Lakeview Christian Life Church

There is no such thing as ""leaving clean"" or ""leaving with their blessing"" . These are false statements that do not align with their actual practices. It is only a matter of time before they slander your character, question your authentic Christianity and pressure your family and friends to stop eating with you and cut you off. That window of time depends upon your ability to influence others. If you are influential, they want to cut you off quickly. If you are not influential they will wait a little longer. Like all cults, they dissuade your doubt with false public statements, and then tell you behind closed doors what they really believe. You learn instinctively what they want from their actions, put-downs, body language, jokes, etc. They are pleased when you cut off your family, and displeased at your ongoing relationships with your family who have left the church. That is the truth. \r \r Because they have earned an ugly reputation for shunning, they try to hide their true character. They give you all the reasons for shunning, encourage you to shun, but they won't write down their beliefs and avoid direct commands if possible. They do not want a record of their true doctrines, teachings and beliefs. They want to operate in the shadows, ever-morphing to escape criticism and detection as a destructive community. They are slippery eels, cunning and deceitful - be warned!\r \r The leader of this association makes the unbiblical claim that a commitment to a local church is the same level as a marriage commitment. They use this teaching to justify divorce when a spouse leaves the group or gets kicked out. Of course they have welcomed people who left other churches to join them, so their teaching is rather one-sided in their favor. And they have broken up marriages and families, so people are afraid to leave in case they become the next casualty.\r \r I believe their unorthodox doctrine matters a great deal. Doctrine is a fancy word for what you believe about God. If they understood the true nature of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, they would not treat people so poorly. Their poor treatment of others flows from their wrong doctrine and misguided submission to a fallen, sinful man over Christ and His Word. That's why Christ said to look at the fruit, it's a clue. It's also why cults work so hard to hide the truth and the bad fruit of their beliefs. If you really knew the truth, you would never join. And by the time you learn the truth, the cost to leave is very high. \r more

My earnest hope is to reach any person still attending this church who wants to leave, but remains hesitant for any number of legitimate fears, real or perceived. I hope to share a sliver of my experience of what it’s like to be shunned and rebuild one’s life from scratch. \r \r Instead of obfuscating my identity, let me introduce myself. My name is Daniel. I was booted in 2007, shortly after I graduated high school. During the meeting informing me of my excommunication (a meeting I hoped would show I didn’t intend to burn bridges), Norman James and Chris Otis laughed and mocked my decision to join the Marine Corps. To this day, I find this puzzling because I was planning to join an organization that protected, at all costs, their rights to worship and preach freely. The decision to join cost me a relationship with my parents, and for a time, my brother. Additionally, nearly every friend I had grown up with stopped talking to me immediately. \r \r Ultimately, becoming a Marine didn't pan out for me, but fortunately, I had strong support from family and friends that had already left the church or had never been members in the first place. They all showed me unconditional love by letting me stay (months at a time) in their homes, inviting me over for holidays, and genuinely being concerned for my welfare. They love me for who I am and seeking to become, not for where I can be found on Sunday mornings. As much as I am thankful and indebted for their kindness and love, the first few years after being shunned were, at times, extremely lonely. \r \r If you're at LCLC wondering what it's going to be like if you leave, I would tell you it's going to be a roller coaster. The highs and lows are exhilarating and excruciating. For me personally, there was an overarching feeling of unbridled excitement of exploring the vast new world outside of Lakeview. I know that 99% of the time the word ""world"" is used pejoratively where you are now, but if you haven't found this out yet, there's a great future, full of loving people and great experiences, outside of little Bridgeville, PA or even southwestern Pennsylvania. \r \r One morning last year, a friend of a friend, who was my age, was killed in a tragic accident. I never knew her personally, but at her funeral, it hit home for me: we all only have today, and in fact, we only have this exact moment. What I hope to impress upon you is that if you're unhappy every day (or at least every Sunday) at Lakeview, why go through the motions and feign happiness when everything inside of you screams to get out? Unquestionably, the process of separating from everything you've known will be an extremely painful one. It sucks not getting a call from your parents or close friends on your birthday. It sucks knowing that people who you thought were your friends are now sullying your name amid a circle of people who won't even say hi to you in public. \r \r All of this hurts. It's painful, but you can rise above it all. There IS hope. I’m confident that if you want to seek genuine happiness and acceptance, there are numerous local church families that will accept you with wide-open arms. I know a whole crowd of Former Members (now more connected, empowered, and vocal than ever before) that would do the same for you as well. Maybe you're married and have young kids and your husband or wife wants to remain. Maybe you're older and LCLC, as much pain as it causes you, is all you know and all you think you have. Maybe you're in LCA and can't wait to get out, but know you're stuck there until you graduate— to you especially, hang in there! These are all heart wrenching predicaments to be in, and I certainly can't offer any easy or quick fixes. I'm simply trying to help you realize that the ultimate happiness is worth the temporary intense pain. \r \r If you'd like to talk, I'd love to hear from you. Reach me on Facebook. \r \r Life's too short to go on being unhappy, my friends. more

