Restored Church of God: Compassionate Shunning

 

Compassionate Shunning

 

Brian Jackson is a field minister serving the Florida area for The Restored Church of God. He profoundly influenced me when I first came to Headquarters in November 2012. A deacon at the time, Brian "showed me the ropes" with how to conduct myself in Wadsworth, but he also instilled in me his wisdom as a servant.

 

He is a very smart and patient man. He taught me the value of thinking first and keeping my mouth shut. He showed me the importance of paying attention and getting the big picture. He trained me to see a plan all the way through before attempting it. This mainly applied to physical duties on the Set-Up crew to avoid damage, but I used it in all aspects of being an RCG Headquarters employee.

 

I had a tremendous respect for Brian and was even proud of him when he was ordained a minister. I knew that Brian Jackson was a minister of Jesus Christ. He was a man who let God's Spirit move him. A man willing to serve and, despite challenging circumstances, always managed to have a positive can-do attitude. I never heard Brian complain.

 

At the time, I saw him and Kevin Denee the same way. Men who inspired those they lead.

 

I felt close to Brian and was sad when he and his wife were sent into the field. I was happy for him, but I lost a mentor.

 

Since being sent to the field, I would see him only twice a year. At the Ministerial Conference and at the Feast of Tabernacles, if we were at the same site. He was one of those men I was close enough to hug.

 

 

How Brian Jackson and his wife can continue supporting biblical fraud David C. Pack is a mystery to me. Brian knows the date-setting is wrong and, yet, allows himself to be used as an enabler and enforcer for The Restored Church of God.

 

He is not stupid. He is not a blind zealot. His heart must trouble him, and yet he stays.

 

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Edmund Burke

 

Brian Jackson is one of those good men in RCG who do nothing and let the evil of a false prophet continue.

 

In Elizabeth O’Leary-Noble’s Exit Letter, she pointed out facts to Brian, who was her minister. If he were moved to re-read “Is ‘That Prophet’ Alive Today?” with open eyes, he would see how far his leader has fallen. The words of David C. Pack identify and condemn what David C. Pack is now.

 

Brian and his family attended the Feast of Tabernacles this year when he heard his Pastor General make these statements that proved to be utterly false.

And yet, he chose to do nothing.

 

He followed closely through Tammuz, Av, Elul, Tishrei, Cheshvan, and into Kislev. He chose to do nothing.

 

December 9 passed. Brian and his wife did not receive eternal life as David C. Pack said they would. He chose to do nothing.

 

Brian will pass through December 25 and accept all the excuses that have to come. Sadly, he will continue to choose to do nothing.

 

One of the things Brian Jackson has chosen to do is write a letter to the local brethren of RCG to instruct members to compassionately shun those who have left.

 

This is no boilerplate reproduction from the field ministry resources. Those are verbose and cold. No. Brian took the time to craft this email himself. It shows the kindness of his heart. Well, kindness while instructing brethren to reject those they recently called sisters in Christ.

 

 

Good afternoon All,

 

Hope you are off to a good week.

 

We understand some can choose to leave God's Church and they may attempt to contact us and share their thoughts about why they left.

 

This has been the pattern of the entire New Testament era.

 

Often one who becomes critical, divisive, hostile, or is in disagreement—doctrinally or otherwise—with the Church will leave quietly on his own accord (I John 2:19).

 

Even though we ask them to have no contact with the brethren, some still do.

 

In this regard, without getting into any details and to leave room for repentance, I must let you know that the following are no longer with us and for you to be on guard for any attempt by them to turn you away from the truth:

 

        •       Nanci Benckowsky

        •       Bonnie Farmer

        •       Elizabeth O'Leary

 

The goal is to protect God’s sheep—from others and, when necessary, themselves.

 

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

 

Brian K. Jackson

Minister

The Restored Church of God

 

 

This is the nicest “cut them off” email you could possibly get. Reading this rather than a copy-and-paste from Headquarters made me think, “Yep. That sounds like Brian.”

 

Brian chooses not to warn the flock about the wolf who captured the corporate sheepfold. He chooses to warn the sheep about the other sheep who fled the spiritual slaughter.

 

All three ladies gave permission for this email to be shared. They want everyone to see what happens to those who anoint their eyes and leave RCG. Other field ministers are far less compassionate.

 

The Restored Church of Another god is not where the truth lives anymore. "The Greatest Untold Story!" Series is an abomination filled with deception and confusion. David C. Pack lies to the brethren and is not led by God. He is a false prophet, a false apostle, and a blasphemer blaming God for his persistent errors.

 

Brian, I believe you care about your sheep. Elizabeth was making a plea to you in her letter. If you do not want to give her words validity, then re-read “Is ‘That Prophet’ Alive Today?” The case Dave makes is pretty compelling. That book was written for a time such as this.

 

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

 

Brian, stop doing nothing.

Marc Cebrian

See: Compassionate Shunning

Did UCG Force Randy Stiver To "Retire" From His South Dakota Congregations?

 

Church of God News is reporting how the United Church of God has "forced" Randy Stiver to "retire".  Though, reading through the story below it doesn't make a lot of sense when it declares he was forced out of a job and then goes on to say he is still a pastor.

“Mr. Randy Stiver, long time minister, Council of Elders member and teacher at Ambassador Bible College, has been forced to retire from the ministry of the United Church of God. Mr. Stiver had been assigned to pastor UCG’s South Dakota congregations in the spring of 2021.  

