Following Jesus to Confront Corruption
Take a Stand--Speak Out--Live in Integrity
Pod-Post 6
Pod-Post 6
I Am. Courtesy and ©Gaye Lynne LaGuire
Those whom I love I reprove and discipline.
Be zealous therefore and repent. Revelation 3:19
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
Listen to the podcast here
repent/metanoeō/μετανοέω
God’s
Love Call-Command to Us
and my prayers for us
A reminder of the purpose of my Into Integrity FAST. It is to call attention to--and confront--the lack of disclosures by specific organizations/leaders/people affected by the international Nordic Capital Investment KB fraud (NCI) as well as the related dismissals that Michele (my wife) and I have received. I am fasting for genuine contrition and striking for resolute action within the Church Mission Community (CMC).
Those “affected” refers to the specific investors-victims, organizations-ministries, staff-leaders, and any others who received/lost money in this scheme or were somehow impacted. It also refers to the thousands of people who are or were part of these organizations-ministries (including Board members and supporters) and who have a moral responsibility to call leaders and others to account: to disclose, conduct independent reviews, and where there are “net positive” gains, to return money to victims.
Featured resource: The Greatest Barrier to God's Mission is God's People (video excerpts from plenary, Best of Lausanne)
Church name: Thyatira
Repentance is not shaming or demeaning. Rather it is good, normal, freeing, and life-giving. In particular the entry points out the grace of God that leads to repentance and healing. Yet it also stresses the possible dire consequences--judgment by God--when repentance does not occur in important matters.
Church name: Laodicea
It is important to realize that the Swedish court documents (released in 2010 and 2011) indicate that it was primarily Christians, Christian organizations, and Christian ministries that were affected by NCI. Some of the main ones were part of Youth With A Mission (YWAM), including Mercy Ministries, Le Rucher, and Mercy Ships. Youth For Christ Switzerland was used as an address for one of the main NCI promoters for NCI activities and Crossroads Church in Ferny-Voltaire, France had many members who heard about and invested in NCI.
and my prayers for us
Warm
greetings!
A reminder of the purpose of my Into Integrity FAST. It is to call attention to--and confront--the lack of disclosures by specific organizations/leaders/people affected by the international Nordic Capital Investment KB fraud (NCI) as well as the related dismissals that Michele (my wife) and I have received. I am fasting for genuine contrition and striking for resolute action within the Church Mission Community (CMC).
Reflections on FAST Day 18
(combined
food FAst and hunger Strike)
In this pod-post I emphasize God’s love calling us
to repent and to deepen our relationship with Him and others. I share some core
excepts from the PETRA People weblog
focusing on the command for repentance given by Christ—His love calls--to five
of the seven churches in the book of Revelation (chapters 2,3). What is true of
these churches in Asia Minor in the first century AD continues to be relevant
for the Church-Mission Community today.
Authentic repentance—the turning away from and shunning
sin and turning towards and embracing God--is a normal and necessary part of our
Christian lives. And at times much more so than at other times. This type of
repentance is sorely needed in the specific integrity and corruption issues which
are addressed in the PETRA People weblog, the Shine the Light-Together petition,
the PETRA Statement 2012, the Professional Review, court documents, and here in
the Into Integrity FAST.
In particular, and in line with forgiveness, I want
to reach out again to the leaders who have dismissed us from organizations, leadership
positions, and serious responsibilities. Many of these leaders have a major responsibility
to assist in verifiable, detailed disclosures and independent reviews regarding
how NCI has affected them and their organizations. I am praying that today, to
hear God’s voice, his love call-command, without rationalizations or hardening your heart.
repent/metanoeō/μετανοέω
Today and all weekend, I am praying prayers of
grace, mercy, forgiveness. I am interceding in the Spirit, confronting the Evil
One, praying that the incarnate Word of God—the incisive Sword of the Spirit,
the illuminating Spirit of Light—will penetrate deep into your souls and
spirits: especially for you, Lynn, Iain, John; Tom, Jim, Steve; Donovan, Don; Bill; Bertil, Rajendran, and seven
others unnamed here. Eighteen of you and your spouses. And for Michèle
and me, sinners in need of God’s mercy. And I assure you, as have many others: I
do not have some type of psychological disorder; I do not need some type of psychological
or psychiatric input or care; and I do not need some type of spiritual direction
of a sacramental type or otherwise. I am not afraid to whistle blow or of its
consequences; I am committed to love truth, peace, and people.
Pray with me also, for all of our
putting on the full armor of God, the
armor of light, to confront the schemes of the Wicked One, the Thief who comes
to kill, steal, and destroy the peoples of our world and ourselves; the Lord rebuke you
Satan, even the Lord who has chosen His Beloved Bride; knowing that our weapons
are divinely powerful for tearing down strongholds; get behind us Satan, for we
set our minds on the purpose of God and not on our own or others; setting our
faces like flint to go to Jerusalem with Jesus, laying down our live in obedience
to suffer outside the walls of Jerusalem with Him; for it is written you shall
fear and worship God alone; knowing that this type of the demonic only comes
out with prayer and fasting; and we will see the Prince of the power of the air
falling like lightening from the skies, and we rejoice.
