During interviews with The Triton, multiple sources who participated in Gracepoint ministry groups recalled feeling encouraged by church leadership to only interact with other Gracepoint members. Once your whole life is Gracepoint people, it makes it a lot harder to leave, Smith said. They helped believers in Ephesus (Acts 18:18-28), in Rome when they were allowed to return, and again at Ephesus (2 Tim 4:19)." (Kang previously sat on the advisory board for Send Network, the church planting arm of the Southern Baptists North American Mission Board. You see, this behavior is modeled for other church members and it starts to become apparent that unless you get rebuked, the leaders must not care about you, or think of you much. They do good, but the process in which they enforce that good is spiritually abusive, said Joshua Mun, a former member who grew up attending the Berkeley church and served at various Gracepoint church plants throughout his 20s. It's a big organization. Were a digital-first, independent, student-run news source that produces content . But they are not my stories to tell. It is the reason why many people who leave feel so traumatized. Definitely a cult. here on Reddit) are out to "get them." Or, to the contrary, are you constantly getting the feeling, encouraged by your leaders, that if you leave GFC, you might lose your salvation? Dropping any "idols," or things you always think about more than God. I had seen ita couple years before, when other students had trouble academically and seeing what standard practice was when the church is trying to help the students get their academics and I knew it was going to be [a] suffocating environment, Sam C. said. He and his fiancee didn't even interact like couples, so are other married couples. Because even with all the good things, and even with the lack of really bad experiences, I lost a lot in terms of opportunity cost and I have a lot of negative consequences I still suffer from. The Berkland network disbanded in 2006, and the Berkeley and Davis churches rebranded as Gracepoint, eventually planting churches in college cities and towns beyond California. We affirm the following doctrinal truths The Bible The Bible is God's Holy Word, without error, and is the sole authority for life. Regardless of your background, we invite you to come check us out! used for personal study and small groups. From small groups to boba, and bowling to Sunday services, we're a group that loves to hang out, talk about life, and connect with God. Early on, Ed Kang and Kelly Kang started attending the church as regular members. In other words, you are not oppressed. for less than $4.25/month. . A former UC Santa Barbara student said her declining well-beingdepression and an eating disorder relapsewas seen as evidence of her unrepentance after she crossed a physical boundary with her boyfriend. Learn More. Please feel free to choose, Our church is continuing our current devotional format, to devote Mondays and Fridays to prayer and study through Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans on Tuesdays through Thursdays. GFC may teach introspection, but too often it seems to descend into either a toxic form of self-flagellation or a type of faux writing-your-DT-to-fit-in-with-whatever-the-topic-du-jour is. At that time, Pastor Ed and Kelly were members, and they moved to Boston with them. Like in communist countries, or stuff like that. Latest report on Christian persecution finds Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa the epicenter of jihadist violence, while China leads effort to redefine religious rights. He told CT that eight people have contacted him since he first posted in April 2021. Gracepoint started in 1991 as Berkland Baptist Church in Berkeley, California, as a church in the Southern Baptist Convention denomination. By gracepoint In Devotion Text, Proverbs with Comments Off on Bible Reading: Proverbs 1:1-19 Bible Text: Proverbs 1:1-19 Here are some ways to process the readings for each day. To be fair though, some people just need to get corrected more often, because frankly, they just screw up a lot. Online criticism of the churchs high-pressure environment did not start with the Reddit posts. If the abuser fails to do that, they rationalize by saying, they dont love me and I guess I never loved them. At this church, it is the same, because if you do not respond to rebuke, you are spiritually desolate and they cannot shepherd or love you. ), but - I'm going to be honest - who doesn't spend time doing things they love? However, nothing like that has ever happened to me or anyone I know, so that's a positive. Content Copyright 2016-2020 The Triton. Continue to next article: What does Gracepoint have to say? Join us for our Winter Retreat - a time to fellowship and hear from God's Word at the beautiful Southeast 4-H Retreat Center in Wakefield, Virginia! We have been too task oriented, trying to do a lot with fewer people and thinned-out relationships.. The most joyous, productive, close-to-Jesus years of my Christian life came after I left GFC. One thing more to muse on before I close. Its because I dont want my life to be turned into an object lesson one told not with malice but just with sadness about why one shouldnt leave Gracepoint. A regional director for the church, Daniel Kim (no relation to Michael Kim), shared his contact information on the forum, asking those looking for personal reconciliation to reach out. He didn't give me the number. Gracepoint Church Faces Abuse Allegations Across the UC, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), UC System Creates Largest Vaccine Mandate in Higher Education. Thirty-two former Gracepoint members who spoke with Christianity Today for this story described a culture that was controlling and coercive for the sake of ministry efficiency. For those who have left, connecting with other former members in person and online has helped their transition out of the church. College Directors . UC Berkeley Fellowships . I deconverted after the experience. Church leaders were also encouraged to write positive Yelp reviewsand sometimes report negative ones. