Tags
Bayless Conley, Brian Houston, Conley, Danny Guglielmucci, Edge Church, false shepherds, false teachers, Fergusson, Guglielmucci, Hillsong, Hillsong Church, righteous disgrace, Robert Fergusson, TBN, wolf, wolves
Did you know who is on the Church Oversight Team (COT) for Paul de Jong’s Life Church in Auckland, New Zealand?
They have TBN’s Bayless Conley from Cottonwod Church, Danny Guglielmucci from the Edge Church, Robert Fergusson from Hillsong Church and Brian Houston from Hillsong Church. The Life Church website says the following:
LIFE’s Leadership
LIFE believes strongly in the value of leadership as modelled in the Bible. We have established levels of leadership to ensure that there is an ‘upline’ of authority and protection.
Our Executive Team are responsible for the day to day running of the church and are supported by the Board of the church. The Executive Team is made up of Senior Pastors Paul and Maree de Jong, Ps Scott Thornton, Ps Luke de Jong, Ps Craig Clark, Paul Schnell, Phil Irons and Robin Rangeley.
Covering our leadership is the Church Oversight Team consisting of Ps Brian Houston (Hillsong Church), Ps Bayless Conley (Cottonwood Church), Ps Robert Fergusson (Hillsong Church) and Ps Danny Guglielmucci (Edge Church International).
Source: LIFE’s Leadership, LifeNZ, http://lifenz.org/about/leadershipteam/. Accessed 21/05/2014.
When we read who de Jong’s overseers were, this song came to mind,
Lord you and I know that I gave them everything I had,
Now I am heading for home but again I’m feeling angry and sad,
I did my best to preach your word and sing
But they ripped off part of the offering
When you are dealing with your brothers you shouldn’t have to feel so bad
Lord I’m going to keep trying cos your body is in desperate need,
But I get so tired of the abuse, the deceit and the greed,
It is what I expect from the world outside
But not from the men preparing your bride,
And they keep getting fatter while the sheep are just left to bleed
‘It’s a righteous disgrace it’s a sin and a shame, all of this garbage in Jesus name,
I know we have to wait for you to burn up the chaff,
But what do we do for the sheep, when the wolves are on full time staff?
Oh Lord I want to thank you for every Godly woman and man
For every pastor with a shepherds heart, clean love in hands
Give them the strength that they need today
Answer every single prayer they pray
But come like a fire Lord, burn the rest away
…
Lord you and I know that I gave them everything I had
Now I am heading for home and again I’m feeling angry and sad
Angry for the lies that were told in Your name
Sad for the lack of repentance and shame
When you are dealing with your brothers you shouldn’t have to feel so bad
Don Fransisco, Righteous Disgrace, Album: Vision of the Valley
HT – andy kanapoulos
“LIFE believes strongly in the value of leadership as modelled in the Bible. ” Wow. That would mean following and teaching the word of Christ and keeping Him as the head of your Church right? Well that at least is what I would assume it would mean. Funny I see no mention of Jesus.
Chris, the model is “you do what I, Paul de Jong, say with no questions asked’
He often proclaims himself as “the Dad of the Church” from the stage (no pulpit in sight). If questioned then you are immediately tagged as being troublesome and told that to question Paul de Jong is to question God !!
It is simple to become a so called Leader at Life, you just have to volunteer for ANYTHING and you get the label “Leader” immediately.
To become part of the inner circle is also very easy…… you just buy your way in with larger and larger checks !!
How do I know? Been there, done that, got out while I still have a shirt on my back !!
I am currently attending this church. I have no idea what to make of your comment
It is true, I have heard of Paul refer himself as our Papa. Eventhough there are things I feel uncomfortable, I am still waiting to see if mine first impression is right. But at this point I really hate Paul de Jong and his son Luke. maybe I am being irrational here, but I hope further contact with them will prove me wrong.
Thanks for commenting Luke. That discomfort you feel may be the Holy Spirit warning you to be listening with an open bible, not just an open heart.
There are many who comment here who have come out of these movements, and their initial feelings were ones of discomfort. A plain reading of scripture, in context, often betrays the very low value these men (and women) place on the text. One way of explaining it is the difference between exegesis and eisegesis.
“Exegesis and eisegesis are two conflicting approaches in Bible study. Exegesis is the exposition or explanation of a text based on a careful, objective analysis. The word exegesis literally means “to lead out of.” That means that the interpreter is led to his conclusions by following the text.
The opposite approach to Scripture is eisegesis, which is the interpretation of a passage based on a subjective, non-analytical reading. The word eisegesis literally means “to lead into,” which means the interpreter injects his own ideas into the text, making it mean whatever he wants.
Obviously, only exegesis does justice to the text. Eisegesis is a mishandling of the text and often leads to a misinterpretation. Exegesis is concerned with discovering the true meaning of the text, respecting its grammar, syntax, and setting. Eisegesis is concerned only with making a point, even at the expense of the meaning of words.” http://www.gotquestions.org/exegesis-eisegesis.html
Luke, if you have the time, and a love for Truth, listen to the attached reviews that have been done on Paul de Jong reviews, they are very insightful.
http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2015/9/will-the-world-end-on-october-7th?rq=paul%20de%20jong
http://www.piratechristian.com/fightingforthefaith/2011/03/22/warren-and-hybels-contradict-each-other?rq=paul%20de%20jong
http://crosebrough.typepad.com/fightingforthefaith/2010/09/christian-thug-life.html
Cheers, Team ChurchWatch.
Second, What can Paul de Jong’s Life Church in Auckland possibly benefit from having these so called “Men of God” incorporated with his church?
The Church benefits very little other than having the “big guns” come and speak at Conferences run by Life. (very expensive Conferences where the Congregation are encouraged to take time off work to attend)
Paul de Jong however benefits greatly by getting the inside running on invites to the very lucrative overseas speaking circuits on some else’s ticket. Great way to travel the world with his “pastor” wife at the expense of those who pay megabucks to attend these Conferences.
All the above and a HEAP more is why we no longer attend this money grubbing church.
We were very new believers when we started to attend Life…what a mistake. We hotfooted it out of there! The whole thing is an employment bureau for deJong’s whole family basically and run like a private business too. One word against the Founder/CEO’s view of things- and you’re outsky.
Oh my goodness !! Look who Paul de Jong invites to NZ to speak at his church now !!!
http://lifenz.org/media/podcasts/
Yep go down to 11th May and you find …………..Ed Young ! Yikes.
Have a listen to the insipid “sermon” and discern for yourselves.
The go up a podcast or two and try and make sense out of this Indian guy Sam Chand.
I thank God daily that we are now out of that nonsense and in a Church that puts Jesus front and center,
1 Cor 13:13 and these three remain, faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Where is the love? This site would be better served as a tool to pray for churches and Pastors than to criticise any. Where is the love of God here? Nowhere that I can see. Very sad in deed. Shame on you
And where exactly is the Fear of God in your ‘church’ ? The fear of leading innocents into Hell itself by false teaching?
Love Tim?
Just try and question Paul de Jong on ANYTHING and see where the love is mate…..
Maybe the “love” should start at home?