In addition to being the senior pastor of Eagle Brook, Merritt also taught at Bethel Seminary. Music varies from campus to campus, with no organs in sight. Im pretty sure it was a Promise Keepers event. Well call her Sarah. It starts with spanking but leads to much more and reporting it is considered uncovering your fathers nakedness., Sarah said she was beaten and molested by a younger church member. Around 1999, Villareal said, leaders from Gospel Outreach Eureka began meeting more frequently with leaders from sister churches in Grants Pass and Olympia. I find it interesting that when the Republicans voted to put the two amendments to the state Constitution (marriage and voter ID) on the ballot for the fall elections, there was critical outcry for bringing up moral issues and side-stepping the real fiscal issues. The thing thats really hard for people who grew up in this religion is knowing how to explain how its a cult. Volunteer Experience DART - OPS, Supply Chain, Security . / CBS Minnesota. I left/escaped from there when I was 19, she wrote. Her mom suffered from gaps in her memory due to the emotional and physical trauma, Villareal said, but when she tried to talk to other women in the church about the abuse she was told to come under and stop gossiping. But her just-now-stated position against a foundational Republican Party platform and principle lacks integrity. Get Wise: Make Great Decisions Every Day. DeSoto remembers being intimidated when, as a teenager, he became one of the boys tasked with preparing and serving coffee to the elders at these meetings. That was, like, a big rule: You dont talk to anybody that left the church, Abigail said. My teacher from agegrades five through 12 would laugh at us and berate us, Villareal said. In a phone interview, Merritt looked back on his time at Eagle Brook with fond memories, though some times were harder than others. PUBLISHED: December 28, 2015 at 11:01 p.m. | UPDATED: January 20, 2016 at 11:49 p.m. Minnesota's largest church has gotten a lot larger thanks to a $17 million contribution. Young women tend to accept their fate. He advises pastors not to even get close to a line they are not willing to cross. But what about you? Jason Strand is the new pastor of Eagle Brook, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eagle_Brook_Church&oldid=1135337933, Evangelical megachurches in the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Minnesota articles missing geocoordinate data, Articles missing coordinates without coordinates on Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 January 2023, at 01:50. What's bad about Bob? he said. She was a proponent of pro-abortion, pro-gay rights Republican. Hed make me stand in the middle of the room. In the days that followed, other former members reached out wanting to tell their own stories. Chauvins situation was different: She didnt leave by choice. Anyone who finds themselves on the outs will be shunned completely. The strictly enforced insularity of Gospel Outreach acts as a containment mechanism, a way to keep members dependent and submissive, DeSoto said. Trusted by 5,200 companies and developers. I remember looking around the room going, Were all depressed and just not talking about it., All of us were just constantly sick. Follow Samuel Smith on Twitter: @IamSamSmith. Bob Merritt is the retired senior pastor of Eagle Brook Church in suburban Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, a megachurch. I think a lot of times the students were just looking for who was going to be the one that day, DeSoto said. If you do something evil? Hes very loving but Im always waiting for him to hit me or berate me. I thought of them like brothers. Wed climb trees for hours, run down to the beach, jump off the bluffs. There was this self-policing to find the one who was the most out of line so everyone could gang up on that person to explain why they were utterly failing and in sin and need to repent. What did you hear about it? He worked out an agreement with Strand that he will always be available to offer advice but will not do so in an encroaching manner. A self-proclaimed introvert, Merritt speaks from Lino Lakes. He would punch me, push me into the wall, this or that. The writer serves on the Republican Partys 6th Congressional District Executive Committee as vice chair representing Anoka County. We are one church in nine locations. This time, lets talk about arrogance. the Christian hippie commune at Lighthouse Ranch, the hippie utopia that was Lighthouse Ranch, registered with the California Department of Education, employed by Christian slavers as justification for human bondage, PARTY COMPLAINT 400 Block of BAYSIDE CT, Animal Hazard at Hillcrest Dr and Humboldt Hill Rd. He worked out an agreement with Strand that he will always be available to offer advice but will not do so in an encroaching manner. People looked at me like I was the problem, like I asked for it, she said. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. He told me there were four godly young men waiting in line to marry me. That failed to convince her to return. Eagle Brook - Apps on Google Play One church with multiple locations in the Midwest. What Happened When Chuck Swindoll Left - Entrusted with the Gospel He plans to take a couple of days away alone to clear his thoughts. A lifelong addict, he says he's found faith and sobriety. 