[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Indiana

The FTT is a mixture but the chief point is that it has produced Christ in many of the trainees and in the church life. RK is a mixture but has produced Christ; WL was a mixture but produced Christ; the LC is a mixture but has something of Christ; I am a mixture but there is something of Christ in me. And, there is also something of Christ in each of us on the forum. Categoric condemnations of Nee, Lee, the LC, RK, etc. are mixed with untruth.

From Deviating from the Path in the Lord’s Recovery

Was the full-time training a mistake? It has been outwardly successful and very helpful to the churches. But has the FTT become another center, something Watchman Nee warned elders and co-workers about? The FTT was a center and promoted a center – a special leader and his ministry. The FTT also produced trained ones to go back to their localities to promote the center, a man and his ministry.

Steve, I hear what you are saying about the FTT, but, since I came from Ohio, I have a different perspective. Perhaps I have become cynical in my old age, (but I'm still younger than you) but for some time I have listened to LSM promotions the same way I listen to politicians. Forget about what they say, and pay attention to what they do. Look at their record. What have they done? Talk is cheap. Let's talk about actual accomplishments.

We saw many young people damaged by LSM. Their faith was shattered. Nearly none received solid spiritual help. Many returned and just could not fit into the local church life, so the local church life was blamed. This church was blamed and that church was blamed, but who placed the blame where it belonged?!? Many of the young people became fertile soil for LSM program managers to sow suspicions about TC, their elders, and the region as a whole. Many young people and full-timers never returned home, convinced that greener grass lies elsewhere.

Your quotes from WN are significant. With WL and his ministry as the "center," it's no wonder that the FTTx was spoiled. What value has any Christian training that does not place Christ and His word as the center? Without the living Christ, who or what places limits on the sectarian attitudes promoted by LSM trainers? What will stop the backbiting? What will limit the trainers from "playing god" with the lives of young ones? What happens when their program conflicts with the conscience of the trainees?

All these questions are not hypothetical. They have really happened. I witnessed some of them. I heard stories about others. Oh sure, LSM has their attractive, spiritual-sounding rhetoric to entice the young, but should we not look at the fruit? Let's do some research. Why won't LSM let us examine the statistics on all their trainees? How many are still positive? Home many even still love the Lord? How many are still active in the churches?