I would like to write a few words too. I belonged to a flock of this church in Brazil which was also dominated by pride, power and oppression. I saw everything with my own eyes. Gossip and division coming from the shepherds. No one in my family that still belongs to this church speaks to me anymore, now have more than a year. And that is very sad. They treat people as nothing and throw you away if you questioned. Everything that was said in those reviews is unfortunately true. Sad truth. Do not go in this place. Do not join this cult masquerading as a church of Christ. more

My original intention and purpose of this ""review"" was to warn others of the lies and sins of LCA. However, upon reading some of the other reviews I feel the need to address something. I think it's a bit disappointing to read how many of you brought Pastor Norman's daughter into this. I doubt very much that Rebecca would appreciate your telling of her story, no matter how good your intentions were. I'm sure, upon further reflection, you can see how this might be hurtful to her. Especially those of you that only know what loose lips have told you. As far as her ""financial responsibilities"" go, which is surely none of your business, that is a lie fabricated by Norman the Great himself. If he's trying to justify his misappropriation of church funds that's a shame and quite frankly not surprising, Now that that unpleasantness has been addressed lets continue to the real nature of this review. My friends, if Jesus is who you're looking for then let me suggest the nearest McDonald's. He's more likely to be found there than at Lakeview. This ""church"" is only that in its name. Satan is alive and well within its walls. Everything you've read is, sadly, very true. The heads of this cult can't even keep their families intact. How are they supposed to run a church? Money is the driving force behind this place and rules above all else. The matriarch of the James family rules it with an iron fist and God help you if you go against her. Her own son didn't even want that position. It was forced upon him. Her word is law. The congregations are nothing more than mindless sheep, doing whatever they are told, never asking why, or having a thought of their own. Even if it means not speaking to their own families, their own children. One of the pastors lost all of his children and what did his mother say? That they were dead to them now and he agreed. Rather than fight for his children and let them know that he loves them, he let them go. He turned his back on his children because his overbearing, control freak of a mother said so. You'd think that the staggering rate in which they lose not only prisoners, I mean parishioners, but family members would make them realize that they're doing something wrong. They aren't wrong though. They'll never see it. So it's up to us, the disappointed, the rejected, the broken-hearted, to take a stand and let the world know who they are and what they stand for. It's time someone held a mirror up in front of their faces and forced them to stare, no excuses, at the lives they've ruined and the families they've destroyed. All in the name of Jesus Christ. It sickens me. It's up to us now to decide our own fate and to be who we want to be without fear of rejection or damnation. While we take these steps forward it's important for us to remember that it's necessary for us to be strong together. Find solace in others who share your story and comfort those in their struggles. Jesus is never more present than he is when we show love to others. Hate has no place in our hearts. Don't let the scars they have left on your heart help turn your back from religion. Find a new church or place of worship, a better one more deserving of your time. Always rememeber that it's love, not fear or hatred, that will lead you on the right path. more

We left this church many years ago because We felt the Lord was calling us elsewhere. We found a new church that has been our home church ever since. Our church is spirit filled, Christ centered and the pastor preaches from the Bible every week. We send our kids to Christian school & we love the Lord dearly. I tell you this for a few reasons- 1. to show you that there are still churches out there that teach the gospel 2. that there are still Christians\r ( even ones who have left lclc) who love The Lord and seek His kingdom daily 3. I would like to have biblical based answers as to why every time I run into a member of this church they won't speak to me. When I see old friends out and about in the community ( which is pretty often ) They literally turn and walk the other way, some won't even say hello back to me. \r Just before Christmas I ran into an old friend that still attends lclc. I said hi , they responded hello. I said "" how are you, how is spouse and kids."" Their exact response was this: ( after our 5 second greeting) \r ""I'm sorry but I can't talk anymore with you, not until you come back to us"" \r I don't feel anger or bitterness towards this old friend, or to the Church and it's leadership, I feel SO VERY sad for them. \r It reminded me how thankful I am that I serve the Lord, NOT man.\r \r \r \r more