Some members of the eastern South Dakota congregations began a campaign of opposition to Mr. Stiver early on, messaging their grievances to the Church’s Operation Manager, Ministerial and Member Services Director Mr. Mark Welch and others. The opposition reached a peak shortly after the Feast that year when members of that group solicited support from other members for the purpose of presenting an organized unified front. The result was a visit to the eastern South Dakota congregations by Mr. Welch and Regional Director Mr. Mitch Knapp. Many members were unaware of what had been happening, but as those loyal to Mr. Stiver became aware of the situation they began to make their support known to home office leadership including then Church President, Mr. Victor Kubik.  

The division over Mr. Stiver’s leadership continued through the spring holy days and into the summer of this year. Mr. Kubik was replaced as UCG President by Mr. Rick Shabi. Mr. Shabi was informed of the situation by those on both sides of the issue. He visited the churches this summer, giving a sermon to the combined congregations and holding an open bible study soliciting input from members. Two weeks later Mr. Shabi visited again this time accompanied by the current UCG Council President Len Martin. They delivered split sermons to the combined eastern South Dakota congregations urging reconciliation by all parties. Shortly after that it was announced that Mr. Stiver was retiring and being replaced by long time South Dakota elder Mr. Ken Skorseth. Several families within the congregations loyal to Mr. Stiver are now reassessing their relationship with UCG.

So what’s all the fuss about?

“A group of people didn’t like that Mr. Stiver was “old school” in his structure of the local congregation. They just didn’t like him being in charge from the start. They are more ecumenical and liberal (even Protestant if you will). They had been given positions of influence by the former Pastor and Mr. Stiver wanted to restructure the group. They were able to gain the “ear” of Mark Welch and then Mr. Shabi and Mr. Martin. Mr. Stiver wouldn’t budge on the administrative structure he wanted locally.  

Mr. Stiver is a long-time minister going back to the 1970s. He was NOT introducing any new or controversial teaching or doctrines. He supports United’s “Fundamentals of Beliefs”. He has served on their Council of Elders and taught at Ambassador Bible College in Cincinnati. It’s a case of the “people rule”. Some would say “laodecian”. It wasn’t doctrinal, but personality based. 

Shabi, Welch and Martin are part of a liberal movement in United and didn’t like Mr. Stiver being “old school”. They went along with the locals. 

Bizarre as it sounds, it’s as simple as that.  

Mr. Stiver is NOT totally retired. He has been given Rapid City, SD to pastor and a limited stipend. Rapid City was part of his original South Dakota circuit. Interestingly, they did not and do not have a problem with him. Just the influential group in Eastern South Dakota. United is experiencing a shortage of ministers. He is being monitored by Shabi and has to be careful about what he says and does.  

United has many younger ministers in charge who don’t have a sound foundational understanding for what the “Church of God” is. Locals describe it as a “church home”. More local people throughout the congregations are becoming cognizant of United’s liberal ecumenical trend.  

Mr. Skorseth, the new minister in charge, is being monitored closely by Shabi, Welch and Martin. He gets approval from them as far as the speaking schedule and has orders about how to proceed.  

The situation in the South East South Dakota congregations remains unresolved. We’ll see.

LCG Says It WIll Be Spiritually Rewarding If You Put The Church In Your Will

 

An anonymous LCG source sent the following regarding Living Church of God's recent push to get vetted members to put the church in their wills.

Some months ago the area pastors and local elders were talking about and promoting leaving your estate to the church, and they were sending out a pdf file (attached to this email), it is a booklet with instructions on how to put LCG in your will and encourages people to do so. It is not available on the LCG website. I have heard a great amount of LCG income comes from estates. 

 

It is only given to members or people they have vetted. When I read it I was somewhat horrified honestly, by how they encourage elderly people who are some of the most vulnerable amongst us to leave all their money to the church, they even say in the booklet how this sets a good example to family.

They "encourage" elderly members to leave all their possessions to the church in their will, or better yet, while they are still alive, why wait to die, give them your money now! What's the point of having savings during retirement anyway... as page 10 says "An unrestricted, lump-sum gift during your lifetime is often the easiest and most efficient way to meet your charitable goals. Also, this allows your resources to be put to use immediately to achieve your goals and the Church’s mission" 

 

Read on page 6 . "Church congregants who are not officers, employees, managers, agents or official representatives of the Church may serve as executors." I know firsthand of an elderly couple that has left church members in charge of their estate and given them power of attorney over them, the local elders encouraged this. 

Note also on page 8 how they are sure to encourage you to not add any restriction of use of the money, so they have full liberty to use it as they wish. " An unrestricted bequest is the most helpful and permits the Church or its institutions to use your gift where the need is greatest. This flexibility allows the Church to respond to changing needs as they arise. 

 

Example: “…to be used for the benefit of the Living Church of God as it determines.”

On page 11 they even suggest you add them as a beneficiary to your life insurance policy! "You can also designate the Church as a partial or full beneficiary of a life insurance policy"

 

 

If you read through the PDF I attached you will find the statements above and much more. 

 

If this weren't bad enough, I know so many seniors in LCG who are already in financially vulnerable positions and even on government assistance and are told on high days to "not come before the Lord empty handed", they go through so much hardship just to be able to give offering and attend the Feast. They claim 3rd tithe helps those who cannot afford to attend the Feast, yet I have seen so many denied Feast assistance because "they didn't put forward enough effort on their own to accumulate 2nd tithe", I have yet to meet someone who has received Feast assistance. Then they go on to say how it is appropriate to use 3rd tithe to pay for hall and "the levites" (aka the ministers), which is where I imagine all this 3rd tithe goes to.

Thank you for the work you put into your website and for exposing these organizations for what they truly are. I hold hope that many more will come to understand what I have understood, that they are living a lie.

Regards,

Anonymous