1 Corinthians 3:4-7 (ESV) Paul sums up this section with a not-to-be-forgotten truth: it is God who gives the growth, whether in an . I remember that at least part of the building appeared circular. What I don't like about EB is the anonymity of the place. He called me outside and told me that because I was living with my fianc I was in an evil spirit and I was a puppet of the devil., Mandville believes there are plenty of good people at Gospel Outreach, including their parents, but my dad has really bad depression and a really horrible guilt complex. Whether it's the temptation of clicking buy now on Amazon or the seemingly endless pursuit of a life-long dream, no one is immune to discontentment. If you would prefer not to see ads, we have another option. He brought me through a full year of counseling. She was horrified and so angry.. (This same passage was employed by Christian slavers as justification for human bondage. Bob Merritt - Wikipedia And it just about took me out.. Then I went back the next day to get some of my clothes and theyd already changed all the locks, she said. Merritt said he plans to take the next few months to quiet his mind to figure out what God is calling him to do next. I just heard the story. [2] In 1991 Bob Merritt became the senior pastor of the 300-member church. It is affiliated with Converge. You feel like you're truly connecting with people and sharing your faith. "It's just less formal.". His dad would then talk to the elders, and if the elders approved theyd quiz [the young man] to make sure he could support a family, buy a house and a car, that he had money in the bank, etc. Our church was climbing but I was failing, personally, in every way just trying to survive, he said. Suggested duration 1-2 hours A historic first: Vietnam allows Franklin Graham to hold evangelism event with 300 churches, Teen who had breasts removed says health system lacks 'standards of care', School district rejects student-teachers from Arizona Christian University, Its smut: Kid reads sexually graphic book he got from school library to school board members, Ukraine war exposes weaknesses in Russia and the West, ChatGPT, consciousness and the human mind, Done with That: Escape the Struggle of Your Old Life. But I knew in my spirit that he was ready. Your email address will not be published. You might be thinking, "No definitely notthe tree is up, presents are wrapped, Christmas music on repeat" Pause. Born at Lighthouse Ranch, the Gospel Outreach movement aims to proselytize every last soul on Earth in hopes of prompting the Rapture. Reached by phone, her stepfather declined to comment on any specific things Celeste alleged, but in general, he said, I really dont want to tear down the church and I think that shes not accurately representing the way that I raised her.. You could be a teacher or you could work in one of the businesses owned by church members, including North Coast Floor and Tile, SameDay Auto Scratch and Dent Repair and, until it was recently sold, New Life Services Company. They wanted you to adhere: Dont stray off the script., Chauvin got the same message. Retiring pastor of Minnesota's largest megachurch opens up about his As she grew older she tried harder to fit in and make people happy. My boyfriend, Ill ask him every five minutes if he needs a drink or food. Now that the Democrats are in control and are pushing for legalization of same-sex marriage, not a word of criticism appears about their not giving the real fiscal issues first priority. Education Bethel University Psychology. So over 50,000 people are watching us and listening to us every week. It's the type of music he says people listen to during the week -- so why not Sunday? Its definitely a cult, said Esther Mandville, a 24-year-old former member who was raised in Gospel Outreach. Pastor Bob Merritt of the multi-campus Eagle Brook Church in Minnesota. She took her pen to mark up my arm and then told me I wasnt allowed to wash it off. Eagle Brook Church is a Baptist Evangelical multi-site megachurch based in Centerville, Minnesota. Well, the Apostle Paul knew a thing or two about immature believers and celebrity pastors, and he wrote about them in 1 Corinthians 3, For when one says, I follow Paul, and another, I follow Apollos, are you not being merely human? In his messages, Merritt often speaks of his past personal struggles. During Merritts tenure, Eagle Brook instituted strict rules for church staff to ensure they never get too close to that boundary. What's Our Responsibility to the Next Generation? Esther Mandville said the only way to get off the hot seat was to admit guilt and show remorse, even if it was a performance. Sometimes wed come back in the evening for more singing.. 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. And until you give someone the permission to dig around in your life a little bit, you may not ever find out until it's too late.. I have a career. Most of us have. I lived VERY close to there at the time. He was very physically abusive and my parents would tell me it was my fault because I was antagonizing him, she said. