FOURTH LETTER TO LLOYD GOODWIN
Revelations 4:3 - Living
Bible: (He that sat on the throne). "Great bursts of light flashed
forth from him as a glittering diamond, or a shining ruby, and a rainbow glowing
like an emerald encircled his throne. Revelations 10:1 - Then I
saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven surrounded by a cloud, with a
rainbow over his head: his face shone like the sun and his feet flashed with
fire.
(A
couple of months after we had quit going to GAC in Des Moines, we decided that
we were free enough to go and visit the church. I didn't want to cause any
problems but just wanted the people to see that I was still alive and
wanted to lift up Jesus in a testimony. Lloyd Goodwin was in Elkville,
Illinois for a fellowship meeting at Brother Archer's Church. I called Brother
Archer and asked if Lloyd Goodwin was there and he said no. I asked Brother
Archer to give him a message for me. He was very kind and said that he would. I
asked him to tell him that we wanted to visit the church and I would like to
just see my brothers and sisters and if that wasn't OK to have him call me or
have one of the elders call. He agreed to do that. Later that day, Glenn
Goodwin called me at home and said that it was OK for us to come to church as
long as we didn't do anything to disrupt the service. I assured him that we
would not. I did tell him that I would like to say just a few words to lift up
the Lord. He said that would be OK. The rest of the letter is
self-explanatory.)
July, 15,
1991
Dear Brother
Goodwin:
Greetings,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Thank you
for allowing Kim and I to attend church (indirectly) through the elders. (Oh,
excuse me, Glenn Goodwin said that he, Brother Paul Vest and Brother Gary King are
not elders.) Anyway, thank you for that much.
We had
absolutely no intentions of causing any problems. We really did just want to
worship the Lord (which we did) and let the people know that we loved them. We
did all that we could to up lift the speakers.
I was going
to stand and let the people know that I loved you and them and if there was
anything I had done wrong to hurt them or you, I was sorry, (and just read a verse
from the Bible.) But Brother Glenn Goodwin came back and said that you had
called and said that we were not to be allowed to speak until you got back in
town. I asked, Why? He said that was your instructions. I asked, what if I say
something anyway and he said, "then (-----) will sit you down and if that
doesn't work, the band will "play you down."
All I wanted
to do was lift up Jesus and let my friends know that I love them.
Brother
Goodwin, I felt like I was in a Nazi labor camp or something. I went to the
restroom and (-----) almost ran after me! I came out and (-----) was waiting
outside the door with (-----) following. I said, "I'm not going to do
anything." She said, "I know you're not!" She was insinuating
that if I did, she would do something about it.
I didn't
even try to get up after that. In fact Kim and I both received a beautiful
touch from the Lord and were inspired by the testimonies of God's people!
I was a
little perplexed at (-----) words. I would like to have heard the name of Jesus
lifted up but all he did was lift you up. I believe in giving honor where honor
is due but that got to the point of being ridiculous! It was just a show, which
wasn't impressive at all.
After
service, I spoke with Glenn Goodwin briefly and told him that I would like to
speak with you, alone (my husband present, if you wish) and see if we could
work things out. I want to do things the Biblical way.
Paul said
"If you have ought against your brother, go to him and him alone and if he
won't hear you, then go to the elders and if they won't hear you, then go to
the church. " (Actually, it doesn't say go
to the elders, it says to take some others with you but I knew that in this
case, it would have to be the elders that went with me.) I want to
do it right and God's way.
What I say
to you Brother Goodwin is "I'm really sorry for any wrong that I've done
against you personally or to the church. Please forgive me." I mean that
sincerely.
I am not
sorry for repenting to Don and Wanda Patton. Robert came to you two weeks
before and told you that it was really bothering me. You had ample time to tell
Brother Patton the truth yourself. Also for what you said about the precious
women of God. Whatever happened between you and Sharon is
between the two of you. If you did her wrong, then you must repent to her.
Also, I'm
asking you to repent to the church for the lies that you have told about me
openly in the pulpit. I have heard it from many witnesses.
If you told
Sister June that I had been to bed with over 50 men, then you need to repent to
her and tell her the truth. She said, "I know for a fact that you've been
to bed with over 50 men!" I would like to see the proof. There were even
insinuations that I was a prostitute. That, I've heard from at least 10
witnesses.
You have
defamed my character, ruined my reputation and even alienated some of my
closest friends. (----) was like a son to me. Now he won't even speak! You need
to publicly make things right and restore my credibility. "This is what I
ask."
