Note: GFA never informed us of, or invited us to, a May 2015 meeting. Nor has GFA introduced us to Greg. We have not received any communication from GFA (except for some individual apologies) or the Board since their final report on March 26, 2015.
Greg, a third party friend of GFA, attempts to negotiate a meeting between Diaspora members and GFA by emailing members of Diaspora, excluding JD.
“…this meeting will be a safe environment for you to share your heart and your hurts and receive needed closure on this chapter of your life.”
Note: Greg had contacted JD multiple times over the previous weeks via emails and phone calls, attempting to reconcile the Diaspora and GFA. It is clear from Greg’s email here that JD’s numerous efforts to help Greg comprehend the true problem at hand—that the issue is not personal relationship restoration but addressing systemic unbiblical ministry practices—were misunderstood or ignored.
The Diaspora’s last communication from the GFA Board stated our concerns are nullified and the matter is closed. Additionally, since then, no GFA leader has attempted communication with Diaspora stating anything otherwise. Until the Diaspora is contacted directly by GFA’s board stating they reverse their decision, we have no alternative except to assume that GFA leadership is now operating outside of their Board’s explicit direction.
From: [Greg]
Date: April 16, 2015 at 11:14:21 PM CDT
To: [individually, to most Diaspora members, excluding JD]
Subject: re: GFA Diaspora and Reconciliation
Greetings in the Name of Jesus our Lord,
My name is Greg [xxxx], and I am the founder of [xxxx]. For 12 years I have run this web based ministry by the grace of God. If you have run across the website and know of it yourself, then you know that the resources offered on [xxxx] represent a very wide spectrum of Christian leadership in the body of Christ, many churches and ministries.
The reason for my writing is that, being a supporter of GFA for many years, I was recently given the GFA Diaspora website. I then contacted the website and have spoken with J.D. Smith extensively through emails and on the phone over the past few weeks. I took the time to contact GFA staff personally with many questions and ended up also discussing things with K.P. Yohannan directly. Here are some of my general observations and what transpired:
From an outside perspective it seems clear to me some of the problems listed on the Diaspora website have been a result of inference and that both sides are being misunderstood to a certain extent. Having said that, this still does not nullify the valid concerns or problems listed.
I am confident, and have been assured, that even now changes have been and are being made on the GFA level to prevent similar hurts from happening to people in the future.
In talking with the GFA staff personally I have advised that the Biblical way forward in this situation would be a meeting in person so that apologies and even reconciliation can be made face-to-face, “in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.” (2 Corinthians 2:11).
I offered myself as a mediator between GFA and Diaspora for a meeting like this to take place in person. J.D. stated he would be willing, as a meeting like this was requested before. The GFA staff also were willing, but in the final preparation for the meeting it was denied by J.D.
I then contacted GFA and asked if there was a way for them to get this letter to you, the other Diaspora members, to make sure you are aware fully of what is transpiring and given a chance to pray about this yourself and consider it before the Lord, and in light of eternity.
The proposed date of this meeting is May 9th, 2015 at the GFA Campus: Wills Point, TX. I will be present also as a mediator (where needed). I will ensure this meeting will be a safe environment for you to share your heart and your hurts and receive needed closure on this chapter of your life. I know many of the staff are heavy hearted and desire to express in person their apology and reconciliation.
After speaking with K.P. Yohannan they are willing to fly-in anyone who need this, also boarding and food would be taken care of as well as transportation (if needed).
We are all human and doing the best we can and “we all stumble in many ways,” even as it is written. But between brothers and sisters in Christ, may the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself be present whenever there is repentance over a grievance, for we are all members of one another and of His very Body, even as it also is written. “Forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32).
God’s grace and peace be with you today,
Greg [xxxx]
I can be emailed directly at: [xxxx] and my direct USA number is: (xxx) xxx-xxxx
Please feel free to contact myself or [David] with questions, or to share that you are planning to come to the meeting.
—
Greg