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. No one is immune to it. Its an abrupt stop from a life that I have lived for 30 plus years. That was one of those things that was swept very much under the rug. But the workload and responsibility on Merritts plate as a seminary teacher and pastor might've gotten the better of him as he struggled with issues of anger and depression. I started making changes in my behavior., But eight years after that, the church board said I still had some cracks and wanted me to go back and see the counselor. As soon as I left, everything got better. An irregular but steady stream of young adults have defected from Gospel Outreach in recent years or escaped, as several of our interviewees characterized it. Letter: Why invite new sources of pollution to Lenox? Watch Live Sundays at 9 & 11 am - Eagle Brook Church And yet, in this midst of this truth, we do well to remember our extremely high calling the Lord says we are His fellow workers (verse 9). podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWFnbGVicm9va2NodXJjaC5jb20vbWVkaWFmaWxlcy9lYWdsZS1icm9vay1jaHVyY2gtcG9kY2FzdC54bWw=. I grew up in the church and its a dark place, Christen Chauvin said in an email. From the moment youre born you start memorizing catechism. She means Martin Luthers Small Catechism, a book published in 1529 to teach kids about the Ten Commandments, the Sacrament of the Eucharist and other elements of Lutheran faith. Hey, are you missing Christmas? "Most of my adult life I had not attended church except for maybe on the holidays," she said. Most of the marriages are arranged, said Anne Robinson, another former Gospel Outreach member. The employees who work every weekend, literally every weekend, are not afforded the same respite, sabbaticals, and time away to re group as the senior pastor or campus pastors. I just couldn't keep up.". We never had a consistent science class. Robinson, meanwhile, was treated differently after word spread about her allegations. I always liked Chuck Swindoll and through the yearsfound myself blessed by his ministry many times. Paulsums up thissectionwith a not-to-be-forgotten truth: it is God who gives the growth, whether in an individuals spiritual life, or in a churchs statistics. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. | Photo by Andrew Goff. . 1,892 talking about this. I don't think the congregation was aware of all the backstory. I wasnt doing well, he admitted. We're glad you're here! By the time you got to a certain age, 11 or 12, you would be expected to join the worship team and the choir that sings every Sunday, Abigail said. Merritt did not believe First Baptist Church, which was the name of the church since 1945, was a good name to reach people. He sat on that opinion for about five years as he gained credibility and confidence with the congregation before suggesting that the name be changed. Eagle Brook Church will be going into the River City Church building on Hennepin . "They wanted to come back.". The music is the best in the Twin Cities. Eventually someone cries and then we can go to choir practice it was really so predictable like that. He took the job after receiving his Ph.D. from Penn State University in speech communications. The message is beamed. He was failed on so many levels, but a big part was the church., Esther Mandville believes their peers were suffering just as much. Never been there. ), Swindoll was probably the biggest radio preacher of that golden age. Gospel Outreach emerged from the hippie utopia that was Lighthouse Ranch, a commune of ragtag spiritual seekers, recovering addicts and countercultural Jesus People who, during the 1970s and 80s, lived and worshiped at the abandoned Coast Guard station that once sat atop Table Bluff. The very first weekend the Anoka location opened, 6,545 people showed up, with some watching from the hallway as the venue flooded with visitors. Allow this non-statistician to hazard a guess myamateur interpretation of the data tells me that the mature people were primarily there forJesus, not Chuck, and they stayed and kept giving. Additionally, Eagle Brook staff are not allowed to have lunch alone with somebody of the opposite sex if one person is married. In the 70s and 80s the Gospel Outreach movement spread around the globe, establishing churches in U.S. cities from Alaska to Hawaii to New York and sending missionaries to Europe and Central and South America. Bob Merritt | Message 25 of 127. They left and financiallythe church didnt feela thing (All this is initial. "All I need to do is talk about my own weaknesses and my own failures, my own blunders in life," he said. It was not fun to be around.. When youre told that college is evil and you dont have any transcripts, so much prevents you from doing things, she said. Criticism & Conflict | Eagle Brook Church Villareal, Chauvin and others said things grew even more regimented around the turn of the century when Gospel Outreach opened a full-time school. I told my mom and [my parents] had him buy me a new pair of rollerblades. The former Gospel Outreach members said punishment was typically meted out both at home and at school in one of three ways: monetary fines, psychological torment or physical violence. Although Eagle Brook will still be his family church, Merritt said he is now just a church member. Unfortunately, the cons are many. Criticism & Conflict | Eagle Brook Church Message Criticism & Conflict Jason Strand | Nov. 26/27, 2016 Have you ever lost sleep over a heated disagreement or harsh words? Core Beliefs | Eagle Brook Church The church chose Strand to succeed Pastor Bob Merritt who has retired. