Life after Cornerstone...

The Open Road after the

"One Man Show"

After coming to the “Heart of the Matter” over the last 6 mos., I hope you have been blessed and encouraged in your journey forward.  As I’ve said before, it’s “AS you move forward” that the Holy Spirit brings clarity and purpose to your season of transition.  And now the time has come for us to bring you to the final chapter… what I’m about to share with you IS the sobering truth behind Cornerstone.  It’s what all former members discover after leaving.  It’s the “Crux of the Matter”… that answers the question of “What’s Next?”

With almost 7 billion people living on the planet, what is the value of… ONE LIFE?  How much is ONE PURPOSE worth?  The answer of course depends upon who you are asking.  To that ONE PERSON… the answer would be INVALUABLE.  And so to each man is given ONE life.  We must enjoy it, value it… because “this IS it”.  For the years of a man’s life are like grains of sand.  They pass through your fingers ever so quickly, no matter how hard you try to hold on.       

Acts 17: 26, 27 --“From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and HE DETERMINED THE TIMES SET FOR THEM and the EXACT PLACES WHERE THEY SHOULD LIVE. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”

 

What a powerful scripture that testifies to the brilliant plan of predetermining the “set times and places” of every man that is to step foot on the planet.  As believers in Christ, we know that each person is born with a divine purpose --a REASON for living in the “time” and “place” they were born into “for such a time as this”.  And with every life is also appointed a number of years in which to carry those purposes out.  To everything there is a season, and a TIME to every purpose under the heaven…

Along with PURPOSE and TIME, each man is also endowed with ABILITY -spiritual and natural GIFTS that were intended to be used to bring glory to God in the Earth.  The greatest demonstration of a person fulfilling their purpose is given to us in John 17:4 --“I have brought you glory on Earth by completing the work you have given me to do.”  
-Jesus 

I believe all of us would agree to this: 

As Christians, we have a personal responsibility to fulfill the Call of God upon our lives.  Each of us will stand before God and give an account for what we did with the TIME & TALENT we were given.  No one will be standing with you on that day.  Not your Pastor, your Parents, nor your Peers. 

Allow me to get right to the point.  As much as I hate to disappoint the critics, this is not going to be a final “explosive article” aimed to “blast” everyone away by finally revealing all the shocking “inside” information that we have.  Nor will this article be for the purpose of revealing the future “outcome” of the whole situation.  The truth of the matter is… the future “outcome” is fully realized by EVERYONE after they leave.  The “truth of the outcome” was there all the time… but often ignored, put off, or set aside.  And THAT TRUTH will do you far more “good” than the discovery of anything else.  What am I saying? 

Here is the CRUX: 

Contrary to sharia law of Cornerstone, Michael Pitts was never the Gatekeeper of your Calling.  Nor was he responsible for the fulfillment thereof.  But at some point, we bought into that system of thinking through very persuasive indoctrination.  We were apart of what became a cult in part, by the false teachings that stemmed mainly out of the "Shepherding Movement”. 

In a nut shell --we were taught that God calls us to serve a particular Pastor, where we are to submit to him indefinitely by coming into a “covenant relationship” and in return…. we are provided Spiritual “Covering” under the umbrella of his network.  It is through our submission to the “Bishop”, that we ultimately go on to fulfill our Calling, our Purpose.  And so it goes... one could never leave their “Covering” unless of course the anointing of "Proper Protocol” is followed -aka- “They release you”.  For all intents and purposes, we were REQUIRED to give the “Set Man” of the house…. complete and total submission without question.  Reminds me of the song “Hotel California” --you can “check out” anytime you like, but you can NEVER LEAVE…

The HeArt of Worship...

As you listen to the words of this song… think about the picture you are painting in your relationship with Christ.  Remember when everything was simple, because it was all about Him?

I hope you are beginning to see the picture we have been trying to paint for you... Jesus IS the CENTER at the Heart of the Matter.  LIFE in Him is complete when we pursue fulfillment through the only Well that never runs dry...

Let HIS LOVE, His Spirit pour out over you today... For His Foundation is STRONG, STEADFAST, AND ETERNAL.  It's usually when everything else fades away, that we discover the TRUE Significance in what remains.    

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."    Galatians 2:20

Allow Him to search deep within your heart, as you continue to walk this journey out.  Allow the Holy Spirit to once again flame the fires of your pursuit of the risen King.  For there is a call... for all to return their hearts back to their first love.  Back to the only real thing that remains... after all the offerings have been given, after the lights go out and all is said and done.  Our prayer is that ALL would once again encounter the simplistic, yet powerful and passionate Cause of serving Christ and one another.  It's time to go back to the future...

"May the Fullness of Joy that is found only in HIM...

be IGNITED in your life once again."  

The HEART of the Matter

Dear Former Members:

Maybe you just left or perhaps you have been gone for awhile now.  Either way, I feel it is time to highlight the HEART of the Matter.  So I write this article, in hopes that not only will you find it helpful in your journey forward…but that ultimately you will be able to draw purpose from those Precious Things that the Holy Spirit desires to give you.  For truly the Hand of God is yet forming us, as He reveals to us individually --the true HEART of the matter.  