A friend who left years ago passed this link on to me earlier in the week. My family are current members here, so I've given these posts some serious consideration. My wife and I are still standing by our church and our pastor, and so I'm giving this church a ""thumbs up"". That being said, I do have questions about some of the very specific claims made in this forum. To say I'm disappointed by what I read is going on behind the scenes would be an understatement. I'm hoping to hear some answers this Sunday or in the weeks to come. Regardless of how you feel about us, please know that we do not mean ill will toward anyone. We are just doing our best to serve our Lord the best we can.Thank you. more

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels…\r Have the gift of prophecy…\r Know all mysteries and all knowledge…\r Have all faith, so as to remove mountains…\r But do not have love, I am nothing.”\r Lakeview Christian Life Church: A dove sits atop the sign at the entrance. Inside, a dove again--it hangs prominently in a bronze sculpture in the front of the church. The dove is the Holy Spirit. \r These symbols are invocations--they show us how desperately these people want the Holy Spirit to be among them, how strongly they desire His presence.\r And so the question naturally arises, is He actually there? \r The very question is blasphemy if we answer based upon the signs in evidence: tongues, prophecy, the presence of the Lord, the moving of the Spirit. Of course He is there, and abundantly so. To suggest anything else would be a lie.\r \r These signs, it is said, are the signature work of the Spirit and therefore His presence, His assent, His affirmation, His endorsement of their lives is never questioned.\r \r But what of the fruit? Clear as crystal, we are told to judge: never by signs, always by fruit, and we are given a list of what that fruit actually is. \r \r And the fruit starts with Love.\r So let us judge the fruit.\r \r Look at the actions: If you leave, you are deemed to be lost. If you go, your family won’t speak to you, won’t eat with you. Your name will be smeared from the pulpit, your reputation destroyed in private conversations. Lifelong friends never reply to e-mails. If this is love, it is love filtered through one family, conditioned upon their approval, and upon membership in this single church.\r Listen to the language: “I love you, but I love Jesus more.” This statement simply cannot be true. The way we show love for Jesus is simple and has never changed: we love each other. It’s not a comparison nor is there a way of affirming how high our devotion to Him is—simply put, there is no separation between how we love Jesus and how we must love each other. The two loves are inextricable. The words “I love Jesus more” imply that there exists the potential, a justification or even command to treat you poorly, if you stand in the way of someone’s love for Jesus. This is untrue. This situation will never arise. This concept is a logical impossibility. The correct, healthy version: “I love Jesus: let me show you how much--by my love for you.”\r Count the costs: Eight, nine, maybe more churches planted and then abandoned. Dozens of families, hundreds of people, scattered and cut off. Families divided. Sons and daughters never contacted for years. Divorces precipitated by nothing more than one spouse’s desire to leave. \r The fruit, and the evidence, is clear: it’s a legacy of destruction and of failure, of hatred and of bitterness. The notion that any of this is done in the name of Jesus is the true blasphemy, the hellish lie.\r How can you espouse so many of the right things, and go so wrong? It’s a matter of focus. We are told who to worship: Jesus the Son, Love made manifest. We thank God for the Helper, and His work, but we turn our eyes, and our reverence, to the Son. If we keep our vision on Him, striving always to live perfect Love, we cannot go very wrong. And the Spirit will help us. Any other primary focus, even so innocent as over-focus on the Helper—and we can stray very far indeed.\r “Love is patient, kind, and not jealous. It does not seek its own, and is not provoked. It thinks nothing of a wrong suffered, and does not rejoice in unrighteousness.”\r Do you see this there?\r more

I remember many years ago speaking to Becky James about my sister and why my parents were not around with their children. She told me "" When a woman marries she cleaves unto her husband. "" I asked her what happened to "" Honor thy mother and father"" she hung up on me. I thought by talking to her I would better understand why my niece and nephew where not spending much time with my parents. Turns out that because my mother was an entertainer and the ""church"" did not approve of her friends. My mother was ill for many years, it was intimated that she was ill because she had not found the Lord. The God I know from being raised in the Jewish faith is not that kind of God. If he were, some people would be punished for \r using the name of God to make money.\r \r For years I watched my sisters family do without to tithe to the church so that Pastor James and Mrs. James could live well, drive fancy cars and travel the world and create church locations in places where they would like to travel (at the ""church's expense). \r \r I clearly remember when the ""church"" first started. It was nothing like it is now. The power of leading the flock got out of hand. Power is an amazing thing and very easy to go to one's head.\r \r My sister and her family were kicked out of the church for defending their daughter and grandchildren. In reality as difficult as it was for them, since for over 30 years it was the only way of life a true blessing. The agony of losing your entire way of life is certainly traumatic.\r I didn't know initially what happened because my relationship with my sister was not what it should have been because of the ""church"". Since the relationship with the ""church"" no longer exists, which by the way..Thank you, Mrs James! I have a wonderful relationship with my family again. My sister was afraid to tell me what happened because of people who claim to preach the words of the Lord. The teaching of this ""church"" are not the God that I know. more