When I was
leaving church, (-----) kept following me and acting like a Nazi guard! I
turned around and said "I'm not going to do anything, I love you
all." She said, "You've been spreading lies about my pastor!" I
said, no, he's been spreading lies about me and she said, "You're a liar!
And I said, "No, he's a liar!" Then she grabbed my arm and shoved me
and said, "Get out of our church!" I said, "This is my church
too." She said, "no, it's not, get out right now!" I said,
"Well, we've probably put a couple hundred thousand dollars in this church
over the past 16 years, so I feel we own part of it too!"
I think Robert has over
4000 hours of labor in that building alone. I've put in a few myself, nursery,
cleaning, school, as well as the work on the new church. So I just kind of feel
that we have just as much right to come in and speak as anyone else. But I'm
willing to do it the "Biblical way," if you are willing.
I need to
hear from you by Wednesday, July 17, 1991. You can call me or have one of the
elder's call. If not, I'll call. We must get this settled.
Brother
Goodwin, there are so many things that I wish to say to you. The Lord loves
you, but Satan has snared you. You do have the free will to choose.
You know, I
was reading in the Living Bible in Revelations
4:3 (He that sat on the throne). "Great
bursts of light flashed forth from him as a glittering diamond, or a shining
ruby, and a *rainbow glowing like an emerald encircled his throne. Revelations
10:1 - Then I saw another mighty angel coming
down from heaven surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head: his face
shone like the sun and his feet flashed with fire.
I looked up
the word "rainbow" in the Greek which means:
*Rainbow:
iris, ee'-ris, Greek 2463; perhaps from Greek 2046 (ereo) (as a symbolical of the female messenger of the pagan
deities); a rainbow ("iris") :- rainbow. - ereo, er-eh'-o,
Greek 2046; probably a fuller form of Greek 4483 (rheo); an alternate for Greek
2036 (epo) in certain tenses; to utter, i.e. speak
or say :- call, say, speak (of), tell.
The word cloud
means, obscure or in darkness. I really believe that Christ is
already in the process of coming as a thief in the night, in obscurity.
He is already drawing his elect out of her.
I was really
surprised at the word, rainbow which when you put it all together goes
like this:
Rev 10:1 -
LB - Then I saw another mighty angel coming down
from heaven, surrounded by obscurity, with a (rainbow i.e. female
messenger sent to utter, speak, say, call or tell something) over his head: his
face shone like the sun and his feet flashed with fire.
I knew that this was a prophetic word from the Lord. I have never
claimed to be a prophet nor did I even understand, at the time, the gravity of
some of the things the Lord gave to me. It was just that I knew when He
was speaking to me through the word of God or a dream.
"I am a
messenger from God to you."
Isaiah
28:14-22 Living Bible:
"Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffing rulers in
Jerusalem: You have struck a bargain with Death, you say, and sold yourselves
to the devil (Sheol) in exchange for his protection against the Assyrians
(enemy). "They can never touch us", you say, "for we are under
the care of one who will deceive and fool them." But the Lord God says,
"See, I am placing a Foundation Stone in Zion - a firm, tested, precious
Cornerstone that is safe to build on. He who believes need never run away
again.
I will take the line and plummet of justice to check the foundation
wall you built; it looks so fine, but it is so weak a storm of hail will knock
it down! The enemy will come like a flood and sweep it away, and you will be
drowned. I will cancel your agreement of compromise with death and the devil,
so when the terrible enemy floods in, you will be trampled into the ground.
Again and again that flood will come and carry you off, until at last the
unmixed horror of the truth of my warnings will finally dawn on you.
The bed you have made is far too short to lie on; the blankets are
too narrow to cover you. The Lord will come suddenly and in anger, as at Mount
Perazim and Gibeon, to do a strange unusual thing - to destroy his own people!
So scoff no more, lest your punishment be made even greater, for the Lord God
of Hosts has plainly told me that He is determined to crush you!"
Verses 23-29
are also to be considered.
You always
said, Brother Goodwin, "God doesn't pay all his debts on Friday."
"Whatever
a man sows, that shall he also reap."
Also read
Revelations 3: 1-6. This is also for you. (I knew
that there were still people in GAC that were God's children. I used to go by
the church and pray for them that God would let them see.)
Rev.
3:1-6 "To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the
words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your
deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are
dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about
to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.
Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But
if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what
time I will come to you. Yet you have a few people in Sardis
who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white,
for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed
in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will
acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He, who has an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Please
respond by Wednesday, July 17, 1991 and let me know if you are willing to
"make things right."
Sincerely In
Christ,
Sister Wanda
Mason