[UntoHim]

Originally Posted by Indiana

The church in Seattle started in 1970 in a move from Yorba Linda, California, and nearly the whole congregation came, and they hit the Ground running. It was a move for Christ and the church, not for a man and a ministry. There were resounding amens and testimonies confirming that we were "home" and we were "going to stand right here till Jesus comes, standing on the local ground...no division, sect or group but its the local church standing on the local ground."

(emphasis mine to make a point)

Our dear brother Steve's fond memories notwithstanding, by 1970 there was not any Local Church that had any firm association with the ministry of Witness Lee that was "not for a man and a ministry". I'm assuming you're referring to those who had been meeting with Bill Freeman there in Yorba Linda - and if so, at that point, Bill Freeman was indeed under the influence and leadership of "a man and a ministry". It was only many years later that Freeman freed himself from the grips of the person and work of Witness Lee.

I would suggest that the newness and excitement experienced in the early 70s in Seattle was for a number of reasons, not the least of which was moving over 1,000 miles away from "a man and a ministry". But Freeman did eventually realize that "the church in Seattle" was really nothing more than a wholly owned subsidiary of The Local Church of Witness Lee. But to Freeman's credit, he continued on with his personal ministry anyway, and eventually he was forced to make a choice....be "your own man with your own ministry" or do what all Local Church elders/leaders are required to do...surrender everything and your flock to "The Man and The Ministry of the Age". The rest is history (and quite a sad one at that for those who ended up following Bill and Patsy Freeman).