Select a subscription and get started today. Much of our heritage is learned through the passing down of stories. Some of that money for family members service appears to have been reimbursed, he reported. North Granby, CT 06060. A lack of oversight and former lead pastor Doug Lebsack's claims of receiving direct messages from God are among the reasons cited for a recent scandal at Valleybrook Church in downtown Eau Claire that prompted the entire pastoral team to resign amid allegations of spiritual abuse. Invalid password or account does not exist. Please consider distributing fliers to your bible study or small group. Please refer your friends and family to this site if you find it useful or informative. The investigation results, presented recently to church members, contained details about seemingly irresponsible management of parishioners money, including that former Valleybrook leaders disbursed tens of thousands of dollars less than the pledged amount to mission organizations, spent thousands of dollars on credit card late fees and parking tickets, and failed to pay thousands of dollars in federal taxes. From Boston Jaime ended up in Seattle where she was a worship leader for several years and began writing her own worship songs. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. This is what Shannon does! Likewise, Lebsack was able to manipulate the churchs overseers and facilitate the departures of assistant pastors who dared question his methods and messages, said Mitchell, who has written about the events at Valleybrook in a series of blogs titled Tales from the Cult., Ideally, the overseers would have stopped that, but many of them were in Dougs back pocket too, Mitchell said. Get directions, reviews and information for Valleybrook Church in Eau Claire, WI. Valleybrook Church 412 S Barstow St Eau Claire, WI 54701 Valleybrook is located in the heart of downtown Eau Claire. Eau Claire; Valleybrook Church; EIN 39-1805767. In fact, Burns said, interdenominational churches such as Valleybrook often follow a theology in which humans are viewed as weak and unable to do anything without God, making them more likely than other churches to put ministers on a pedestal. The financial revelations come in the wake of widespread claims that the churchs former leaders, led by charismatic ex-lead pastor Doug Lebsack, pushed members and staff to reject their families, matched unrelated pairs of parishioners intoknit-together relationships to replace biological families and abused their authority by demeaning and shaming others. The Hollywood sign above the marquee will also be relit as part of the project to replace more than 1,100 bulbs at the outside entrance to Valleybrook Church in the 400 block of South Barstow Street in downtown Eau Claire. She was voted at top of the Floridas Funniest Competition for 3 years and has been featured on Nickmoms Night Out, Dr. OZ, and on the New Comedy Revolution DVD. Even Mitchell, whose blog was highly critical of what he called the truly terrible, abusive, manipulative, unethical and illegal acts that occurred under Lebsack and Clark, said he no longer has any qualms about Valleybrook under its new leadership, although he doesnt attend services there. Recognizing that families inside and outside Valleybrook were adversely affected by the spiritual abuse scandal, the church said in its statement that it has paid for professional counseling for individuals who requested it. This is hindsight to me, but it seemed like there was no separation in their lives. Stories around the supper table are some of the best moments in life and are the times we best come to know these people we call family. Jack is first name and Mandanka is last name. She has an amazing way of connecting the pieces while sharing some of the funniest yet applicable personal stories you have ever heard. Valleybrook Church 412 S. Barstow St. Eau Claire, WI 54701 Call 480-812-1100 for information Pricing General Admission $25 (plus fee) General Admission ($30 at the door) BUY TICKETS VIP $35 (plus fee) Early Admission for preferred seating Q&A with the speakers and artists BUY TICKETS Group Tickets $20 for group of 10+ Call480-812-1100to have a packet sent to you. We are solidly into the post-Christian world, and so the pressure for pastors to bind their congregations to themselves in steadily increasing. Sitting down to talk with worship artist Jaime Jamgochian you quickly realize she is a woman of faith who God is using in many different ways through her music and message. A Wisconsin church is under fire for behaving like a GASP! It is my hope that with enough web presence, a Google search will highlight the names of these individuals in an effort to prevent abuse from happening elsewhere. 