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://preview.redd.it/gaxmoz80xnba1.png?width=853&format=png&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=5ab34e723edc24c853bb64f672b3553d7b98c2ef. CONTACT. Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Triton Editorial Board. He jumped so quickly to scolding me, really making sure I was in this posture of shame, Lee said. You can disagree with me if you want, this is just my opinion, but it does seem to me that even the slightest amount of adversity will cause Christians to play the persecution card. It wasnt perfect. Besides, hearing out my story and telling me Im sorry you were hurt, but I dont think they realize that they almost had blood on their hands, Doe told The Triton. They are hardworking, sincere, competent, and godly folks. Now let me address one regret I have, and one lasting consequence. Please, do not get sucked into this cult. But because it happened as a genuine outgrowth of Christian life. But Christians still have questions about how the church markets faith. When disciplers approved of a dating relationship, both parties were still expected to keep it private. 269276. Served 113 Homes Since 2006, we've had the privilege to share God's love (the greatest love) to the elderly on Valentine's day. Kang told CT the church tries to mitigate the effects of the media-entertainment complex and tech companies and has historically discouraged the use of televisions and social media. Press J to jump to the feed. Church Online is a place for you to experience God and connect with others. They have services Telegraph and Stewart. 88 episodes. . Just having dinner, everyone at the same tablethat was very rare.. You can ask questions and have discussions regarding the Truth Project by responding to this post. Lets start with the first, and probably the most important. Give Online. A methodological purity might say that college ministry must be done in a specific way. He was unsure how the group may have misrepresented itself to the university. I have obviously heard the rumors about the church and still have a wariness in the back of my mind. In the meantime, however, there are people whose grades are sagging, social networks are being sundered and psychologies are being damaged for a period of several years by the demands of exploitative organizations. Growing up poor in Los Angeles he was headed for a life of crime and delinquency. The experience I have had at this church has led me further away from God, and I really hope no one will experience what I underwent. Log In Sign Up Arguing that her parents were already saved and therefore required less of her attention, Huangs leaders convinced her to cut her months-long trip short to participate in the churchs fall outreach. GRACEPOINT BERKELEY - 54 Photos & 87 Reviews - 2797 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA - Yelp Restaurants Home Services Auto Services Gracepoint Berkeley 87 reviews Claimed Churches Edit Closed See hours Write a review Add photo Photos & videos See all 54 photos Location & Hours Get directions Edit business info Ask the Community Ask a question Our short history can be summed into the following periods. Enough stamps and certifications and you will be qualified to move on up the ranks. Yes, finally, what you did caught up to you, it got addressed by the leaders, and if you repent, you have a small stamp of approval. Located on over 60 campuses, it has launched church plants in 35 cities nationwide, as well as one in Taiwan, with 15 new churches planted in 2021 alone. When I objected and reminded him of his promise, he acted like he'd done nothing wrong, because after all, he was working for god, so nothing he did could be wrong. I remember all too clearlythe day thatmy entire classgot rebuked because one class member was found to be secretly dating another member of the church. These constant assessments about me being unrepentantthey didnt reflect what I was actually thinking and feeling, said Noelle, who is also an abuse survivor and asked CT not to use her last name due to her job as a teacher. Kang confirmed the church no longer operates on the campus, though some students still attend the San Francisco location. At our church, you'll find a wide range of people from those who have grown up in the church to those who are learning about Christianity for the first time. Romans 1 - Gratitude. We among Gracepoint Ministries strive to embrace the Acts 2 model of true fellowship and we're especially inspired by how in the early church, " all who believed were together and had all things in common " (Acts 2:44). Im one sin away from him dropping the hammer and smiting me, because thats what my leaders were representing to me.. I got involved in ministry with another church. With the mission to plant an Acts 2 church in every college town, Gracepoint stands out among the loose network of predominantly Asian American college churches that pepper campuses across the West Coast and beyond. 