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Update:

Arise church is not run by God or the pastors or the board — it’s now run by lawyers.

No report tomorrow.

Will report more when I can.

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I know you know this, but we're right here with you David. It's your excellent work that has got this whole awfulness to this point. I can only hope these people do the right thing.

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Jul 5, 2022Liked by David Farrier

I'm sure all the survivors also went to church wanting to have a good time. And got a nasty surprise.

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Jul 5, 2022Liked by David Farrier

Lot of money in (+~15% on last year). Lot of money spent on staff ($6M) but fuck all spent on "community care and giving - only $650k (out of $15M revenue) and $530k went to "Arise Care". Interesting they are making a bit from property deals. presumably all tax free because "church". Tax the fuckers. Tax all of them.

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founding

"**As if some people having a good time somehow outweighs those left utterly fucked up.**" I think about this sort of thing a LOT, the expectation that if you were harmed, or abused, or burned out by church leadership that you should stay silent so everyone else can keep having a good time. Only thing is, all that does is isolate people and prevent church leaders from being held to account for the culture they allowed (nay, even fostered) under their watch. I am SO TIRED of people making excuses for shitty church leaders. I am SO TIRED of mediocre men making excuses and dodging being accountable. BURN IT ALL DOWN I say, there is nothing good left in these abusive places any more. Perhaps something good might rise, phoenix-like from the ashes instead?

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Jul 5, 2022Liked by David Farrier

My experience in times past with Pentecostal leadership and don’t get me wrong not just churches but bullying, manipulation and control in ANY organisation or work place has always been “power and status talks”. Lies and more lies told freely to cover up the abuse and the victims are left helpless. I HOPE justice is done this time. It never was in my past experience.

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Jul 5, 2022Liked by David Farrier

Holding leaders accountable for their abuses is a fundamental need. It is not being negative but truth telling. For without truth there can be no change, no repentance, no healing or justice for the victim. This is what the prophets did, and they were vilified for daring to expose the abuses of the powerful. Doing what you do comes with a huge cost, but is so necessary. Kia kaha mate.

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As always, the complete lack of empathy for church victims from these so-called “Christians” shows that they continue to use JC’s name in vain. If there was a God, he’d be smiting down those blasphemers day and night. Yet they continue to make themselves out as the real victims to keep the grift up. That’s some big lie BS right there. Keep showing them to the world for what they really are: over-privileged bullying male grifter crybabies, not Christians in the truest sense.

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Jul 6, 2022Liked by David Farrier

Kia kaha David

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Thank you David for speaking out. I rejoice that these days gutsy people like you are coming to the aid of victims. Love you bro.

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FINALLY. Fingers firmly crossed for those who’ve been severely damaged by Arise. My hope is that they’ll get some validation and those at Arise who perpetrated these abuses will be held accountable.

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Jul 6, 2022Liked by David Farrier

CLEARLY I'm in the wrong rort.

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I mean, profession.

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Don’t they realize the victims WERE people who wanted a good experience at church and Arise utterly fucked them? Cheese and rice...

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founding

Good on you for reporting the good news on how much Arise is earning.

Perhaps Arise can balance their Instagram feed with the bad news that Brent Cameron is a rampant hand farter

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David I'm sure you don't want to toot your own trumpet, but might you be the first journalist to successfully hold a megachurch to account (emphasis on successfully)? This is groundbreaking stuff and could start movements against predatory financial "churches" in other countries. Your work is so important as we witness the US laying the groundwork for a right wing fascist dictatorship that uses christianity as its cowardly shield.

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Excuse my assumption, but it appears that a perceived future damage being done to the reputations of a few is far more serious than the documented historic damage that’s been done to hundreds.

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