Pretty sad to sit in my pew there on Sundays and know that Pastor James is doing everything he can to have some of these posts removed, probably at the church's expense. That's the kicker that comes to my mind after binge-reading all 50+ reviews faster than a new original series on Netflix (oh! and thank goodness they aren't rated by the MPAA, otherwise I'd have a real hard time assuaging my conscience at the altar). I've read through them carefully, and while some of them ARE highly dramatized, indulgent, and ridiculously trite pieces by former members, the nuts and bolts (actual FACTS, that is) are quite solid, and so any investigation into the blogs ""legal standing"" by Pastor is a bit hilarious. I think it's because we have come to see words like 'Apostle' and 'Norman' as swear words nearly. So growing up, we never dared to speak of them in conversational sarcasm, let alone mockery. I remember people going on a holy rampage because someone in the long line of leavers was just upset enough to use the nickname ""Stormin' Norman"". There were audible gasps in the sanctuary. Really? Wow. I got called ten times worse names by the guys in my LCA high school class. Get a thicker skin, buddy. Life is a bumpy road. \r \r But now quite a few people it seems have dared to upset the apple cart on this site, and guess what? \r \r It's still free speech. \r \r The leadership of the church should be thrilled that I'm more amused than offended by recent actions and allegations, because boy do I have a right to be. My grandfather and his brother walked the fields of Europe with guns shaking in their hands during World War II so that I would have the chance to live in a country that allows you to speak your mind, a right that is breathing its dying breaths in our nation. And so if you want to spend MY TITHES and MY OFFERINGS investigating MY RIGHT to speak MY OPINION of some circumstances YOU have pretty clearly botched up (according to oh, only but a few hundred reliable sources), then while you're at it, why don't you go ahead and burn a copy of the Constitution in the pulpit this Sunday. Then I will finally feel bold enough to stand up and walk out. \r \r Might not take that much. I'm halfway to the door already. \r \r \r P.s. the reason no one wants to buy the Sword and Trowel subscriptions is because its 16 dollars for a self-aggrandizing newsletter penned BY your mother ABOUT your mother for the glorification OF your mother. You told us the fee was ""just the cost of ordering a pizza"". Write a newsletter that matters and I'll be happy to subscribe. Until then, Im calling Papa Johns. more

I found the disconnect to be disturbingly apparent as I listened to the pastor of this church announced from the pulpit this past week that he did not live lavishly, after purchasing a home for $389,900 (2013) this past fall, with the median average house value in Washington County being $129,600 (2012) and the average new home construction being $180,100 (2009). Sure it is not Beverly Hills, but it is a whole lot nicer than most of the people in that church could ever afford, especially when all but one of your children has moved out. \r \r It is easy to live lavishly and not hold yourself to the same standards of those you you lead when you hide behind the falsely applied verse: """"Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm.""\r more

A friend of mine contacted me this week and asked me to post part of the assessment I made to him privately after visiting Lakeview Christian Life Church last year. As a brief introduction of myself: thanks to wonderful parents, I have spent my entire life attending Christian churches similar to this one. Aside from that, I received my degree in religious studies from Syracuse University. Over the years, I would estimate that I’ve attended well over 50 churches altogether, while considering four of those to be my “home church” throughout the years. Of those four churches, I have always been actively involved in the ministry to some capacity. I was invited to attend Lakeview by a good friend. Already being fascinated by the comments I had read on this site, I was eager to see for myself.\r \r \r The people here were extremely friendly, and in my opinion, the service was very well-managed. I have seen speaking in tongues several other places. It appears to be a common occurrence within this congregation. Overall, I was quite impressed. There were a few red flags though, as I told my friend later. The first one went up the moment I saw a local policeman stationed in the lobby. I initially assumed this man was a member of the congregation, but was puzzled why he would be in uniform for a service. My friend informed me that a local police officer is always stationed in the lobby. I was genuinely amazed. Prior to Lakeview, the only other security guard I have seen stationed in a church was one situated in a very dangerous area of the city. That man was also a member of that church and contributed his security services to the church as a ministry for the people. Lakeview, on the other hand, is located in a Pittsburgh suburb that actually boasts one of the lowest violent crime rates in the state of Pennsylvania. My defenses went up right away. I found myself saying a prayer for my physical safety before the service began. That was new for me.\r \r \r So the first natural question for the visiting Christian: What does this church fear? What goes on here that requires a police presence in order to preserve the peace? My friend countered my questions by saying there are church attacks happening more and more often. I expected this justification from him, and replied that I wonder then why I have never seen police stand guard at any of the other dozens of churches I’ve attended over the years. Houses of worship are, by definition, sacred sanctuaries, respected with protected status by nearly every member of the American public. A mad gunman can just as easily walk in to a Burger King as he can a church, no? It’s unfortunate, but we live in a post-9/11 world of constant threats. If we are being honest with ourselves, all of us would prefer to have an armed body man with us wherever we go (A pertinent sidenote: the pastor of this church keeps a bodyguard right on the platform next to his elders).\r \r \r My point is this - decisions like this do not get made without some form of threat. That is the only logical and justifiable reason. Posting a policeman at the door of a house of worship does more to instill a sense of fear than a sense of security. Emanating far clearer than the message “come and worship” cries the warning: “We are afraid.”\r \r Then I remembered the reviews I had read. I came back to the site and read them again, now understanding fully the threat that this church fears. It fears all the hurt family members represented on this page, those damaged souls estranged from their parents, children, and dear friends. It all became crystal clear in an instant. And to think this church has accomplished what Paul so desperately sought to avoid all along: a church at war with itself. What a tragedy. What a win for Satan.\r \r \r I will not visit again. more

