Category: Communications

To date, there has not yet been any meeting between the Diaspora and GFA Leaders and Boards, originally set for October 13, 2014.

We have not yet received any investigation conclusions from board member Gayle’s October investigation.

There have not been any known communications by GFA or the Board to us since the previous post.

JD informs Diaspora that there has been a board meeting and will supposedly be an update to JD soon.

“Of course, we aren’t holding our breath as there’s a good chance this is just another stall tactic and I don’t know why KP wouldn’t have called me also if he were genuinely interested in working with our group.”

JD shares:

Larry just called me today to let me know he had received a text and voicemail from K.P. stating that there was a long board meeting this past week, and that an update would soon be sent to JD about it.
Of course, we aren’t holding our breath as there’s a good chance this is just another stall tactic and I don’t know why KP wouldn’t have called me also if he were genuinely interested in working with our group. But thought you all should know it and be informed, for your prayers.

JD leaves message for Gayle requesting response.

Receptionist said, “Gayle will get this message.”

As of this writing (March 16, 2015) no response has been received from Gayle.

JD asks for follow-up on the proposed board meeting and asks Gayle to communicate directly with JD and not through KP to avoid the conflict of interest. [Once we receive a response from the board, we will post it in the communications history.]

“Since you are heading the investigation and Brother KP is the one who is being investigated, we don’t expect him to be the spokesperson or leader of the process, so we need to hear from you.”

JD

Summary:

JD calls to follow up with Gayle on the status of the investigation since we had heard nothing.

Gayle reports he is finished with his part and is awaiting a board meeting to see where to go from here. He says he does not need any further information from us.

He also says he believes the board meeting will occur between December 16, 2014 and December 25, 2014.

Having not had any communication from either the board or GFA, JD thanks Gayle for his service and affirms that all of us are willing to answer any questions Gayle might have. JD also directs him to please address communication directly to JD instead of Larry. NOTE: Gayle never asked for further comment from any former staff except Martin in Canada.

“Please know that the rest of us are also willing and able to help you.”

JD

KP wishes JD a happy birthday.

“I prayed for you this morning.”

JD explains that there’s been a delay in the investigation due to Gayle’s illness, but that Gayle is taking the investigation seriously.

“*If* KP gave an accurate account of what Gayle told him, this would be another sign that Gayle is not at all dismissing our claims and even willing to take hard actions.”

JD shares:

Just heard from Larry that KP called him this morning and talked for about 5 minutes. I think Larry is in KP’s mind an ally of sorts, due to their long term friendship and Larry’s candor, and KP has said as much.
KP told Larry that Gayle spoke with him yesterday, and said that he’s been sick and that delayed him on the investigation. KP also told Larry that Gayle said, “I’m not going to be your friend in this [process.]” Larry felt that it was significant that Gayle said this, and it seemed even KP was surprised by how seriously Gayle was taking it and the potential seriousness of the forthcoming actions by the board.
*If* KP gave an accurate account of what Gayle told him, this would be another sign that Gayle is not at all dismissing our claims and even willing to take hard actions. I still qualify that because I have not heard directly from Gayle and this is coming from an un-trustworthy source; so we’ll see what Gayle has to say.
Based on this, the email I drafted should be modified to say that Larry has heard from KP, but that we still prefer to communicate directly with the board.

M. responds to Gayle’s request for copy of email.

” I thank the Lord for the active role that you are taking in this investigation.”

From: M.
Date: October 11, 2014 at 1:12:10 AM EDT
To: Gayle
Cc: [GFA Board]
Subject: RE: GFA

Hi Gayle,

I am pleased to hear from you brother. I am just one more of many, who have found great encouragement and also a good ol belly laugh J from your messages over the years and especially your teaching on the Jesus Style! Thank you.

And I thank the Lord for the active role that you are taking in this investigation. I am praying for you consistently and desire only the health and restoration of GFA and its members and the work at large.

I was in fact preparing this letter to send to KP this weekend with our story attached as I felt it was only right for him to know that I have shared this with the Canadian board.

Here is what I have just written to him below and our story is attached. (I warn you its long!) I will also copy you on my email to him also.

For His glory and the good of the Church,

M.

Dear Brother KP,

Thank you for your recent email. It encourages my heart to hear from yourself and others like JD that positive steps are being taken to change the spiritually controlling and abusive culture of GFA and to walk in the light with staff and donors. I pray that there will be genuine and lasting change and that the fruits of repentance will be evident to all. I know this cannot be an easy time for you but I thank you for humbling yourself and trust that your leaders also would follow your example. It will of course take time for an autocratic culture of fear and control to be remedied and trust to be restored and I believe that in some cases leadership change may be necessary in order to see lasting results. I am praying for wisdom and grace for you and the board who are now fulfilling their God given responsibility.

I wanted you to know that we have written out our story and that it was sent to the Canadian board a couple of months ago to help confirm the many other allegations both in the US and Canada. The Canadian board is ultimately responsible and if our story could be used to help bring about further understanding, healing and protection for other staff, then that was our desire.

These things were not easy to write as I can assure you they were written with much sorrow and pain and concern for the ministry that we gave so much of our lives to. I recognize that you have understood bits and pieces of this along the way but we were never really given the opportunity to share freely with you, nor did we completely understand what was taking place at the time in our own hearts. It is only in leaving GFA that we have started to process our painful journey and have the freedom to be honest about our experiences and begin the healing. I have copied our testimony below for your understanding and awareness of what was shared with the board. 

May the Lord give you much grace and understanding as you read this.

In love,

M.