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. I just had a couple of really discerning board members who saw it. But one of the aspects of cults is that they push teens to make bigger ultimatums youre either all in or all out, he said. EASTSIDE CHRISTIAN CHURCH - 189 Photos & 69 Reviews - Yelp It is a high privilege, to be sure, but again, tempered with the truth whichPaul reminds us toward the end of the chapter: So,he will say in verse 21, Let no one boast in men.. I just dropped my head in my hands and started crying. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. Because criticism and conflict are never comfortableand often Eagle Brook Church - Home - Facebook They would push you for honesty but if you werent giving them what they wanted you had to make it up, Mandville said. One case that all seven of the former Gospel Outreach members talked about involved a boy who, as a teenager, allegedly molested a number of young girls. Youd have to spend hours searching your soul . Then after lunch all we would do is sing until 3 or 3:30. After all that was said and done, our church took off again. Sczepanski is the executive director and sole administrator. It was a mixture of clinical depression and the churchs lack of response, or inappropriate response to it, she said. But I see a lot of the baggage in my marriage. Eagle Brook Church is very welcoming to all people, come and hear the truth, the Bible is relavant to today's world. She stopped it immediately and told the leaders. Watch Featured Messages Series Teaching Pastor Category His audience is captivated by his words. And if you allow yourself to get close to a certain line, your emotions override your intellect, Merritt said. If your homework assignment was late you werent allowed to go to choir practice or play on the weekend. She described her stepfather as excessively controlling and emotionally volatile, often having all-out screaming arguments with her mom and regularly spanking Villareal for such transgressions as getting an answer wrong in her multiplication tables. Can doubts and faith coexist? We begin with a time of singing and worshiping God, hear a message based on the Bible, and then wrap up by praying together. Because of his own experiences, Merritt encourages pastors to see counselors. And I was just split wide open.. It did take me a year to realize that, but I would definitely describe it as a cult.. Theyre fallen from grace. I felt like the thing I told her was. I should be in the office, interacting with my colleagues and thinking about the message and getting busy with writing that. History [ edit] My gifting is teaching. She explained that the men will often talk among themselves and decide, My son will marry your daughter.. There were scripts you could follow. "It's not about being big, never has been," he said, adding, "It's justGod keep using us, and we'll try to follow.". After [these meetings], church families would go up to Lighthouse Ranch, and thered be just hours of us kids doing whatever we wanted, she said. Thats when the big shift happened, when we became more cultish.. I know a lot of other girls had health issues when they were there that subsided when they left. He didnt show Moses, necessarily, what was ahead or Paul. Each one is around 30 minutes. But I bring this up because I find it fascinating what happened to Fullerton E. Free when Chuck left after more than 20 years of ministry. "Although we would have loved to become a part of the community, we have made the difficult decision to not pursue the development at . Wed all be in the classroom early before school, listening to Bastille or some other emo music. Theyre not telling you you cant say no, but I guess I would say its frowned upon, Sarah said. And if you point out that somethings wrong or doesnt seem right? It could have been a number of things. He wrote letters of regret to victims and church members, and set up a $30,000 trust fund to help . 25K views, 519 likes, 239 loves, 381 comments, 197 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Eagle Brook Church: You are watching today's LIVE service, broadcasting from Lino Lakes, MN. I was just getting worse and worse and I realized the church was the culprit of those feelings the culture, the upbringing, the people there and the teachings. And we never talked about it again., Sarah blames the church culture more than her own parents. The Outpost was unable to confirm the COVID outbreak emails and voicemails left with Gospel Outreach went unreturned, and when we knocked on the churchs doors, no one answered. Eagle Brook is now the largest church in Minnesota, with more than 22,000 people attending services each weekend and 48,000 attending on Christmas. What was the story? Theres this divide: Thats the mens meeting.. It was very loose, not a lot of parental oversight. At Gospel Outreach, an all-male group of elders sits atop the hierarchy. Cupholders? But a lot of it was I just didn't have any capacity to deal with the demands on my life. The church has six campuses across the metro: in Blaine, Lino Lakes, Woodbury, Spring Lake Park, and White Bear Lake. But ultimately, the Lord is the only One who ever deserves praise. Get started with your Free Employer Profile. 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