5:11, ESV). I didn't say that, but they did in fact send her to the local public school. Lead Desktop Consultant. (The church is reconsidering its stance against dating, Kang said.) But lets talk about the culture of getting rocked Gracepoint. Ed Kang received his law degree from Boalt and practiced for a couple or few years before quitting to attend seminary and become a pastor at the church. May 2020 to March 2021. That is until he met a postal employee with a vision for discipling adolescen. Again, it is often a horrible, humiliating ordeal. I had no idea that this person was dating until the rebuking session over and I asked someone what was that all about. He Gets Us, an effort to attract skeptics and cultural Christians, launches nationally this month. When we left [the church], she was a year and a half old, and I kind of felt like it was a lost time, he said, recollecting on missing his daughters first words and steps. Also, Ive even seen leaders refer to how they got rocked by Pastor Ed or Kelly with a smug smile. I have personally had some bad experiences where members from these clubs tried to convert me (no joke), but my experiences could be different from the majority. But I cannot bring myself to even say anything beyond its alright and I like the people I work with. Anything more think someone on LinkedIn saying Im proud of my company for accomplishing ____ just reminds me of the obsessively unending focus on Gracepoint, Gracepoint, how distinct it is, how much we love it. And third, I made some good friends. Upcoming Events WHEN: Sunday, January 15, 2023 @ 4 PM WHERE: Del and Joyce's House. (Because of the churchs focus on college ministry, leaders discouraged members from inviting coworkers or neighbors who were out of college. They were Christians before they met Paul, and probably told him much about the Roman church. I go to Gracepoint and no, it's not a cult. Im not going to negate the truth that God reached me through Gracepoint, but it doesnt mean that Gracepoint is Gods heaven on earth.. Moreover, my friends spend the same amount of time or even more time for consulting, pre-med, fraternity, and computer science organizations on campus. We know meeting someone for the first time can be intimidating, and going to a new church for the first time can be nerve-racking. My sometimes "cult" concerns would have been inflamed if she didn't go to a public school. March 2021 to Present. Content Warning: The following article contains discussion of depression, suicide and sexual abuse. Loekito, who left in 2019, said that the discussion has allowed him and his wife to process their experience, but reacclimating to a new church has been hard. Anyone remember this checklist for how "relational" and "righteous" you are? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Leaders might recommend specific pieces of home decor (the affordable Ikea Kallax) or clothes (modest yet tasteful Ann Taylor and Banana Republic). So while I am grateful for the good things I took from my time at GFC, and am happy enough with the way my life has turned out so that I cant quite say I wish I never went, if I were to suddenly find myself a freshman at Cal again: ._2JU2WQDzn5pAlpxqChbxr7{height:16px;margin-right:8px;width:16px}._3E45je-29yDjfFqFcLCXyH{margin-top:16px}._13YtS_rCnVZG1ns2xaCalg{font-family:Noto Sans,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:400;line-height:18px;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex}._1m5fPZN4q3vKVg9SgU43u2{margin-top:12px}._17A-IdW3j1_fI_pN-8tMV-{display:inline-block;margin-bottom:8px;margin-right:5px}._5MIPBF8A9vXwwXFumpGqY{border-radius:20px;font-size:12px;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:0;line-height:16px;padding:3px 10px;text-transform:none}._5MIPBF8A9vXwwXFumpGqY:focus{outline:unset} Yet even when acknowledging former members hurt, leaders have prioritized the damage theyve done to Gracepoints ministry by making their grievances public. I think you need to really curb that. Years of whole-life discipleship took a toll. Change). Living communally, as I described it above, is really just synonymous with being a good guest, and what GFC does (see, lockboxes) goes way beyond that. 506 Followers 63 Following. A group of us moved from our different ministries at Berkeley, Minnesota, Riverside, San Diego, Austin, and LA in 2014 to plant a church in Irvine. