I feel as though I could write a book on Living Grace Church. Fear was the predominant vibe running through that place. Everyone was afraid of ""being deceived."" This was actually an entire doctrine built essentially around one verse of scripture. Pastor Powell taught that in the ""End Times"" people would fall away and be ""deceived."" Anyone who left the ministry, for whatever reason, was said to have been deceived and lost. The only way to keep yourself from not being deceived was to always be in line with Pastor Powell. Anyone outside our church that claimed to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ was still suspect and not to be really trusted. Other Christian organizations were always somehow inferior to Living Grace as only our pastor had ""the anointing"" and therefore the direct link to God. Powell also taught that he had the apostleship of Paul. The doctrine of ""Spiritual Delegated Authority"" was preeminent and everyone was included in a kind of pecking order. New people were always put in the basement rooms until they could be trusted. We were encouraged to check every decision through our ""spiritual head."" Members of Living Grace believed in always getting confirmation from ""the body,"" which meant other believers. And I'm talking about basic decisions such as going home for the weekend. People were encouraged not to trust themselves, but always to confirm through the body. Any of us that expressed a desire to go to an accredited regular four year college, or do anything with our lives other then full time ministry, were mocked for ""seeking after worldly goods."" There didn't seem to be a drop of humility in Tom Powell. He constantly referred to himself as God's man and made reference to his supposed ""persecution."" At this time there are also major defections. People are disillusioned and falling away, while many others are wounded. The bottom line was that people were taught not to trust themselves and only trust in the chain of authority. \r
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