My wife and I attended 12Stone for 22 years, beginning in 2002, when it was called Crossroads…read moreChurch and had approximately 500 members. We attended, served, and tithed to the church during that time. Kevin Myers was the senior pastor, and his sermons tended to be relational and application-based rather than an examination of Scripture. I read and study the Bible independently, so it was not a reason to find another church. God did speak to me in many of his sermons. We attended small groups through the church and eventually served as small-group leaders and other service areas within the church. Our son was born in 2006 and has loved and looked forward to attending the youth ministry services and retreats.
I am self-employed, and in 2024, my business suffered a devastating event that impacted my ability to support my family financially. I woke up one morning and cried out to God, asking Him what I should do. My immediate thought was to call the church. I spoke with the pastor on-call (it was literally his first time in the position and his first call), and he took my information, saying someone would reach out to me. Ultimately, I received a few texts from an associate pastor asking me how I was doing and a coupon for three free counseling sessions.
Is that what Jesus would do? No, He would have shown up at my house, embraced me, and told me He loved me and would walk with me through this challenging period. I sent a letter to the founding pastor, Kevin Myers, detailing my situation and asking for prayer. I did not ask for financial support. I did not receive a response or as much as a postcard from him. We decided to leave the church, but my son loved the high school ministry (H12), and he continued to attend on Wednesdays throughout his four years of high school.
On Wednesday of this week, my son, who has developmental challenges, was lured away from our home in the middle of the night by a 47-year-old man with the promise of free rent, food, and transportation. He would not allow my son to divulge his location, convincing him that we are unsafe parents. We were crushed and devastated at the potential danger that our son was in. We played along with this man, and he drove my son to our home and waited outside under the guise that my son was coming to pack his belongings Saturday afternoon.
On Friday, we hurriedly organized an intervention for my son by having all our extended family, friends, and others to persuade our son to stay and not leave with this man. I called my son's youth pastor, Jacob Bartlett, to participate in the intervention. I left two voicemails telling him we had an emergency regarding my son and to please call me. I received no response. Fortunately, we persuaded our son to stay and not leave with this man.
I regret the time and financial investment we made in 12Stone for my family and me. Years ago, during one of Kevin Myers' tithing sermons, he said that if anyone didn't believe in tithing, the church would give them their money back. I want the church to return my money, but I doubt they will honor my request to write a six-figure check.
If you are considering 12Stone, ask yourself one question: Are they a church that will nurture and support your spiritual growth and that of your family, or a mix of religion and a tax-free corporation with a workforce that is primarily comprised of volunteers?