And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
Image courtesy and ©ENOD
Image courtesy and ©ENOD
Do not be afraid. I am praying for
the courage to walk in integrity and to confront corruption, including our own
hypocrisy, and any lofty, corrupt thing raised up against the knowledge, character,
and purposes of God. And I acknowledge, and warn again, that the only
thing necessary for corruption to flourish in our lives, organizations, communities,
nations, and the world, is to do nothing
about it, or to do some ineffective, non-resolute “thing” and then to move on,
self-justified and with consciences placated and livelihoods protected. May zeal
for our Father’s house consume us, for His sake and glory, and for the healing
of His Body of all nations, peoples, tribes, and tongues.
Agnus Dei qui tollis
peccata mundi,
miserere nobis, dona nobis pacem.
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miserere nobis, dona nobis pacem.
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Five Love Call-Commands for Repentance
Lessons from Five Churches (Revelation 2,3)
Excerpts from the PETRA People weblog, 2018
Lessons from Five Churches (Revelation 2,3)
Excerpts from the PETRA People weblog, 2018
repent/metanoeō/μετανοέω
Church name: Ephesus
Repentance 1: Healing for People and Organizations
(January 2018)
Therefore remember from where you have
fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am
coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you
repent.” (Revelation 2:5, NASB)
This entry highlights the importance of
repentance for personal and organizational integrity. It also
includes verbatim the last two Updates (Healing the Body: Living in
Integrity--Loving Truth and Peace) which summarize many of the
efforts by the PETRA People Network (PP Net) and summon the
assistance of the people and the organizations affected by the Nordic Capital
Investment KB fraud (NCI).
Those “affected” refers to the specific investors-victims, organizations-ministries, staff-leaders, and any others who received/lost money in this scheme or were somehow impacted. It also refers to the thousands of people who are or were part of these organizations-ministries (including Board members and supporters) and who have a moral responsibility to call leaders and others to account: to disclose, conduct independent reviews, and where there are “net positive” gains, to return money to victims.
Featured resource: The Greatest Barrier to God's Mission is God's People (video excerpts from plenary, Best of Lausanne)
repent/metanoeō/μετανοέω
Church name: Pergamum
Repentance 2: Restitution or Retribution? (February
2018)
The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this...repent,
or else I am coming to you quickly,
and will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. (Revelation 2: 12,16 NASB)
and will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. (Revelation 2: 12,16 NASB)
This entry continues the recent emphasis on
the importance of personal and organizational repentance. By repentance we mean
heart-felt contrition and serious behavior change. Repentance is not
shaming or demeaning. Rather it is good, normal, freeing, and life-giving. In
particular the entry points out the grace of God that leads to
repentance and restitution. Yet it also stresses the possible dire
consequences--retribution by God--when repentance does not occur in important
matters.
repent/metanoeō/μετανοέω
Church name: Thyatira
These are the words of the Son of God…I know
your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance…Nevertheless,
I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel…I have given her
time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will
cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with
her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways...Then all the churches
will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay
each of you according to your deeds.” (Revelation 2:18-23 NIV)
This entry continues the recent emphasis on
the importance of personal and organizational repentance. By repentance we
mean heart-felt contrition and serious behavior change. In
particular the entry points out the need to acknowledge, confront, and be
healed from widespread, specific corruption in the church-mission community
(CMC). Remember, you can be doing good things but still be
engaged in corruption, as the above verse from Revelation points out (including
tolerating "Jezebel's immorality"--corruption--via rationalization,
willful blindness, silence, and inaction).
Repentance is not shaming or demeaning. Rather it is good, normal, freeing, and life-giving. In particular the entry points out the grace of God that leads to repentance and healing. Yet it also stresses the possible dire consequences--judgment by God--when repentance does not occur in important matters.
Featured resource: Shine the Light-Together petition
repent/metanoeō/μετανοέω
Church name: Sardis
I know your deeds; you have a reputation of
being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is
about to die...Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it
fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a
thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. (Revelation
3:1-3, NIV)
This entry continues the recent emphasis on
the importance of personal and organizational repentance. By repentance we
mean heart-felt contrition and serious behavior change. In
particular, the entry points out the need to acknowledge, confront, and be
healed from widespread, specific corruption in the church-mission community
(CMC). Remember, you can be doing good things---or even be a "nice"
person--but still be spiritually and morally "dead" as the above
verse from Revelation points out.