What determines the destiny of any particular movement?  What determines what will become of those that LEAD that movement and those that FOLLOW that movement?  The answer to both is complex, and yet simple.  Keep in mind, there are (2) sides to every coin.

Allow me to preface this article by stating this: 

A movement's destiny is not found in how "safe" the structure is.  Some could argue that it's the "system" that is to be blamed.  There may be some truth to this statement.  We know that certain unhealthy elements of any church "structure" will ultimately play a role in the future of that movement.  Perhaps there wasn't any true biblical accountability among the leadership... While others could argue that "organized Christianity" altogether is the real problem... and if we would just meet without all the “bells and whistles”, then we could avoid the pitt-falls that we once fell into.  There may be some truth to this statement.  However, let’s hit REWIND for a minute and go back to the beginning…to when that movement first began.

First we will discuss the LEADER:

Let’s take for example a young man who has a heart to follow God’s will and he is instructed to begin a ministry in a particular city.  9 times out of 10, he is just simply excited that God has entrusted him to preach the Word and reach out to those in need.  He will not have “all the answers”, so he will have to rely upon the Holy Spirit and any experience/knowledge he would have at that particular point in his life.

I would venture to say, that in the beginning phases of that ministry…..this young man fervently prayed over the direction of each step he was facing.  He probably went all over town, walking in and out of grocery stores to humbly invite people to the church gathering.  I’m sure his excitement and zeal were contagious to those he greeted.  In the beginning, it was His church.  In the beginning, they were His people.  And soon those people began trickling in, receiving salvation and deliverance.  The Word originally spoken to this young man was actually coming to pass as he pointed the members to follow after Christ. 

Before long the fruitful movement began to grow and elders would need to be appointed to accommodate the growing demand of needs among the people.  An official praise and worship team was formed and ministry departments were created.  It appeared that the “dream” was coming together...  So, at what particular point did things start to change?   When the ministry was still small and simple, or later when the ministry grew along with the offerings?  If we polled everyone today, there would be a lot of different opinions.    Some of those view points would be correct, as hindsight is always 20/20.  However, for the purpose of examining the “heart of the matter”:  I’d like us to focus on the ROOT of the problem, and not just the symptoms.

When do things start to go in the wrong direction?

I have found that the answer to this question is not ultimately found in the “size” of the church OR the offerings.  The answer does not lie in the particular type of “structure” nor “organization” a movement adheres to. 

The root answer is found in one place and in one place only –in the hidden recesses of the HEART of the man who leads that group.  For better or worse, it is the hidden motives of HIS HEART that dictate what that movement will become. 

And for those who FOLLOWED, you must take the time to examine the hidden parts of your own heart in the process.  This is for your good... to take those precious "lessons learned" with you and NOT become defined by the devastation.  For this is the true HEART of the Matter…that ALL must face. 

I want you to think about what I am about to say…

It is very evident that we belonged to what BECAME an “Authoritarian Movement”.  It slowly progressed into this as the leader(s) increasingly required UNQUESTIONED SUBMISSION TO “their” AUTHORITY.  The overall sense conveyed from the platform was, “There is something we are part of that is greater than we are, and at all cost, IT comes first –NO questions asked.”  Members were eventually indoctrinated to “Consult your Covering” and to NEVER commit the unspeakable sin of “questioning headship”.  Over time, the “Pastor” would slowly begin to remove himself as a real shepherd who fed, gathered, carried, and gently led.  You can still make an appearance twice a week to preach AT the sheep….but this is a far cry from taking the time to personally lay down your life for them.  Big difference.

As stated in previous articles:  A Spiritually Abusive Leader is one who uses their Position and their Teachings to CONTROL, MANIPULATE, AND DOMINATE the sheep.  Therefore, we were apart of what BECAME a Sustained, Spiritually Abusive Church.

But, HOW did this happen?

The MIND often chooses to IGNORE, what the HEART tries to tell us many times.  The HEART knows all too well, what the MIND doesn't want to hear.  Things will begin to change course... the moment a "leader" chooses to IGNORE whose Nature he is reflecting to the people.

Finding the Heart... in Letting Go

"A Testimony of Faith" 
Article Submitted by Angela

I looked outside at the drizzling rain and it was as dreary as I felt. I never thought this would happen. I was confused; I was hurt, and most of all I was in shock. The day before, my husband and I had made a decision, not one that was based on a feeling or a hunch; we made a decision based only on our obedience to God. We were not offended or angry. I can honestly say, that at the time, everything on the inside of me was screaming, “No!!!” However, I knew that I had pledged my heart and my life to Christ; therefore, whatever was required of me -I was willing to do. Now, I am not going to sit here and tell you that we left Cornerstone Church and "just kept marching", because that would be a lie. It took many months to finally detox and heal from all of the unscriptural teaching, heavy shepherding and unhealthy programming. After four years, I feel healthier and happier than ever before.

