back, my childhood was good until a certain point. It was difficult changing schools during the middle of school. Easier adjusting to moving during the summer months.