Spring 2025—Two Years On
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5: For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
To the overseers, I can say this: two years is long enough to take our measure of you. To quote the Apostle Paul, we now know what kind of men you proved to be among us.
It’s fair to acknowledge that you can say the same about us. You and us. Yes, we are divided.
The most honorable among you is closely associated with all the others. You are known by the company you keep. So am I. As an elder since my 20s, I’ve naturally been closely associated with this ministry.
When this crisis started, I wrote two Western overseers and said there is a dire need for repentance. You know who you are. One of you casually replied that this is a storm. The other replied that you were sorry this happened, and you wished that sorrow could turn into repentance. You later apologized to me for the immorality in the ministry. I appreciated that expression of honesty more than you likely know. But my soul is no safer for hearing that.
The church has come to you in love, time and again, to ask for your help and cooperation. You could have gathered some competent elders to help you. Maybe you did, and my help was not required. I can only conclude that either you simply don’t care, or that a higher human overseer has his boot on your neck. I have to guess at this, because you don’t really communicate.
The whole overseer structure that you have invented and continue to this day, dishonors Christ and disobeys Matthew 20:25-26. Look at the top of any workers’ list and you’ll see what I mean. Even my young grandchildren know the meaning of the words “it shall not be so.”
There’s nothing that marks a high-control organization more than the need to manage people.
2 Timothy 3:5 feels so personal. “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” The early verses in this chapter clearly describe the condition of this fellowship and ministry at this time. These verses describe those who appear religious but reject the power that would make them Godly. I must willingly, cheerfully, obey this scripture. I never dreamed that those last four words of verse 5 would become a measure of my willingness, my faith, my obedience.
If I have been overtaken in a fault, then those who are spiritual would be coming alongside me to restore me in the spirit of meekness. Elders in my area. Workers in my state. Overseers across the United States, Canada, and the globe, many of whom I have communicated with. You see, one soul is precious to God. The Word of God requires this kind of restoration. Two years have passed now.
The last time I was with our late Oregon overseer, he told me “we are in this together.” As it turns out, we were not in this together. And yet, the same overseer group that he supported, and supported him, that same overseer group operates unchanged at its core to this day. It operated unchanged in late 2022 when a worldwide overseer meeting took place behind locked doors in California. I have a list of the participants. Were the doors locked to keep Satan out? Or to keep the ugly truth in?
The last time I was in a Sunday morning meeting in Nevada with a certain deceased California worker, he took most of the testimony time and lectured us about hypocrisy. It’s chilling to think about it now. The sneaky thing about hypocrisy is that you can present like an expert on it, while not getting victory yourself. The very nature of hypocrisy means that others are out of your loop. Until they are not.
To those who will say “Paul is starting to lose out,” let me just say this: “losing out” is getting to the other side and hearing, “I never knew you.” The phrase “losing out” isn’t even in the Bible. It’s a fiction perpetuated by this high-control church. It is not the same as departing an abusive affiliation. Galatians 5:1 clearly pleads with us to avoid such. And I shouldn’t need to say this, but I’ll say it anyway: Jesus Christ did not institute a high-control church structure as this church embraces. One of the most beautiful gospel meetings of all time took place at a community well.
The workers’ self-elevation causes division. It feels like the workers have divorced us and remarried The One True Ministry from Before the Foundation of the World. If I apply your doctrine, none of you should be taking part in meeting, or the communion.
Not one of you overseers should be taking the communion, until things are set right. When I say, “set right,” I’m not talking about going back to William Irvine. I’m referring to Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life. The fruit in our generation has identified the tree. And yes, I am sorrowful for these bitter truths.
May the power of the gospel, the power of the resurrection, and the Holy Spirit have liberty in our hearts.
With love to all,
Paul Svendsen