You see for me, the decision to leave was simply made, but it wasn’t necessarily easy….it had a very heavy price. I had labored in ministry at Cornerstone Church for almost ten years. I was fully committed in six ministries throughout the years, some of them I was serving in simultaneously. I also worked full time for the Cherry St. Mission for two years, and volunteered there for several more.  Over those 10 years, I had countless opportunities to preach and teach God's word, for CC in the prison, drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, at nursing homes and other churches.  Most of the people that I ministered to were of the Alcoholic/Homeless population --which became increasingly difficult to work with that particular population of people, considering the nature of scrutiny the whole church had been under for many years at that point. I can honestly say that I suffered tremendously at times because of the church I attended.  In spite of all that however, I was committed to following the plan that God had laid out for me, so I continued to keep my eyes forward….patiently allowing God to mold me into the person He had called me to be.  I knew that I had been called by God and that He had given me the heart of a Shepherd and that one day, I would have my own sheep to gently lead and guide.

With all that being said, you can imagine how I felt the moment our eyes were opened and we knew that God was leading us to leave -the very place we had devoted our hearts toward ministry for many years.  That day, I think I experienced what Abraham must have felt like when God told him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. I felt like my heart was torn apart. With everything in me, I lived and breathed ministry. Some people have friends that they hang out with, they have hobbies to occupy their time, and they spend their time with their families. These were all pleasures that I had almost totally denied myself of for ten years. In retrospect, I realize how unhealthy that was, but we were taught to “sow” into something bigger than yourself. Do this for God, and He will do that for you.  I was reminded of the countless opportunities that I had missed with other believers, times that I could have connected on an emotional level and been nourished by relationships. However, at that time, the only place my eyes were focused was on the “vision of the house.”

The Characteristics of a Pastor

Article Submitted by:

BlueMarlin48

The Characteristics of a Pastor

Isaiah 40:11:  “He shall FEED his flock like a shepherd: he shall GATHER the lambs with his arm, and CARRY them in his bosom, and shall gently LEAD those that are with young.”  

This scripture is a messianic prophecy given to identify the Messiah when He appears, along with many other Old Testament prophecies given to Israel and the world so that they would not be deceived as to who the real Christ is. Therefore, we take this scripture as the STANDARD for recognizing true pastors within the Body of Christ.  I Peter 5:4 states that Christ is the Chief Shepherd, we therefore are under shepherds; and we as pastors strive to follow his example in caring for God’s heritage. A note is needed here --the Greek word for shepherd is the same  for pastor, and they are used interchangeably throughout the New Testament. 

Jesus Christ himself was the ultimate example and model for a New Testament Pastor.   

#1. “He shall FEED his flock like a shepherd.”

A pastor must first of all be called to preach the gospel. The call to preach is a prerequisite to the five fold ministry listed in Ephesians 4:11. The apostle Paul in I Timothy 2:7 and II Timothy 1:11 stated that he was first a preacher, secondly an apostle, and thirdly a teacher. There needs to be a time preparation and maturity to make full proof of their ministry. How can a minister feed the flock of God if he has not first prepared himself in Word and prayer? The office of a pastor is so closely related to that of a teacher, that in some ancient manuscripts the words “pastor” and “teacher” are given as one word. A pastor should also seek the Lord in prayer as to receive from the Holy Spirit a fresh message on a regular basis and avoid the favorite hobby horse message that favors his own personal agenda. The message of a pastor would differ from that of an itinerant ministry, such as an evangelist or prophet.

 #2.  “…he shall GATHER the lambs with his arm,”

In John’s gospel chapter 10 there is a beautiful analogy of the shepherd and sheep relationship. In verse fourteen Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” God has a people for every pastor, for every pastor is unique in his own ministry.  Most sheep will not know this until they are introduced to the pastor’s ministry. I Corinthians 12:18 “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body as it has pleased him.”  There will be a witness of the Spirit that will bring a pastor and his sheep together in the Body of Christ... 

A confidence of love and trust to shepherd and sheep, that allows mutual respect to knit a bond of unity for the greater task of establishing the Kingdom of God on the earth.

This is why it can be traumatic for church members to leave the flock when that trust has been betrayed. However, we must never take out our hurt feelings in an unchristian way. That is why it is good to seek the counsel of others who have experience in these matters and display a positive message. Only our Lord Jesus can restore our emotional trauma; for he alone is the Chief Shepherd and our commitment should be to Him and not to man.

#3.  “…and CARRY them in his bosom,”
In order for the shepherd to carry them he must be close enough TO them. The obvious evidence in a church setting is the pastor makes himself available to his members on a regular basis. I enjoy seeing a pastor and his wife at the front of the church to greet the people as they leave.  Even in the setting of a large church, the pastor should be in a conspicuous place so that any church member has access to him. The sheep should never be made to feel "out of place" if they need to speak to their shepherd.  It seems to be