Where to begin on this place..\r \r The reviews of this place are grievous, and true. I say this not as an angry ex-member who has left. I say this as one who was raised in this place and chose to leave. \r \r This church is run by fear. Fear of the loss of all that you hold valuable. Fear of rejection and loss of family if you chose to worship elsewhere, fear of loss of ""the kingdom of God"", fear of the loss of ministry if you speak to family outside the place... the list goes on and on. \r \r This church is also run by pride. Pride that says we have fullest knowledge of the truth, even to the exclusion of the larger, world-wide body of Christ. An inflated sense that we are better than ""those Christians.""\r \r Sadly, these are just a few of the tools the leaders use to manipulate people. These result from a misunderstanding of the true nature of God. God, and God's anointed leader are to be feared. Fear meaning ""be afraid"". Not the fear of the Lord which is an awe and reverence for the divine character of God. Not a holy fear that drives us to be offended by that which offends God and His character. The God preached in this church is a God that condemns and disciplines us. God does discipline us, but what about His love, mercy, and grace?\r \r We all are addicted to sin. Worse yet is to be in denial that we have an addiction. The Pharisees didn't need a Savior--they had it all figured out. Jesus called them white-washed tombs. Spotless on the outside, yet empty inside. I realized I had a ""form of godliness"" in this church, yet did not really know Jesus, the head of the church. I was unable to hear clearly from the Holy Spirit, because divine revelation could only come through or be confirmed by the leaders...at least that is what was taught. \r \r Christ commands us to love the Lord with all our hearts, soul, strength, mind; and love your neighbor as yourself. This command does not say love God and obey your leader. Although the Bible talks about obeying your leaders in the Lord, this one verse in Hebrews is held up as a gold standard. Never mind Galatians 6:10 ""do good to all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith,"" or I Timothy 5:8 ""But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.""\r \r God is a God of reconciliation. He wants us to be reconciled to Him, through Christ Jesus, and to be reconciled to each other. Yet the only way to be reconciled to members of this church, is repenting for leaving and then submitting to the authority of the apostle and pastors.\r \r For anyone considering visiting this church, please be warned. This is not a healthy church. For anyone considering leaving, be encouraged that there is hope, help, healing, freedom and joy on the other side. This comes from our loving God, full of mercy and grace. Exiting may initially be difficult, but God provides a way. Some heartbreak is just our hearts breaking free of unhealthy and unnecessary restraints; and some types of joy only grow when something is released! Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. more

“If you are unhappy, you may leave with our blessing.”\r Lurking within that statement is all the proof required to know what kind of church this is.\r \r It’s not the unorthodox doctrine that makes this church what it is--many healthy, growing churches have odd beliefs.\r It’s not the fact that leadership seems to be hereditary--many churches and businesses can thrive on father-to-son handoffs.\r It’s not even the lifestyle of some of those leaders, which is well beyond that of their rank-and-file members. Anyone who has visited the Vatican can see the same disconnect, but the Church still does great things.\r It’s still not even the countless small inconsistencies between their stated beliefs and practices, because no one is fully consistent between what they want to be and who they are.\r It is, rather, the control that makes this church what it is, and that is a cult. It’s the notion that they have to explain that *of course* you can leave with their blessing, as if that were an extraordinary thing.\r That statement is a slap in the face. It’s a slap to the people who have left, or been ejected, and are now cut off from everyone within. To the dozens of people with ruined lives who would give anything for a phone call--to the people who laid near death in the hospital waiting for blood relatives who never came-- to the people who died, never knowing their grandchildren’s names.\r It’s a slap to the people who have tried to leave on the very best of terms, only to be publicly accosted and told they were better off dead.\r It’s that the people who sat there and heard that statement know that there is no such thing as leaving—much less with a blessing--if you ever want to see your family again. Over the years, they’ve heard the fallen slandered. These countless slanders are an assault on, and an insult to the person’s memory, and simultaneously the darkest unstated warning to the congregant: you, in your turn—this can happen to you.\r “If you are unhappy, you may leave—with our blessing.” – The public statement, 01/2014.\r \r “If we show them love, they have no reason to come back” -- The private spoken truth, 11/2013.\r more

