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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 rom, 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 its 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 shalt 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 saith 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 saith 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 untempered 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 |
