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"A Confession-" I was in the (ACMTC) ministry for about seven years I believe I was one of the first people to meet you. I have been away from the lord ever since I left ,and my life hasn't gone anywhere, I am sorry to say. I am so glad you are still living for the Lord , I would ask that you would pray for me. I feel like there is no hope for me for the way i messed up with the things of God I have a good life as far as the world standards but its all in vein when talking about eternity, I would like to help out by sending donations if you will accept. Thank-you very much. "-A. Brother" "Change Of Heart-" Dear Brad, I would like to thank you for sending your open letter to me. I have followed things about the ACMTC for years. As I am sure you may know that my step-son and his wife are both members of the ACMTC. At first we did have a problem with them being there, but I think it was mainly because we wouldn't be able to see them often. And the fact that our son was still young and had not been on his own for very long. I guess what I am trying to say is that parents have an idea of what they want their children's lives to be like. A thought process handed down for generations. You want your child's life to be better than your own, without thought as to what that better is. Is it wealth, health, satisfaction with your life's decisions, or any other numerous things? Having lived as long as I have (50 years), I have managed to learn a few things and this is what my husband and I have learned as we have gotten older. You cannot live your children's lives for them; that is for them to do. Our job is guidance and direction until they are old enough to make their own way and then give advice only if asked for or if it will save them some grief in their life. If you have raised your children to the best of your ability and have taught them the right things then you must give them space to make their own decisions and trust that they will make the right decisions. We have some other children and although we have not always agreed with every decision that they have made we have had to let them make their own way. And the thing about it is this, their decisions have been right for them. As I have seen other parents whose children have made bad choices, I have found there are far worse places than ACMTC. My husband and I have come to the conclusion that so long as our son and his wife and children are healthy and happy then there is not much else to ask for. We were not at all happy with what happened on a certain talk show. We had no idea nor would we have agreed to anything like that. I think "everyone involved" needs to learn to let go. We have. And just because you let go, does not mean you don't want to see them or that you have stopped loving them; far from it. We still love and miss them very much, but we respect their choice. I saw through a lot of the crap that was said on that certain talk show by a certain woman and there were a lot of things that she said that were not true and there were some important things left out. Sometimes leaving part of a story out or exaggerating a part of a story is about the same as telling a lie. I guess seeing it on that television talk show or the fact I am older and wiser (ha) or maybe both made me come to the realization that the decision for them to join ACMTC was made by them as husband and wife no different than the decisions that my husband and I make. My husband and I would have been the same way if someone had come to our home the way they did on that television talk show. I would have called the police immediately if they had not left. If that television talk show wants to pick on a cult, he needs to take a look at the Catholic church. Talk about child abuse and molestation and the sad part is the government knows about it and has proof of it and still nothing is done to them. But instead I guess it is easier to pick on someone smaller. I don't know if this letter helps any but I can see things so much better now than I could ten years ago. I think in order to come to terms with God's plans you must know God. I don't know if you know our son and his family, but if you do will you let them know that I pray for them nightly, that God will watch over them and their children. I hope that somehow things will change for you and your family. I hate to think of your mother dying without coming to terms with you and your family. I do know that hate is like a cancer and the more hate, the bigger the cancer. May God bless you and your family. Sincerely, "-A. Sister" |