I just want to say that those of you, especially Rachel and others excommunicated or ostracized from the Lodge over the years are so brave and full of courage it brings tears to my eyes. I was lax to post initially because of concerns, not over friendships that I still have, but over those friend's relationships with their parents and siblings. Even though I wasn't born "into" the lodge, I am essentially an "assembly" kid. I left eventually on my own because I felt that no one questioned and I had seen things that I did not want to be a part of.
I do believe that the Lord led Rachel to post her story, because there are so many in the Lodge who have a heart for the Lord and have been led by a power-hungry man away from the roots of what God's true plan is for the Church.
Let me share my own personal experiences. My name is Christy Chomer. As many of you know, I stopped coming out a few years ago to any of the meetings. I had misgivings, questions that were not answered. I felt that talking to the leading brothers was a uncomfortable and trying experience at best. THEY HAVE HAD NEXT TO NO TIME. I hope that is changing.
You see, I was raised to question, to try the spirits. My mother and my father, while attending the Lodge, never let themselves be so completely taken over by the attitudes of elitism. Chicago wasn't even that bad when you consider the magnitude of elite attitudes elsewhere, but it reigned nonetheless.
We joined the group when we first moved to Chicago. There is no question that the Lord spoke regardless of leadership. I believe that those people who tirelessly serve the Lord there are the main reasons he is shaking things up whether the leadership likes it or not.
I remember my mother, who is the gentlest, most Christ-like women you would ever meet, would chastise us in love. She didn't spank us in the "assembly" way. She would cry half the time when she spanked us because it took the wind out of her sails to see us feel pain.
I also remember her first parent meeting with Betty. When my mother came home, she was a different person. There was a coldness about her that I know I will never forget.Thank the Lord that my mother tried the spirits and searched on her own as well as in the leadership for the direction that God would take her. Within a couple of weeks she would be righted again. She was herself, our amazing mom. From then on, we learned to dread Betty's arrival for such meetings. To this day, I can remember watching Betty walk out of the guest room at the Grant's and feeling fear and coldness creeping up my spine. Perhaps some will say this was a child dreading to be corrected, but I tell you, I know the difference and I felt as though my mother was a different cold entity at these times. I was blessed. My mother shows Christ's love. She doesn't have enough health to go out to everyone she would like to and I often find it amusing now when she comes down on herself for not humbling herself or having the energy she needs. I do not find it nor have i ever found it amusing that my mother has been in horrible health for so long, while many flocked around Betty, who if her health was that bad, should probably not have been on the road, while many gave her their energy, they ignored someone who had true connection. I have never felt an ounce of anything resembling sympathy from that woman. I feel that the goal in mind when she came through was to break down rather than to build up. I also know that while my mother (whom I obviously respect immensely) is deeply grieved that such things have gone on, she is glad that it is coming to light and hopes that the Lord will shake up his people in a much needed way. Not just for some kind of an emotional "awakening" in the GG style, but for a deep searching of hearts and minds. (sorry if this rambles)
to my sister and I, the lodge was odd at first. we had spent the better part of 10-12 years in a different environment. My mom heard the lord's voice in ministry and I believe that this was despite GG's influence not because of it.
What I really wanted to say, and will say more on at a later date, is this.
YOur children might tell you lies to get what they want, or complain, or this or that. But when they tell you that there is something off about the group that you're in, you need to take that into account. Years ago, I used to approach my mother. I would tell her about certain things such as elitist attitudes, the Camelot/Kennedy/Geftakys system, as i like to call it, the snobbery, the separating, the fact that everything worked on a system of what you appeared to be.
When I became super elitist myself and was on the brink of falling deeply into the system myself, I asked questions of a LB from California and found that there were no real answers to my question and the brother gossiped to me about someone I had been struggling with, maliciously cutting them down. It was at that time I decided not to come back. I remember talking to a couple of other "kids" who were having some of the same struggles and would try to come out to at least some meetings. It was at that time I realized I couldn't go back at all, because if I was being real, then I knew going would be a lie. That was when I realized that I would rather be real and struggle with my questions elsewhere, than be the fake that I had been, with all my emotional highs and haughty attitudes in this group. Don't get me wrong.
I do believe that at least in the group that I was going to (chicago) the majority of the people truly do want to serve the Lord. But there needs to be a cutting off the the false leadership (which, thank God is happening as I type) and there needs to be accounting, and everyone in that place needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Yes, THERE ARE ELITIST ATTITUDES! I hope desperately that this changes. The ones I finally loved realized, oh my goodness, Christy wasn't joking when she seriously questioned this. They finally realize that I wasn't imagining things.
That feels right somehow. I love many of the people that still attend the group, but please remember you don't bring anyone closer to the Lord by setting yourself so far apart from other churches that don't practice in the same way you do, and you push away your children, your friend's children when you make them feel like secondhand citizens because they are not part of this church.
Again, I am sorry for my incoherence. I am sure to become a regular poster on this site. There was a meeting in Chicago on Friday and I hope someone will post more info on what went on because my parents have very little short term memory to go on
I would like to comment more on the aspect of being a "kid" in the group
It really helps to openly and non-maliciously bring these things to light and I hope we can all learn from this that wolves do preach about wolves and we all need to be careful.
Thanks
Christy