5:30 pm. We had previously served Triumph Lutheran Brethren Church in Moorhead, MN for 25 years. Not only did former Valleybrook staff members cite this practice, but Charlene Burns, chairwoman of UW-Eau Claires philosophy and religious studies department, said she heard multiple examples while listening to just one segment of a recording of one of Lebsacks old sermons. Valleybrook's Easter Celebration Service (10:00AM) happening at Valleybrook Church, 412 S Barstow St, Eau Claire, United States on Sun Apr 17 2022 at 10:00 am. When trust is violated, it takes a really long time for trust to be built back up.. According to our database, there are approximately 88 churches in Eau Claire, with 9 Catholic churches, 8 Baptist churches, 1 Pentecostal churches, 4 Methodist churches, and 66 other denomination churches. This is where you will meet with a pastor, go to Imitate Middle School & High School, find The Living Room, find The Loft, and pick up Imitate Kids after the Sunday service. Converges crisis intervention team spent more than 28 hours interviewing 57 current and former Valleybrook members and attendees and issued a report highly critical of practices at the church. The developments led to the resignations of Valleybrooks entire pastoral team as well as three of the churchs overseers. The church also has contracted with an outside bookkeeper to process payroll and payables, Solberg said. You can expect main sessions, breakouts, and chances to connect with other ministry leaders at this influential conference. This is exactly how the Bible was passed down for generations yet today people seem to believe that the Bible is a list of dos and donts instead of a beautiful story of love, betrayal, forgiveness and redemption. Maybe my belief is weak. Itll take a while to say the least. Our data and tools help professionals prospect for nonprofits, research opportunities, benchmark their clients, and enrich existing information. Just look for the old movie theater marquee, and you will find us. Support Local Journalism! Valleybrook Church. Early entry also allows you tochose your favorite seat. 160 Granville Road*. Valleybrook Church is a tax-exempt organization filed with Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Thank you for reading, and please remember to share posts you find interesting to increase our web presence. However,I will seek to make sure that repentant hearts are protected, and that it is made abundantly clear whodid what. Find Best Western Hotels & Resorts nearby Sponsored. No matter what, I think theres a certain amount of respect given to a pastor just for being a pastor, he said. I used to be a staff member of that church. A downtown Eau Claire church is picking up the pieces after a scandal that tested the faith of the congregation and led to the resignations of the entire pastoral team amid allegations of spiritual abuse.. The Real Faces of Human Trafficking, a video production by Fierce Freedom, Valleybrook Auditorium (Hollywood Theatre), 412 S Barstow St, Eau Claire Learn why human trafficking continues. The congregation lost that route.. Visit Website. She then moved to Nashville, TN where she still calls home and continues to travel throughout the US and internationally leading people in worship, singing songs of hope and sharing a message of finding your value and purpose in Christ. To view our latest e-Edition click the image on the left. Contributing author identities will always be verified by myself, but if they wish to remain anonymous, they will be given a. Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Pastor Kendall Anderson of Valleybrook Church, Eau Claire, officiated with music provided by organist, Barbara Sandford and soloist, Peter Lea. Please support us by making a contribution. With just enough truth, and just enough fruit, to make us focus on the good, and distract us from the growing darkness, wrote Schultz, a pastor at Valleybrook for seven years who expressed regret he did not act on his misgivings sooner. Sign up for our e-newsletter! Valleybrook Church is child organization, under the parent exemption from. Former Valleybrook employee Matthew Mitchell, who attended the meeting and reported on it in his Tales from the Cult blog, said parishioners were informed that the church paid Verizon Wireless nearly $30,000, including upgrade fees and data charges, from January 2014 to March 2015 for 16 lines of cellphone service for former church leaders and their families. 