“False professions of faith?”

*Emphasis added in bold by Christine

Subject: Stonecroft Ministries
From:    “———————”
Date:     Tue, July 17, 2007 5:13 am
To:         christine@earnestlycontend.com

Hi Christine,
My name is ———– ———— and I have been involved as a leader in various roles in ———– with Friendship Bible Studies (now Stonecroft Studies) since 1985, and was also part of the leadership of a CWC, a number of years ago when one began in my previous home town of ————, ————-.  I now live on the ——– ———.  I have been earnestly seeking the Lord’s leading to come out of the ministry completely, for months now, but have had no specific answer.

I have been on the internet this morning trying to find information which either confirms, or expels, the great awareness of things not being at all right with Stonecroft as I have not able to put my finger completely on the exact reason/reasons.  When Stonecroft literature arrives periodically all I want to do is glance at it and then throw it in the garbage as something seems very wrong about it.  I have, for quite a long while (years in fact), been very uneasy with the study materials and struggled with the content on various occasions.  When I have written my concerns to headquarters (over the years and specifically 2 years ago) they seemed to deflect my concerns saying the Holy Spirit will work it out and who are we to say whether a person has been truly saved or not, as long as they have accepted Christ.

Things really came to a head when I was taking a friend through the Mark study about 2 years ago, which is when I wrote to headquarters in earnest.  —– comes from a catholic background, she has also been very involved with eastern religions and the New Age – an esoteric type of religion captures her imagination.  It was an incredibly difficult study for which I continually needed the Lord’s wisdom and strength.  I was assailed with headaches just before and during the time we spent together, and when we began to get into the scriptures —- was very confrontational with many philosophies which were totally against christianity, by the end of the hour and a half I was drained as though I had been fighting in a huge battle. 

Eventually we came to the week of receiving Christ – which she did not do there, but when on a catholic retreat a couple of weeks later, decided to accept Christ in response to the contemplative leaders’ suggestion she open up to God and receive Jesus.  I was at the time totally confused and had to give her the benefit of the doubt about the event.

However after another year (during which time —– left to work in ——-, just after we finished Mark, and then go back to ———– for a few months to be with her parents), she came back into my life and wanted to study again.  I became very aware her salvation experience was not real due to so many things she would say.  The crux came after I had asked the Lord to reveal the truth of the situation – the next time I saw her, —– very calmly and full of conviction said, ‘I’m not a sinner, I don’t sin’.  The scripture sprang to mind, ‘If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us’.  I knew then and there if ——- had truly repented and received the gift of salvation, then the Holy Spirit would bring that conviction of her sinfulness before our Holy God.

Graciously the Lord impressed upon her to join me at my church where over a number of weeks the Pastor (who is open to God’s moving – during that time He on occasions changed from His original messages, although he didn’t know why the Lord was leading him to do this – I’ve shared with him since!), preached and one by one each wrong understanding that —- had, was addressed by the scriptures and the Holy Spirit began an incredibly work in —- which, Praise God, resulted in her proper conversion last December when she finally fell to her knees, after much holding back, repenting of her rebellion against God and was thoroughly Born Again.  She is a delight to behold now and has such a peace when we look at the scriptures together.  She still needs prayer though for there is so much which still entices her mind towards the mystical writers within catholicism, she is very drawn to contemplative spirituality.  She has just moved on again and I pray and trust the Lord to lead her His way, bring into her life another who may come alongside as the He so desires.

What had happened to —- and my concerns about the materials were sent to Stonecroft of course, and the replies I received gave no peace of mind at all.  It seemed as though the ladies there didn’t understand where I was coming from and what the problem was – in fact if there was even a problem at all, after all who was I to presume I knew anything?  This sent me into a time of much heart searching, anguish of spirit and seeking God for forgiveness and understanding.  How many women had I guided through the studies who had wrongly accepted Christ without that true reforming work of the Holy Spirit, bringing regeneration?  I tried to get some information from a close friend, who is a Stonecroft DCC in —————, I shared my deep concerns with her and she initially gave me ‘What a wonderful ministry Stonecroft is’.  This of course did not satisfy and eventually after further writing I was told confidentially that she, too, had voiced the same concerns and had chosen to go with what was good about the ministry which she loved.  BUT to what end?  False professions of faith?  It scares me as one day we have to give an account to Almighty God.

Today I also came across Stonecroft’s Christian Management Association which further confirms my suspicions that they have, indeed, taken a different route.  This, along with your courageous website has now armed me with what was lacking in my accumulated perceptions of Stonecroft and where they are going.  Thank you for your concern and warnings Christine.  I know, as you do, that we have to contend earnestly for the faith and it is absolutely horrifying the various deviations which so many professed christian organizations are taking these days.  If anything it shows us the return of our beloved Saviour Jesus Christ is near and the full Gospel (including the wrath to come), should be preached/shared with those whom the Lord brings into our lives, whilst there is time.

Thank you for my being able to write to you and share what has been on my heart for so long.  It has been a burden which I have been continually giving to the Lord, and how gracious He is, that at the right time He brings revelation, understanding and confirmation when we truly seek to do His will.  I have clarity of vision now and can make a decision based upon confirmed facts rather than worrying I would be going against the Lord’s will for my life.  My desire is for a walk of humble obedience before the King of kings and Lord of lords. My husband has seen my struggles due to lack of support and  wants me to give up the ministry which further confirms my course of action.

Thank you in advance for reading this.  I pray the Lord’s richest blessings on you and trust that all you put your hand to, will be for His glory and honour alone.

Your sister-in-the-Lord Jesus Christ,
———————