Featured resource: The recent podcast/transcript from National Public Radio (10 May 2018) focusing on a high-profile example of hopefully "waking up": Pope Francis' meeting with and asking forgiveness from victims of sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church. Could the leaders of the CMC, especially those affected by the NCI fraud, learn a lesson from this Jesuit Pontiff?
Featured resource: The recent podcast/transcript from National Public Radio (10 May 2018) focusing on a high-profile example of hopefully "waking up": Pope Francis' meeting with and asking forgiveness from victims of sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church. Could the leaders of the CMC, especially those affected by the NCI fraud, learn a lesson from this Jesuit Pontiff?
repent/metanoeō/μετανοέω
Church name: Laodicea
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold
nor hot…you are lukewarm. I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say,
‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do
not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked…Those whom I
love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. (Revelation
3:14-22 NIV)
The NCI Summary and Summons Continue. This
entry also includes verbatim the last four Updates (Healing the Body:
Living in Integrity--Loving Truth and Peace) which summarize many of
the efforts by the PETRA People Network (PP Net) and summon the
assistance of the people and the organizations affected by the Nordic Capital
Investment KB fraud (NCI).
It is important to realize that the Swedish court documents (released in 2010 and 2011) indicate that it was primarily Christians, Christian organizations, and Christian ministries that were affected by NCI. Some of the main ones were part of Youth With A Mission (YWAM), including Mercy Ministries, Le Rucher, and Mercy Ships. Youth For Christ Switzerland was used as an address for one of the main NCI promoters for NCI activities and Crossroads Church in Ferny-Voltaire, France had many members who heard about and invested in NCI.
Featured resource: Whistleblowing: Responsible Practices for Healthy Organizations. (Member
Care Update, July 2018).
--------
Take Aways--Pulling it all Together
I encourage us all to consider our ways, and for many colleagues and people, to do so regarding the protracted NCI matter and dismissals. God’s love call is a tough love call and command for repentance, and the Spirit of Light, is jealous to reside in our entire being. To summarize and apply the five Petra People weblog entries reflecting on five of the churches in Revelation:
Seek healing for yourselves, people, and organizations.
Embrace restitution not retribution.
Stop tolerating Jezebel—condoning, ignoring, practicing immorality in your midst.
Stop sleeping and wake up. Confront moral and spiritual compromise.
Stop tolerating Jezebel—condoning, ignoring, practicing immorality in your midst.
Stop sleeping and wake up. Confront moral and spiritual compromise.
Take a stand,
Speak up. Live in integrity
And spread the word.
Kelly
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And spread the word.
Kelly
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I am doing FAST in the spirit of the consecrated fast and repentance called for by the prophet Joel (Joel 1:14). And I am doing it in line with the concerns and requests in the Shine the Light-Together petition and by its signatories.
Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support. I will be regularly sharing updates via brief posts and podcasts in the coming days. Please spread the word.
Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support. I will be regularly sharing updates via brief posts and podcasts in the coming days. Please spread the word.
Notes
--Integrity is moral wholeness—living consistently in moral wholeness. Corruption is moral rottenness, the opposite of integrity--the distortion, perversion, and deterioration of moral goodness, resulting in the exploitation of people.
--For information/updates on NCI and anti-corruption resources, see the latest postings from the PETRA People Network.
--A Summons to a Global Integrity Movement: Fighting Self-Deception and Corruption, our article in the Lausanne Global Analysis, March 2018. "In this article we distill some of the lessons we have learned over the past 15 years in promoting integrity and confronting corruption. Why is it hard to live up to our moral and ethical aspirations? We reflect on the reality of dysfunction and deviance, highlight the challenge of self-deception, describe anti-corruption resources, and summon the church-mission community (CMC) to a global integrity movement marked by righteousness and relevance.
--Jesus' words in Luke 6: 17-49 and Mathew 10: 16-42 (The Message) have been so helpful to me, providing instructions, warnings, perspectives, and motive checks especially about hypocrisy. Some excerpts:
--For information/updates on NCI and anti-corruption resources, see the latest postings from the PETRA People Network.
--A Summons to a Global Integrity Movement: Fighting Self-Deception and Corruption, our article in the Lausanne Global Analysis, March 2018. "In this article we distill some of the lessons we have learned over the past 15 years in promoting integrity and confronting corruption. Why is it hard to live up to our moral and ethical aspirations? We reflect on the reality of dysfunction and deviance, highlight the challenge of self-deception, describe anti-corruption resources, and summon the church-mission community (CMC) to a global integrity movement marked by righteousness and relevance.
--Jesus' words in Luke 6: 17-49 and Mathew 10: 16-42 (The Message) have been so helpful to me, providing instructions, warnings, perspectives, and motive checks especially about hypocrisy. Some excerpts:
"Don’t be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. So don’t hesitate to go public now. Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands. (Matthew 10:26-28). Your task is to be true, not popular….It’s who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds” (Luke 6:26,45)
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