Letter to Calvary Temple from the Sidewalk Protestors (November 22, 2015)
Dear Calvary Temple,
Week after week and month after month a small group of ex-Calvary Temple members gather across from Calvary Temple in protest. We hold signs, we talk to pedestrians, we try to talk to CT members, and of course, we talk to each other. On a few occasions, we might call someone a "wolf" or a "liar." One or more of us might call out something across the street such as reminding children to call their parents or parents to call their children. We might hold up grandchildren for their grandparents to see. Amongst ourselves we laugh, cry, pray, stand or sit quietly.
But here is what we do NOT do. We do not use obscenities or profanity. We do not threaten or mock anyone. And we do not lie about anyone. Even though Calvary Temple has implied otherwise. We stand and protest because we know the truth and we want others to know the truth. Children and adults have been harmed by the actions of Calvary Temple leadership and members and it has been covered up. That is why we stand on the side of the road holding signs and being away from our families, friends and churches on a Sunday morning. We stand in the heat, the cold, the wind, the rain (and soon perhaps the snow). We do it for love and we do it for truth.
You see, we know the stories of those who have been hurt by Calvary Temple. We know the children who were molested, we have talked with them and heard their horrendous stories. We know the parents who were cut off from their children and we know the children who yearn for their parents. We have wept with family members that have lost everything they hold dear just because they have spoken the truth. We know the story of a child crying out to be heard only to have their cries covered up by CT leadership. We have listened in horror to the things said to individuals by supposed "men of God". We know the husband cut off from his wife though he desperately wants his family. We know all their stories and we want to stand for them. Some of us are living these stories. And a few, though these things did not happen to us, just want to stand with our brothers and sisters, supporting and loving them.
We also stand for another reason. We do not want to see others experience the pain that many live with. Our hope is that no one else will attend Calvary Temple and have their families destroyed, their innocence stolen, their trust betrayed or their faith shipwrecked. We will continue to expose Calvary Temple for what it is.
Galatians 6:2: "Bear one one another's burdens, and in this way your will fulfill the law of Christ."
The Sidewalk Protesters
Week after week and month after month a small group of ex-Calvary Temple members gather across from Calvary Temple in protest. We hold signs, we talk to pedestrians, we try to talk to CT members, and of course, we talk to each other. On a few occasions, we might call someone a "wolf" or a "liar." One or more of us might call out something across the street such as reminding children to call their parents or parents to call their children. We might hold up grandchildren for their grandparents to see. Amongst ourselves we laugh, cry, pray, stand or sit quietly.
But here is what we do NOT do. We do not use obscenities or profanity. We do not threaten or mock anyone. And we do not lie about anyone. Even though Calvary Temple has implied otherwise. We stand and protest because we know the truth and we want others to know the truth. Children and adults have been harmed by the actions of Calvary Temple leadership and members and it has been covered up. That is why we stand on the side of the road holding signs and being away from our families, friends and churches on a Sunday morning. We stand in the heat, the cold, the wind, the rain (and soon perhaps the snow). We do it for love and we do it for truth.
You see, we know the stories of those who have been hurt by Calvary Temple. We know the children who were molested, we have talked with them and heard their horrendous stories. We know the parents who were cut off from their children and we know the children who yearn for their parents. We have wept with family members that have lost everything they hold dear just because they have spoken the truth. We know the story of a child crying out to be heard only to have their cries covered up by CT leadership. We have listened in horror to the things said to individuals by supposed "men of God". We know the husband cut off from his wife though he desperately wants his family. We know all their stories and we want to stand for them. Some of us are living these stories. And a few, though these things did not happen to us, just want to stand with our brothers and sisters, supporting and loving them.
We also stand for another reason. We do not want to see others experience the pain that many live with. Our hope is that no one else will attend Calvary Temple and have their families destroyed, their innocence stolen, their trust betrayed or their faith shipwrecked. We will continue to expose Calvary Temple for what it is.
Galatians 6:2: "Bear one one another's burdens, and in this way your will fulfill the law of Christ."
The Sidewalk Protesters
