#c&ma

[closeted-during-covid-19]

Former International Quizzers: *keep erroring out because they keep jumping too fast*

Former International Quizzers: How did we get from the top of the world to the bottom of the heap?

[mksafetynetcanada]

Roger E. Olson, patheos.com

Note: If you are pressed for time and cannot read the whole essay below, feel free to skip to the end where I list 10 criteria. The essay describes my own history of interest in and research about “cults” and new/alternative religious groups.…

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereolson/2015/05/criteria-for-recognizing-a-religious-sect-as-a-cult/ “The denominations and mission organizations most of us grew up in meet the criteria for cult status. For years now I’ve been like the author of this article, unwilling to identify the C&MA (Christian and Missionary Alliance) as a cult. Instead, I’d say things like, “they have many of the characteristics of a cult” or “all of us drank the kool-aid”. And then about a month ago I read a 1986 document co-written by Peter Nanfeldt (if you’ve seen the documentary All God’s Children you may recognize the name; he was largely responsible for stonewalling our request for an Independent Investigation into Mamou). In the 1980s some missionary parents were requesting permission (yes, they needed permission) to send their children to the nearest international school, rather than to a C&MA school which often was very distant from the parents and required attending a boarding school. So in 1986 the C&MA struck an Advisory Council to study educational options and financial implications of allowing their oversea employees to send their children to local schools. Recently I found a 1986 working paper co-written by Peter Nanfeldt examining the ramifications of changing the C&MA’s requirement that children of missionary employees attend C&MA Boarding Schools. Twice in this document, Nanfeldt and Volstadt raise the issue of how a change would impact the MK’s later loyalty to the C&MA. First, they write, “Are our MKs more inclined to enter Alliance missions in adult life if they have attended C&MA MK Schools?” Later they write, “We have previously concluded that there are advantages to having our own school… denominational loyalty can be nurtured with a view to challenging MKs to wholeheartedly supporting Alliance missions in the future”. Fostering lifelong loyalty to the denomination trumped recognition of the importance of parental/child attachment, physical/psychological/emotional safety and well-being of children, and the right of parents to determine what was in the best interest of children, parents and families. And the vast majority of C&MA missionaries, often against their better instincts and their intellect, followed the leaders’ directive. Something finally clicked and I’m able to acknowledge that the Christian denomination I was born into, raised in, employed by, is a cult. Quite liberating, but also very sad.” Beverly Shellrude Thompson MK Safety Net Canada board member Note: Within the last 5 to 10 years, due to fear of litigation and pressure from some missionary staff, the C&MA now gives their oversees staff the option of using local schools.

[formatureaudiencesonly]

Here's the promo video for the Mid-Atlantic District's Youth Retreat for 2014.  Seems legit.

[raarnold]

HIMSELF by A. B. Simpson Once it was the blessing, Now it is the Lord; Once it was the feeling, Now it is His Word. Once His gifts I wanted, Now the Giver own; Once I sought for healing, Now Himself alone. Once 'twas painful trying, Now 'tis perfect trust; Once a half salvation, Now the uttermost. Once 'twas ceaseless holding, Now He holds me fast; Once 'twas constant drifting, Now my anchor's cast. Once 'twas busy planning, Now 'tis trustful prayer; Once 'twas anxious caring, Now He has the care. Once 'twas what I wanted, Now what Jesus says; Once 'twas constant asking, Now 'tis ceaseless praise. Once it was my working, His it hence shall be; Once I tried to use Him, Now He uses me. Once the power I wanted, Now the Mighty One; Once for self I labored, Now for Him alone. Once I hoped in Jesus, Now I know He's mine; Once my lamps were dying, Now they brightly shine. Once for death I waited, Now His coming hail; And my hopes are anchored, Safe within the vail.

A.B. Simpson

[the-communion-of-saints]

I want the presence of God Himself, or I don't want anything at all to do with religion... I want all that God has or I don't want any.

A.W. Tozer

[the-communion-of-saints]

It is a great deliverance to lose one's self. There is no heavier millstone than self-consciousness. It is so easy to become introverted and coiled around ourselves in our spiritual consciousness. There is nothing that is so easy to fasten onto as our misery: there is nothing that is more apt to produce self-consciousness than suffering. Then it becomes almost a settled habit to hold onto our burden and pray it unceasingly into the very face of God until even our prayer saturates us with our own misery. Rather, we should ask for power to drop ourselves altogether and leave ourselves in His loving hands and know that we are free. Then we may rise into the blessed liberty of His higher thoughts and will and demonstrate His love and care for others. The very act of letting go of ourselves lifts us into a higher place and relieves us from the thing that is hurting. This habit of prayer for others, and especially for the world, brings its own recompense and leaves upon our hearts a blessing, like the fertility which the Nile deposits upon the soil of Egypt as it flows through to its ultimate goal.

A.B. Simpson