In 2003 my daughter was a CMU Sophomore. She ended up on the front row by ‘BF’s wife, SF.’ The BEST thing that ever happened….she heard my daughter worship Jesus, and her prayers were used against her. She was called in & grilled by a group of ‘imbeciles’ — men lording over a 19 year old with a ‘Holier Than Thou’ attitude, questioning her salvation & motives for ‘prayers’ like that in ‘their church. She had poured her heart out to Jesus, during worship. It was the beginning of ‘Her Shunning’….. Read More…

I’ve been encouraged to share more of my experience so here goes, but know these are just snippets of my story and experiences and I can only speak to my own experience:

I started attending what was then the Young Church in junior high. They hosted these events call The Event/The Next Event. These were lock-in style events with lots of games, food and fun while running around the Ward theatre. Read More…

I attended Young Church with my husband and 3 children from about 1998 to 2003. I served on the hospitality team. I enjoyed the kids and the friendliness of the church. Then the more I got involved, the more red flags I saw. At first, my kids had a lot of fun and I felt they were growing in their faith. But then things started to change. Read More…

I wasn’t involved long with GC, but I did see a lot of what other people are saying happen. For a year I lived in a house on campus with a few other guys from the church. 2 were what I would call devout members for lack of a better term, then there was a guy quite a bit older and me. I think we were the projects trying to get us more involved in the church. While living there, it came to light that the older guy was struggling with alcoholism and thoughts of suicide. He was taking our money for lights, and I noticed some of my stuff missing, and he was buying booze with it. This was all coming out about the time I left the church. Read More…

I would like to start by saying that I am celebrating everyone’s freedom from Grace Church, and I am happy that your lives have improved from the separation. When you read what I’m about to say, I hope you don’t write me off as bitter. I admit that I’m angry. I admit that I’m angry at a lot of /you/. But I hope that you will read and respect my story as I have with yours and recognize the validity in what I have to say.

I was raised into this church without a choice. Read More…

I came to the church in the fall of my sophomore year of college. My first visit, I heard the story in John 3 where Nicodemus goes to Jesus at night, and Jesus says he must be born again. I didn’t know that it was in the Bible that Jesus said to be born again. So that night with a friend who attended the church I prayed to be born again. I still consider my relationship with God a defining part of my identity, and somehow I can’t tell the story without including this. I became involved in ministry at the church. I deeply angered one of my parents when I decided not to come home for the summer, instead finding a part time job and serving at the church. Read More…

In Spring of 2002 I began my first semester at Central Michigan University. My sister, four years my elder, was also a CMU student. Over her time at CMU she became involved in a church called The Young Church. Early in that fall semester I was called on my dormitory phone by a member of the The Young Church, to see if I would be interested in getting to know other freshman students through fun outings led by 2-3 other younger leaders in the church. These individuals ended up being JS, RB, and BL. I do not recall how my number was provided to this caller from the church, only that I certainly have no recollection of disclosing it. Read More…

I am writing this to inform others of my husband and my observations and direct involvement with the abuse that was/is going on at Mt Pleasant Grace Church. For us this started when our daughter was going to CMU. She started going to Young church/ Grace church in her junior year, and attended for greater than 10 years. I was excited for her. I could see she was growing in her faith. We attended several times. Each time however, I would feel a check in my spirit, thinking of the messages. Most of the time the messages were given by others. They were not trained, they didn’t have any seminary training.Read More…

I am a former member of The Young Church. The name change to Grace was on its way when I finally left. Seeing this thread… Is killing me. I have hurt, even thinking of this place, even after leaving Mount Pleasant, daily.Read More…

I grew up in Mt Pleasant and first attended the Young Church on occasion in high school when it was still an extension of First Baptist Church. My father was a minister at a church in town but after I graduated, my parents moved. I started seeking a church of my own and this one felt very different than the traditional church I had grown up in, and the fact that there were so many people my age was a huge draw. I quickly was approached to join baby church, I was shy and not very confident so I was cautious but joined. While I was happy to connect with people and to build relationships there was quickly some things that didn’t settle well. I was told that I was to serve 50 weeks a year, I told RG right up front that I had a wedding of a close friend the following Saturday (I served on the Saturday night team) and I was told I’d need to skip it, which I did.Read More…