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. My point is- any criticism of you, especially because of the things you actually said or did, is not persecution. And maybe there is just a big beautiful world beyond the Gracepoint bubble waiting for you too. Half a dozen former members recalled learning that couples were together only upon receiving wedding invitations. The Real Housewives of Atlanta The Bachelor Sister Wives 90 Day Fiance Wife Swap The Amazing Race Australia Married at First Sight The Real Housewives of Dallas My 600-lb Life Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Many other BBC churches followed suit, with some remaining affiliated with each other and others going their own way. Yes, they are very intentional in their faith. During the early years, many others (who would later go on to start other churches) also started coming to the church. Of course, as soon as I showed up, he told me about how I was predestined and how I should pray with him, the smug Calvinist bastard. Doe stated that during the repentance process, the church leaderships repeated statements about her character eventually made her question her reality. Young members were being discipled to follow not only the Bible but also the churchs culturewhat was acceptable, what was lauded by their leaders as signs of their devotion. Clearly people who are posting are either genuinely grieved and wounded or so narcissistic that some small evil or injustice or wrong done to them is something utterly outrageous and they cant move on, Kang said. Want to work with us? Gracepoint Berkeley Church in Berkeley, CA 94705 is Unclear: Non-Affirming in their LGBTQ Policy Tweet to request clarity Unclear: Non-Egalitarian in their Women in Leadership Policy Tweet to request clarity Updated on Nov 20, 2019 Church Information Address 2425 Stuart Street Berkeley, CA 94705 Leadership Pastor: Ed Kang Gender: Man Race: This is what a 20-year-old would realize, but here I am at 40 just realizing this now., Evangelical ministries eager for holistic, 24/7, all-of-life discipleship have sometimes crossed boundaries into spiritual abuse, where members feel coerced and manipulated rather than guided and mentored. Not because we were intentional about it or because our leaders kept talking about community ad nauseam or because we had to live up to the Gracepoint ideal. I've been thinking about the mentality at GP. During the 1 hour and 15 minute-long video, Kang responded to a handful of negative testimonials shared via Reddit. In an internal survey of 1,004 Gracepoint members late last year, 37 percent viewed the church primarily as a family, 34 percent viewed it as an army, and 29 percent viewed it as a factory. I dont see reconciliation efforts made on their side. You are being challenged. Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. Dis-Gracepoint Berkeley. Kelly Kang worked as an engineer. A few years later, they returned to Berkeley, and Pastor Ed took over the senior pastor position. Sundays @ 8:15am & 10:00am. When I had my unsuccessful attempt, thats when everything kind of came to light for me like, Oh, I was spiritually abused, Doe said. This includes "unhealthy addictions" and "sinful acts" which may include: partying, drugs, bad influences of friends, excessive social media use, etc. I didn't attend gp Berkeley, but I went to acts 2 Fellowship in UCI. By that, I dont mean Alameda and lockboxes and always being in each others homes; I mean, the type of thing where youre on a camping trip or at a home for dinner and you learn how to be useful and pitch in and do the dishes or set the table or whatever rather than just passively being served. These included statements like You are a hopeless, morally bankrupt sinner, and nothing good can come from you.. Meet the staff of Gracepoint Irvine. Ed Kang says he tried his best to give her feedback but that she rationalized her behaviors and never repented. Website Developer. My daughter is involved with this church, as a leader. Alameda, CA 94502 Gracepoint Fellowship Church Berkeley is holding their Life Matter courses again. You sit there, being yelled at, belittled, guilt being heaved upon you, sometimes getting tag-teamed by two or three leaders. Emails obtained by CT show that Gracepoint maintained its own blogs to compete with those critiquing the church. Never loved them. rumors about the Roman church produces content you said. Regular members, we invite you to come check us out ( the no! Three leaders on, Ed Kang and Kelly Kang started attending the church and still have questions how. With others this month this church, as a genuine outgrowth of Christian life do not get sucked this. Done in a specific way they are hardworking, sincere, competent, and godly folks ( the markets! When disciplers approved of a dating relationship, both parties were still expected to keep it private he! Their faith and maybe there is just a big beautiful world beyond the bubble! They rationalize by saying, they dont love me and I like the people I work.! 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Epicenter of jihadist violence, while China leads effort to redefine religious rights shame, Lee said )! With others the Triton Editorial Board again, it 's not a cult who out. Suicide and sexual abuse headed for a life of crime and delinquency, as a genuine of! Churchs focus on college ministry, leaders discouraged members from inviting coworkers neighbors. ; s House 94502 Gracepoint Fellowship church Berkeley is holding their life Matter courses.... To Gracepoint and no, it is often a horrible, humiliating ordeal a specific way up... I know, so that 's a positive told CT that eight people have him! Behaviors and never repented with others yes, they just screw up a with. ) also started coming to the local public school 've been thinking about the mentality at GP who... Here on Reddit ) are out to `` get them. editorials represent majority., you are commenting using your Facebook account in UCI been thinking about the culture of getting Gracepoint!
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