USA 2004-2006
My experience is nowhere as heart-wrenching as some people. I enjoyed the perfect position for me at GFA (Building & Grounds Maintenance) and had a great relationship with my supervisor. I did not sense the politics and control that most were under in the building. There were some concerns, but I overlooked them. All organizations have things to be concerned with, and organizations are made up of sinful people.
One day a certain person was fired and blacklisted for “having a bad day”. Through that experience, I saw that KP controls everything. A personal example of that is that my supervisor and his supervisor (David C.) were not allowed to put up an awning on the north side of the building without KP’s approval on size, shape, color, etc. It was at least 6 months before it could be ordered. Meanwhile, staff had to stand in the rain to use their fobs and the north rains would soak the hall carpet.
Fast forward: The Lord kept me awake one night about being part of a grassroots start-up ministry that could get small churches involved in missions, so I ended up joining another ministry.
We did not give our notice right away for a few reasons:
1. We still had flex dollars to use.
2. We had extra dollars in our account because we were fully supported. We knew what had happened to others who had money in their accounts, and our supporters had not given money to the GFA general fund, but to us.
3. Mary had eye surgery scheduled that the flex was to be used for.
4. There was an unwritten agreement that we would stay at least two years.
So for the last 5 weeks before leaving, we took care of the above four items along with getting all our personal tools out of the building. You see, 90% of the tools used in the maintenance department at that time were ours and you pretty much have to leave on the spot when terminated.
I always say that God led me out of GFA. During those last 5 weeks, I found out that funds were not being used as designated. So out of principle, I would’ve had to leave anyway.
While at GFA we gave to some of the monthly appeals. Since GFA was no longer putting the dollar amount raised for appeals on the prayer sheets (I know why now), I went to gift entry and asked about how much was raised for wells and bicycles, as we had given to them. I learned that $500K and $600K were raised on the last appeals. I thought that was a lot, so I went back to my desk and did some math. Well, all GFA missionaries should have a bicycle. Good! The next day, the new SEND! magazine came out. The cover article was several missionaries riding on one bicycle. “We need more dollars for bicycles.”
We’ve all heard that Indians (and most others) don’t value free items, so they are charged a few rupees for a Bible, etc. I’ve been told that GFA India did not give a bicycle for free either. The missionaries had to pay for a portion of the bike. So that meant even more dollars available for bike distribution. Where did all that money go?
I had lunch with our mentor about where we were going and about the bicycle fund-raising issue. He seemed to be fine with what I said. When he got back to the office, he was asked by Dave C. who he had lunch with and what we talked about. That’s when we became a threat to the ministry and were not allowed to work out our month’s notice.
Vocationally GFA was a good fit for me. Unfortunately it seems KP has strayed from the original message of the B1 to building KP’s kingdom. Hopefully KP will return to building God’s kingdom and loving the staff that are helping to accomplish that goal.