|
Gary D. King February 9,1998 Greetings in the only name
that is worthy to be named Jesus Christ our Savior. This letter is to inform
you why I left the Des Moines Assembly. I can no longer support or fellowship
the local administration. As you know, in Bro.
Goodwin's will, Bro. Vernon, Bro. Vest') and myself, were ordained to govern
the local assembly at Bro. Goodwin's death, with Bro.Ray
to take the spiritual interest necessary to see that the work was thus
established. Because God so ordained it,
from that time on, things began to fall apart. " Who
is he that sayeth and it cometh to pass when the
Lord commandeth it not!" "
The curse causeless shall not come! Is there not a cause? And will not
the judge of all the earth do right? I stood with Bro. Vernon
through it all, watching and wanting to know what was really happening. I was
told what individuals wanted me to hear. As you all know, Bro. Vest moved to
Kingsport, Tn.,leaving
Bro. Vernon and myself to govern in Bro. Goodwin"s
absence. Things began to come to light for me when Bro. Vernon began to push
me aside . Bro Vernon ordained Glenn Goodwin
secretly without counciling with me or anyone else
to my knowledge. If Bro. Glenn was so qualified, why didn't Bro. Goodwin put
him in as an elder ? Even in my stead
? Bro. Vernon did this in
order that Bro Glenn might perform the marriage ceremonies. When (name
withheld) died, Bro. Vernon gave the whole funeral service to Glenn Goodwin.
I was not even informed of her passing or funeral until (name withheld)
called me to inform me of her funeral. When I spoke to Bro. Vernon about this
he said that he was unable to contact me and so he gave it to Glenn. He also
said that he didn't think that I could get off from work. He then asked me if
I could be available at which time I informed him that I was indeed able to
be free to help. It was then that Bro. Vernon gave me the reading of the
obituary and the opening prayer. Isn't it amazing that (name withheld) was
able to contact me, and yet Bro. Vernon was not? All of this was prior to
Bro. Glenn having been ordained by Bro. Vernon. Glenn was given a function
within the church, not being ordained as an elder. On the Tuesday night, when
Bro. Vernon was taken to the hospital for tests regarding his brain tumors, I
went to see him. It was there in the hospital, surrounded by his family that
he showed me his decisions for Glenn Goodwin to have the church and be the
presiding elder. After I read the will, (of which I'm sure you have a copy)
Bro Vernon asked me if I disagreed with it. I did disagree with it, but my
Christian manners told me to wait until he came through the surgery to talk
to him about it. It would have been best if he had asked most if not all of
the family to leave the room before discussing church business. When I read who had signed
the will, I was appalled, Bridget Goodwin, and Josie Goodwin. Where were the brethern? There again Bro. Vernon did not discuss any of
this with me. The next evening, Wednesday
night, Bro. Vernon's last service before surgery. he
told the people that Glenn was more qualified than anyone else and that he
wanted him to preside over the church in the event of his death. There again
if Bro. Glenn was so qualified, why didn't Bro. Lloyd L. Goodwin place him in
a leadership position even in the stead of myself. Bro. Vernon didn't want me
sitting by his side, he wanted his son there. This truth is self-evident. I
was always made to feel as though I was not good enough or worthy enough to
be by his side, as though I did not qualify. Please read Isaiah 1:2. We are going to have to get
a new God, because the one we have is not qualified. God raised children, He
nourished them, and they rebelled against Him. God can't even rule His own
children..... He's disqualified from being God! What I saw and witnessed
for myself was a takeover of the Des Moines Assembly by the Goodwin family.
In almost every department of the church a Goodwin is in charge. The church
itself, the office staff, the cleaning crew, the tape room, the nursery, the
Band, etc., etc., etc.. I personally talked to Bro.
Glenn before I left and told him about what Bro. Vernon had done, how he had
treated me, and how I saw things. I told him that Bro. Vernon put him there,
and not God. His reply was that if that were indeed true God could take him
out. This is true. Two pastors have died in Des Moines in the last 18 months.
Both of them Goodwins. I think it’s time that we wake up to what's going on
and start asking questions as to why they died and why 200 or more people
have left the Des Moines Assembly. Please read Deuteronomy
l3:12-14. This is the responsibility
of God's ministers in handling problems in a church. Notice the language in
verse l4, “then shall thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and
behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is
wrought among you." Then judgment was to be given, but not until search
and inquiry was made, Since, I left the church, or for that matter anyone
else who has left the church, not one minister has come to us or called us to
inquire as to why we left. Not one! Now I ask why? Please read Jeremiah
23:1-4. Sheep scattered and driven
away and they never visited them. Again in Ezekeil
34:1-18 Shepherds again scattering the flock, In verse 4, they never visited,
strengthened, or bound up that which was broken, nor sought that which was
lost. We have not heard from, nor
seen a one of you that call yourself shepherds of God's people...... WHY NOT?? Please read Isaiah
3:11-15. "The spoil of the poor
is in your houses, what mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces and grind
the faces of the poor saith the Lord God of
hosts." Again in Isaiah 9:16, Leaders causing people to err and they
that are led of them are destroyed. Again Micah 3:5. "Thus says the Lord
concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth,
and cry peace and he that putteth not into their
mouths they even prepare war against them." Again Ezekiel 13:1-16-
read this also in the Living Bible. Verse 6'states “They have
seen vanity and lying divination saying, " the
Lord says and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope
that they would confirm the word." Here, God had pronounced judgment
upon the city of Jerusalem and so called men of God were saying that
everything was going to be alright. They were seducing the people saying
"Peace when there was none. Verse 10, building a wall with un-tempered mortar. Then, God
went on to way that the wall was going to fall and when it did) it was going
to fall on the ones that built and supported it. Verse l2, ministers here
were hurt " When the wall is fallen shall it not be said unto you, where
is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?" I would know for sure what
I'm supporting, before I tell people what they ought to support! John 5:39-44, Here men came
in their own name and people received them gladly, but Jesus came in His
father's name and they received Him not. All this said gentlemen I
cannot have any fellowship with that which I do not believe is in the name of
Jesus, but is nothing more than a group of politicians waiting for the honor
that comes from man and not God. I intend to seek for the honor that comes
from God only and to lift up his name in this city of Urbandale, Iowa. We
will not run but will do as the Apostle Paul did and Jesus taught in Matthew
23:12, Luke 11-52, Acts 19:5-10. When men fail to go on with
God but harden themselves God will move on and start
over in the same city. Acts 18:9-10, Like 20:9-16 1) and Romans 11: 17- 22.
Nobody has the Almighty God boxed in. He has proven it again and again to
mankind that He's still God and in complete control. As Paul did in Ephesus, so
we do here. We are separating the disciples and starting another church where
Jesus can be lifted up and God be glorified. The sick and the lame healed, the- poor and the wounded - helped for the glory
of God. We hope that our fellowship would continue. We seek not the honor of
men but the honor that comes from God only. We all need to have the
fellowship of Jesus and God the Father. Please read I John 1:3. We
welcome your fellowship. We would like fellowship on God's terms, in the
truth, and in the spirit. We are going on to know more of the grace
and goodness of God. Respectfully, Gary King |