What is a Shepherd? (Part One)\r \r Some years ago, “N,” the senior pastor, stood in front of his flock and told the tale of a parting of ways. A foreign pastor, “C” had agreed to submit himself and his church, to “N.” In practical terms this meant that “C,” an established pastor, meant that he was joining “N’s” network of churches, and putting himself in a position under “N’s” authority. And so we added that church, that country to our roster of places our “word” had spread, and that flag went up on our stage. Somehow though, as “N” now told us, the relationship with “C” had eroded. That previous week, that Friday in fact, it had ended.\r \r “N” called “C” and told him he was being ambushed—“N” had gathered all the pastors and elders he could find and they were now on speaker phone with “C” in the conference room.\r By the end of the call, the relationship was severed. And as they parted, “N” told us, he called “C” the worst thing you can call another pastor, the lowest term for that occupation: a “hireling.” He spit this word out for us, his contempt and fierce righteous joy shining in the retelling.\r \r Calling a pastor a “hireling” is like calling a doctor a “charlatan” or a “scientist” a fraud. It conveys, in very certain terms, that the very essence of that person’s professional identity, that their work, their calling, is compromised and suspect. It is surely worthless.\r \r It is a heavy accusation to bring to bear on a pastor. And so I have thought many times about pastors since. What their role is, and how they can avoid this most egregious of traps.\r \r The role of pastor is mentioned only once in the Bible. But we know it is analogous to shepherds, and the term “hireling” alludes to this. A pastor then is a shepherd, and a bad one is a hireling.\r \r So we might ask, what is a shepherd? What does he do?\r \r Does a shepherd dispel a member of their flock, run back to the rest and retell, with obvious gusto, of that “lost” sheep’s leaving?\r \r Does a shepherd, in losing a member of that flock, manage to transfer all responsibility for them straying onto the sheep, never taking any responsibility himself?\r \r Is that a shepherd? Or could that be a hireling?\r more

What is a Shepherd? (Part Two)\r \r If we line up the members of the flock by affluence, at which end would we find the shepherd? Would he be following the example of the Founder of his faith and have naught to his name but his clothes?\r \r Or would he be at the other end? Driving his (and her) Cadillacs? To their upscale home? With in-ground pool? When they’re not at their secret Lake House? With a boat? Circumstances all in effect at the time this charge of “hireling” was levied.\r \r And then, growing weary of his toil, does a shepherd, after maintaining for years that there is no retirement in the Kingdom of God, then retire at God’s special instruction, to a place of his choosing?\r \r Is that person still the shepherd? Or can the role of shepherd be bequeathed? Is his son now the shepherd? Or is he?\r \r Is the shepherd the one sending his messages to his “flock” from his remote Maine estate? Or is it the son, in charge of maintaining discipline at home?\r Perhaps the role of shepherd is being split according to individual talents? Then surely we would find the “at-home” shepherd, the younger, more energetic son specializing in in-person ministry--first in line at the hospital when a member of the flock lies near death. Or possibly not? Possibly in the confusion of who actually IS the shepherd, no one ever visits the ailing sheep. \r \r Maybe then, there is no shepherd. It can’t be N, the Senior pastor “emeritus.” He’s too far away and must mail in his sermons (while living off the love offerings so gently “suggested” upon his retirement.) \r \r It can’t be N Jr, the son--after all, his own family flock is in severe disarray. Perhaps another member of the family? No indeed: their own flocks are scattered. \r \r Who then is a shepherd? And what might that look like. All we see are men, barely worthy of the name living to be enriched as the people around them suffer illness without visit, financial worry without mercy, as the pastors keep their Bibles brandished (the 3 verses about tithes highlighted), and their hands firmly held out. Family anguish without end, as loved ones leave, never to be contacted again on pain of excommunication.\r \r These are “pastors,” no doubt: just look at the titles they carry. On the signs on their reserved parking lots. In the reverence accorded to them by those who hold these men higher than their own blood.\r \r But they are not shepherds. No. These are hirelings through and through. \r \r My friend ""C"" from all those years ago, may you rest in peace. You were slandered.\r more

