Please use the contact form to tell us your story about the time you spent at Grace Church in Mt. Pleasant, and the way it has affected you. You may use fake names and emails when submitting the form. When approved, your comment will then be reposted as its own story.
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We have lost our daughter to Grace Church. She is married , highly educated and pregnant with her fourth child, we found out, because we finally just showed up to her home a few weeks ago. She kept talking in circles and saying she did not want to talk to us without her husband being home and that he was the head of their household. She kept saying it defensively. We have not met her 3rd child.
We are heartbroken beyond words and have no idea where we need to turn for help.
I am so sorry and heartbroken for you and for your family.
Hi,
There are rumors that this site (and reddit post) were created by Grace Church’s “rival” church and owners of Ponder coffee downtown…
There are also rumors that Barry and his family are receiving threatening letters from people posting on these places…
Just a reminder that we should use our past experience and pain as a way to recover and grow as individuals.. not tear others down. I’ve read (and experienced first hand) Barry’s way of manipulation when being called out on something. He often turns the table and victimizes himself in situations when he is wrong. Id encourage you guys to remember that nothing is true until proven right in front of you.. Barry very well could be lying about these letters in order to victimize himself to his audience.
And as far as Ponder coffee.. I can only hope they would not use people’s horrible experience and pain to rival against GC.
Let’s grow together and heal. Let’s use each other’s experience as a way of relief and closure. You are not alone.
As the administrators of this site, we can assure you that the Ponder place had nothing to do with the creation of this site and has nothing to do with its current operations. Plus, we don’t see how they can be a rival to Twelve17 since Ponder seems to be a legitimate business whereas Twelve17 Coffee Roasters appears to be a ministry which benefits from all the advantages that tax-free status would afford it. If the two are rivals then it is certainly an unfair fight.
We’re not aware of any one “rival” church, but based on these stories is seems like that could refer to any or all churches other than GC itself, at least from the leadership’s perspective. Also, it’s quite clear from reading the stories that many, if not most of these people don’t even live in the area anymore.
We hope the rumors of Barry and his family receiving threatening letters turns out to be false as that would be sad indeed, and certainly not consistent with the spirit expressed in the stories we have read or the efforts of this site.
Your third paragraphs make a good point. Thanks for the encouragement.
“Rival Church”
There are like, what, 52 seperate churches in Mount Pleasant? Not to mention campus ministries?
And I agree, sending death threats is not an action we should condone. That would do more to hurt our cause than help it.
It would be helpful to show the proof that some threats actually happened. Anything that is put forth by bf needs to be verified with hard evidence and facts, he is known to lie to protect himself,
With him, if it’s not in writing, or recorded, it ought be regarded as manipulation.
A word to parents out there: pray fervently for your child/ children entrenched in this system and love them unconditionally. As a former “member” I can tell you how huge this was for me. There was a point in my involvement at GC when I did not allow my mom to have much contact with my children. She is an incredibly patient and sweet woman, but she made it clear to me she didn’t agree with what I was doing. However, the words she said to me that still pierce my heart today were, “I will always love you no matter what”. One thing your child will not get from GC is unconditional love. Their “love” or acceptance is based solely on their performance and what they can give or do for the organization. By unconditional love I’m not talking about unconditional finances. This will only be in one way or another turned over to the organization. Unconditionally love them by telling them you love them and telling them you’re concerned for them. Don’t guilt, shame, threaten, pressure, or stonewall them. Let them know you are always there for them and be there with open arms when they are ready to run to them. They’re going to need you when they realize the system they’re in is so dysfunctional.