As a family who has been blessed to stream Believers Church online since 2020, my heart deeply aches for the family who experienced such a painful situation at the picnic in 2012. Church hurt is a heavy burden to carry, especially when you have poured your heart into volunteering, and your pain deserves to be met with empathy.My foundation in faith goes back to 1992, when my college roommate first introduced me to Christ. She and her family grew up carrying deep wounds from past churches, which led her to step away from attending any church in person for many years. Today, she attends Believers Church. We trust her judgment of ministries completely, and her presence there speaks volumes.This ministry has also been a place of incredible spiritual growth for my own family--so much so that my husband, who has been faithfully building his relationship with God through these messages, just joyfully started paying his tithes to the church last month. When I attended in person, I was welcomed with open, loving arms. In fact, Pastor Greg showed such beautiful humility when he willingly let me pray for him right after one of the services. We love this ministry because it is a welcoming, family-centered space where the Word is preached directly from the Bible.Pastor Greg regularly reminds us all of a core biblical truth: that ever since the Garden of Eden, every single human being falls short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). Because we live in a fallen world, misunderstandings, security mishaps, and human failures happen--even among leadership. Based on all of this, I truly believe the church is not a building or a single person; it is the living fruit of God inside all of us.If you are carrying institutional or church hurt, please know exactly how Jesus feels about your pain: He feels your grief deeply: John 11:35 ('Jesus wept') reminds us that He does not look past our pain; He sits in it with us. When religious structures hurt His people, His heart breaks first.He protects the broken: Matthew 11:28-30 is His open invitation: 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.' When human leadership fails to give you safety, Jesus offers a refuge that requires no heavy burdens.He heals the wounded: Psalm 147:3 promises that He 'heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.'My sincere prayer is that this situation doesn't become a permanent barrier to your faith. Galatians 6:1 calls us to restore one another gently. I pray that you and Pastor Greg can connect privately, in the spirit of true biblical reconciliation, to clear up the untruths.To any family processing a situation like this: be encouraged and keep your eyes on Jesus. This church is built on the Word of God and is not going to give into Jerry Springer drama. Human situations will fail us, but the grace of God never does. May the Lord bring healing to your family, and may His grace cover everyone involved. read more