I needed to respond to Cathy L. with the sincere hope that this message is an attempt at sarcasm or a complete unawareness of how spiritual abuse works. There are LOTS of nice people in the world. As I read your post, I could not help but chuckle, as it reminded me of local news reports. \r \r Reporter: “We talked with the suspect’s neighbor, Cathy L.”\r \r Cathy L.: “ Bob was a really nice guy, kept to himself, but seemed friendly. I would never have thought that he was capable of murdering his wife and keeping her body in the basement!”\r \r Reporter: “As you can see, a stunned community is reeling tonight. Back to you, Sandy”\r \r I am sure Nicole is humble and kind, and down to earth as Cathy described her. I am sure she spoke freely of the Lord. I am sure she spoke of her dependency on the Lord, and more than likely her dependency on the pastor. And I know you mean NO disrespect to the dozens of people on here who have posted about their broken families, ruined spiritual lives, and lost years to this place. Because Nicole is nice! \r \r Cathy - my parents are nice and they pretend that I am dead and have wiped the traces of my existence from their home. My “friends” from that place will literally turn and walk in the other direction when they see me. Guess what? I think they are nice people too! I know people who know them who also think they are nice! Being nice does not justify your pathetically inane argument that “while many of these issues may in fact be true, it is difficult for me to imagine how a church/leadership as horrible as it is made to seem here could produce someone like that. And if in fact it did, well then maybe ‘cults’ aren't such a bad thing.”\r \r In closing Cathy, I really hope you changed the name of Nicole in this story, as there are only two women named Nicole that attend Lakeview. If you aren’t, can you please clarify if this is the Nicole who, along with her husband has cut off all contact with his brother for not attending the church, as well as her brother, her own flesh and blood? Or do you mean the Nicole, who along with her entire family, cut off BOTH her sister and brother and their spouses and children? \r \r You very may well indeed, because they are both, as you eloquently put it… nice. more

I'm a freshman college student who recently moved into the area from out of state. I was looking online for a church to attend in the Pittsburgh area, and I remember an aunt of mine telling me about this place and to steer clear of it. Interesting to read some of these reviews, actually. Entertaining, but also frightening, if they are true. \r \r It would seem to me that the young people of this place should just go out and do some of the things they're accused of doing when they leave and become exiled. May as well, since you're going to bear the reputation for it anyway, right? \r \r Anyway, thanks for all the informative reviews. Every church should have a site like this for exit reviews. Very helpful. more

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. (Matthew 18:15-20)\r \r Everything you need to know about this church is summed up in the complete disregard of this scripture. Apparently this was important enough to be called out in the church's ""Christian Life Book,"" which they use as the be all and end all, but not important enough to be applied to the members, starting with leadership.\r \r I personally saw this happen first hand, as Pastor James and his mother viciously spread things told to them in confidence to my family and friends. Instead of coming to me directly to address the issue, Norman felt it best to carpet bomb the situation by informing everyone - before working up the nerve to call me. I am in no way arguing that there was no need for discipline. I am arguing that the precedent set by Jesus Himself was methodically and systematically ignored by leadership, setting a model of gossip, rumor-mongering, and favoritism among members. I was guilty of it too. Meetings with the pastor usually included phrases uttered from his mouth such as:\r \r ""People have told me you [insert unfounded rumor]""\r \r ""What have you heard about [insert member they know you are close to]""\r \r ""I have addressed his/her sins of [insert sin they told in confidence in one of their counseling meetings]""\r \r So unlike the shepherd who left the 99 to find the 1, the approach of leadership here is to eviscerate the 1 in front of the 99. Don't worry though, favoritism and spiritual abandonment are the foundations of Lakeview. I will never forget the harassing phone calls I received for months after departing from Becky James. The moment that I realized the Lord had rescued me from Lakeview was when she told me verbatim:\r \r ""I knew ever since you were a little child that you would leave, that you would turn your back on the Lord and your family.""\r \r Think about that for a moment. I have not been a child for decades. During all the years of being a church member, attending the school, volunteering to help this family - and I NEVER once had a meaningful conversation with this woman. Not until I left. In all those years that she knew that I was headed down the wrong path, she never spoke a word to me of it. Not once. \r \r Why?\r \r The natural man knows that obviously it's because the vitriol and hate that comes out of her mouth caused her to say ridiculous lies. But what if she was telling the truth? What kept her from helping a fellow saint? A member of the flock? Because I was expendable. Unimportant. Someone who didn't fall in line with her perversion of Scripture. \r \r To her credit, she was the only one to actually confront me on leaving. Norman couldn't be bothered to find a lost sheep, especially one that was always doomed to be lost. \r \r Stay far, far away from this place. Broken families and ruined marriages are the hallmarks of this place. A positive reviewer below wrote of the fruit there. The fruit there is rotten. The church has diminished in size every year for fifteen years. Satellite churches around the world have been shuttered. There is no outreach. There is no evangelism.The pastors cannot even be bothered to visit sick members of their church in the hospital. The REAL fruit is in the fancy cars and large houses and expensive vacations one family takes. The cost is ruined and spiritually broken Christians. \r \r To borrow a phrase from a reviewer below: Ichabod has been written on every door mantle of this place. more