412 S Barstow St. Eau Claire, WI 54701-3605. Valleybrook Church, based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is under fire for what a former leader is calling abusive practices [that] were inappropriate and pushing the church away from God.. Choose wisely! Recognizing that families inside and outside Valleybrook were adversely affected by the spiritual abuse scandal, the church said in its statement that it has paid for professional counseling for individuals who requested it. Valleybrook Church Location 412 S Barstow St, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 54701, United States Description Industry Organizations General Organizations Discover more about Valleybrook Church Org Chart - Valleybrook Church Phone Email Julie Smith Valleybrook members also are attempting to give back to the community, most recently by raising more than $8,600 for local food pantries. Though they were sad to leave after thinking theyd found their church home, Larson said, they observed several things that sent up red flags, including constant drama and crying in sermons. Following is the mission of this website: Names of abusive leaders will not be protected. This report will also be made available under Media in the site menu2. There is not now, and will never be, a fee to access this site. To view our latest e-Edition click the image on the left. Winners to be announced at later date. The Bridge Church, Eau Claire 1210 E. Clairemont Ave. Salem Baptist Eau Claire 2514 Golf Road . There is not now, and will never be, a fee to access this site. Headquarters: 412 S Barstow St, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 54701, United States. Kind of. As painful as this all has been, Haugen said,I think that in many ways the church structurally is so much better situated right now than it was before.. Just look for the old movie theater marquee, and you will find us. 189 (Granville Road) 860.844.0001. [email protected]. The nine-page letter by Grant Schultz identified multiple examples of Lebsacks alleged manipulative practices, including frequent attempts to push parishioners and staff to cut off ties with their biological families and instead form knitted-together relationships with other Valleybrook members of his choosing. Founding pastor Valleybrook Church Oct 1993 - Jan 200511 years 4 months Eau Claire, Wisconsin Area Youth Pastor Salem Baptist Church Jun 1986 - Oct 19937 years 5 months Eau Claire,. I currently attend a different church in Eau Claire than the one mentioned on this site. Some people here still feel like theyre living under a shadow left by people who are no longer here, but we really want it to be a new day, a fresh start, Haugen said. Humans can be so susceptible to peer pressure and group think, Burns said. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. We are located in the historic Hollywood Movie Theater. Seeking a fresh start after a spiritual abuse scandal that prompted the entire pastoral team at Valleybrook Church to resign earlier this year, transitional leaders pursued an audit that revealed questionable financial practices as well. Former Valleybrook Church employee Matthew Mitchell says he believes the former lead pastors efforts to muzzle dissent contributed to a climate that allowed spiritual abuse to take place at the downtown Eau Claire church. For instance, Valleybrook is linking with B-Side Community on a joint youth ministry program. Other Chippewa Valley churches have been supportive through this difficult time, he said, with some even offering to partner in joint ventures. That goal has been met. Create a password that only you will remember. Valleybrook Church is a company that operates in the Religious Institutions industry. Various people from the church have been public, but always offering their own viewpoint - the LT article is the first I know of to attempt an unbiased overview, for whatever value the word "unbiased" has for anyone. Valleybrook Church // Eau Claire, Wisconsin Feb 2019 - May 2022 3 years 4 months. Call our office to order group tickets with no processing fee at 480-812-1100. I would finally like to point out that this is not an anti-Valleybrook site, although at first glance it certainly looks like one. We are continually seeking to know God's will for our church. Phone. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. If you havent read the About This Site page, please do so before reading any article here. Consider this, then, a history book of a time not long gone, and a warning to any organization that employs or affiliates with the former lead pastor of the church. 715.834.9993