I am an ex member of many years standing. I saw enough of the facade! Any questioning had to be done on the side for any open questioning was considered subversive and rebellious! Although it was never openly preached to cut ourselves off from our families this was so well understood because this is what the Jameses would openly brag about doing and saying how this had to be done since families were seen as an impediment even when there was no real impediment. Anyone who did not do so was sidelined! People were considered ""in"" if they were useful in some way otherwise they were barely tolerated!! They complained about people wanting to be their ""friends"" and yet after I found myself in the ""inner circle"" of ""leadership"" I found that the things said about everyone was incredible critical and harsh with always the constant ""judgemental"" slant as though they were the only ones who had the right to judge and were free from guilt as though they had never been free from sin themselves!!! I remember the James boys as young men and there was PLENTY of typical, adolescent, sinful behavior which went on in college! Norman drank and did drugs with his college buddies at his 2 years course at a small college in Washington pea and who can forget that David had to be dragged off campus for living with a deaf girl he was dating at the time? Let's not talk about Norman's adult addiction to video games and other issues! The very fact that the parents refused to allow their sons to get a higher education and yet PUSHED down the throats of so many of the children of that church to EXCELL at their schooling only to validate the then principal's goal of bragging what an excellent job she did in founding the school is hipocritical!!! How can anyone not see something odd about this. And yet because she has bragged that EACH of her sons would ""be in the ministry"" she and her husband have pushed aside each and every person they feels was in their way of their sons to make certain they would be able to brag ""Our Sons Serve God!"" If I remember clearly there were prophetic words that Mark Gaggin was to be pastor about 10 years ago. How did they manage to explain that one? and what about the churches in Alabama, Jamaica and Brazil, how do they explain these pastors and their ministries ""falling away""???!!!\r \r And this leads me to a question to Gary O. You said "" saying that I have attended churches in the past all over the world but could never find TRUTH. I found the truth of God's Word here at Lakeview - no foolishness that is preached in churches in the area and all around the world.""\r \r I find this an incredibly arrogant and presumptuous remark!!! You are saying that there is NOT A SINGLE church ANYWHERE which teaches Truth??? Do you not FEAR GOD in saying this??!! Have you no memory of JIM JONES and JONESVILLE??? The Bible so clearly says, WHERE 2 or 3 ARE GATHERED IN MY (JESUS) NAME, THERE WILL I BE! How can you stand before God and so openly say that there is not one single church which opens the Bible on a Sunday and uses it for preaching and ministering to the members that they have no Truth?! You who have ""attended churches in the past around the world"" and claim that what they preach is ""foolishness"" and yet the Bible also clearly says to be careful as to whom you call fool!!! Have you not made yourself out to be exactly that???!!!! Have care ""brother"" for the Bible also clearly states that you shall be judged by the very same measure which you judge! You have set yourself up as the ultimate judge over things which God says that ONLY HE is to judge for God is who KNOWS the heart of man and that man himself is deceived by his own heart!!!! Judge not lest ye be judged!!!!\r \r The truth is slowly being revealed! more

Oh Gary. Lets talk, shall we? I have SO many questions for you.\r First of all- the members there are without spot or wrinkle? Does that make you perfect? Is that why the ex members left or were asked to leave? Were they spotty and wrinkly? Good thing you have your white robes.\r No foolishness is preached there? What exactly is this foolishness by your definition. Please give concrete examples. \r Ex members on social media? How do you know about them? Are you cyber stalking them, Gary? ""Expletives"" and ""hangovers""??? THE HORROR. Good thing you cut those ex members off, Gary. They aren't perfect like you and everyone knows that the Bible says specifically that you can treat people however you want, as long as you don't curse or drink. They really have taught you well. \r One more thing, Gary. You can pretend like this is the only church that preaches truth all you want, if it makes you feel better about participating in such a sadistic circus that ruins lives and families. But as long as you aren't drinking or swearing, its all good. Right? more