Mitchell recalled feeling that way himself for a while, even moving to eliminate contact with his family on Lebsacks advice before eventually rejecting the idea. To assist in bringing justice to the abusive, and healing by clarification to the abused. Help us spread the word about Aspire. Bethesda Lutheran Church: 123 W. Hamilton Ave. Eau Claire, WI Tuesdays at 9:00 am Jan 17, 2023 - Apr 11, 2023 Saving Grace Lutheran Church: Saving Grace Lutheran Church (New Location) . *Entrance located on Rt. Valleybrook Church: 412 South Barstow Street Eau Claire, WI 715-834-9993: GriefShare. Valleybrook is located in the heart of downtown Eau Claire. We are seeing significant evidence of restorative grace, transitional leaders said in their statement. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Maybe parishioners stepping away from church would go a long way toward fixing the problem. [email protected]. The goal of those posts was to tell my part of the story, but also to expose some corruption within the leadership. cult. Thats the normal line of authority, Diederich said. We won't share it with anyone else. Peers. Weve worked hard to put in place a high level of internal controls, said interim lead pastor Tim Haugen, adding that the church has no plans to pursue legal action related to the financial review. Please link to this site on your own sites if you are willing, please share links to stories and media on Facebook. Being told youre with the devil, thats powerful stuff, Burns said. But that was easier said than done at a place where several former members stressed that Lebsack cultivated a climate that discouraged dissent. Why, then, does this site exist? No, this site is dedicated only to preserving information. The primary goal was to provide the congregation with a factual representation of what we found in the books and, almost just as importantly, to outline ways were working to rebuild trust, said Chris Solberg, a longtime Valleybrook member who was elected to the transitional leadership team. Who spends all day every day with a co-worker? (715) 559-6943. Late payments on church credit cards resulted in charges of more than $7,500 in penalties, interest and late fees between April 2013 and March 2015. We are a downtown church with a few different options for parking. VALLEYBROOK CHURCH is located at 412 SOUTH BARSTOW STREET in the city of Eau Claire. A Wisconsin church is under fire for behaving like a GASP! The offices are located across the street from the Hollywood Theater. Despite the widespread concerns, several sources indicated that many families just left Valleybrook when they felt things were getting strange later in Lebsacks roughly 10 years at the church. Share with friends Discover More Events in Eau Claire Sat Jan 28 2023 at 11:00 am Divine Guidance with Kim An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. Born again: Valleybrook Church takes steps to right wrongs found in pastoral abuse scandal. In addition, the shift to more extreme ideas was gradual enough that many people in the church didnt see it, Mitchell said. Get Directions. Between 2008 and 2014, $6,488 in church money was used to pay parking tickets. Valleybrook Church is a Religious Organizations, Religious Institutions, and Organizations company located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin with $1.00 Million in revenue and 6 employees. Reader's Choice Awards - Voting has ended. Without further ado, here's a PDF of the Valleybrook Church Report. 7:00 PM SHOW6:30 PM GA DOORS OPEN6:00 PM VIP DOORS OPEN. Good food, good friends, good times. You have permission to edit this article. From the moment we could sit still in our mothers arms, we have loved stories. If your pastor goes rogue, you turn to the denomination to intervene. Valleybrook Church Non-Denominational Churches Churches & Places of Worship Website 30 YEARS IN BUSINESS Amenities: (715) 834-9993 412 S Barstow St Eau Claire, WI 54701 CLOSED NOW 2. If We Applied Anti-Vaxxer "Logic" to Other Areas, It Might Sound Like This, "The way republican politics are going these days, that means the winner is worse than ", "It would have been more convincing if he used then rather than than. But if youre curious, its like Valleybrooks denominations HQ. The pastor in charge has fled the state. Office hours are Tuesday - Thursday from 10AM - 2PM. An investigation early this year by a crisis intervention team from Converge Great Lakes, a denomination with evangelical Baptist roots that helped start Valleybrook 21 years ago in the former Hollywood movie theater building in downtown Eau Claire, generated a report highly critical of practices at the church. With rumors about financial misconduct running rampant in the congregation in the wake of the spiritual abuse allegations, Valleybrooks transitional leadership team hired the accounting firm Wipfli to conduct an audit of the churchs books and then reported those findings to the congregation. Many people have several pieces of the puzzle, yet they have no idea how it all fits together in the greatest love story ever told. Go-to place to discover events for more than 20M people globally. Ronald L. "Ronnie" Horstman, 43, of 1601 Bergman Rd., Chippewa Falls, died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Chippewa Falls, after a lingering . 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