40+ Pastors

Pastors Responses

• "Shocking. Absolutely shocking. Disgusting."

• "I know what you mean by the manipulation...We just can't go back to a church that doesn't have real accountability."

• "I had no idea this was the environment at VBM. I now have a lot to think about. This is not the way we guide our church ministry nor should it be for any ministry. We support # of their missionaries...but I cannot support a board that is led as you say. Thank you for sharing your concerns."

• "I find it very interesting all the things you're saying and what you're trying to figure out, and we agree with your sentiments..."

• "*** Baptist Church takes matters of sexual and spiritual abuse seriously. We will not partner with any organization that enables or covers up sinful behavior."

• "I want you to know that I too have been under a narcissistic leader in ministry...I too broke free from a ministry very similar to what you’ve been in...Healing right now is what is most important. The lessons that you were the learned and what not to do, will be used for God’s glory in the next chapter of your life and ministry. Think of this as earning your PhD and how ministry should be done, and go do it right! I am glad that you had the courage to break free. You will get a lot of flack, like I said of you, and hurtful things done to you... "

• "Please consider me an ally in ministry. Thank you for speaking truth."

• "Just read your exposé and your story. I thank the Lord for your courage and clarity. I know it was tough. It was for me when I tried to confront Austin in December 2005. You know how that worked out for me. If I can help you at all, just let me know."

• "Our ministry stands 100% behind you and will continue to during your transition. Our leadership team is in full agreement with your decision..."

• "I hate your current situation but appreciate your courage."

• "Thank you for your stand."

• "I read your post and my hat is off to you. You have clearly articulated a problem that is prevalent in a lot of circles. I have personally gotten away from people I once admired because of similar issues. You have taken a strong stand and I appreciate your thought out response."

• "We are with you brother. Have to cut ties with them. You have our full support. Sad to see so much corruption in so many ifb ministries."

• "I am deeply saddened by the recent issues you have faced but as well all that the independent Baptist churches have had to endure over the last several years. It’s sick. It’s sinful. It’s a stain on our churches but mostly the name of Christ."

• "I believe you're doing the right thing. May God bless you and your family for taking a stand."

• "Truth is they should have you as the chairman on this advisory board they are creating within themselves. There will not be any total trust of these directors as long as they are the ones who decide who these people will be . If they want to continue to be a help to the current missionaries and carry on the Lords work , they must submit themselves at the board and the Church to all of the independent churches that support them . Based on all these accusations it must be totally cleaned up and made accountable to the supporters. We not only support most of their directors but about 35 more of the missionaries. I do not want to stop supporting missionaries from there . But I want support a cover up either . It must be totally broken down and rebuilt from the ground up from outside sources."

• "Many points in your open letter resonated..."

• "We have lost complete trust in VBM."

• "I know that there are a lot of good people there. Our concern has been the teaching and philosophy that they have learned, that is very dangerous. "

• "My heart is grieved by ministries that are run by abusive ambitious pastors building their own kingdoms on the backs of good people. ...

  Sounds like the ultimate gaslighting situation. You can abuse people and then attack them when they decide they're done dealing with it.

  I know the culture. Very toxic. "

• "I am sorry to hear of your difficult situation but I am encouraged as to your stand against unhealthy ministry practices and mentality. The article you wrote was not only articulate as to the unhealthy nature of the situation, I also think it honored a better way forward - a way that honors Christ as Lord."

• "I really appreciate your stand in exposing and leaving VBM. Im thankful for you. As you know, there were enough warning signs for our family to steer clear."

• "On another note, I perceived many of the same unhealthy [narcissistic, toxic] tendencies in that community of faith back in 2012. I had just transitioned from Music Ministry to Student Ministry at *** Baptist and the former youth pastor had planned for the students to go to OG Camp at Fort Bluff. Upon seeing and perceiving these tendencies, I parted ways and led our student ministry in a another direction. It's crazy to see how things that I believe the Holy Spirit allowed me to perceive as "unhealthy" 9 years ago, may have been evidence of deeper issues. I believe the Lord protected us. The truth is revealing! 🙌 Thankful for how the Lord has strengthened you to pioneer this stand!"

• "I’m saddened but thankful for the decision you have made. It falls upon us to earnestly contend for the faith. If we don’t stand against the lordship of pastors and all the manipulation that comes with it, we will find ourselves friendless and surrounded by a form of godliness but empty of power."

• "I personally backed away from Austin around 2003-2004 or so because I saw many of these same tendencies and heard things being preached that were not biblical in many ways. ... I just want to let you know we agree with so much of what you said"

• "Thank you for your bold stand against the cover-up of sin. I was waiting for the report to be released before committing to a side but your information has confirmed fillings that my wife and I have had for many years."

• "I and our church fully support your decision to part from VBM."

• "I hate all this for Austin, his family and especially for the ministry. I have always loved seeing the couples and families going out and serving the Lord. However, from early on I saw many of these very things that caused me to steer clear. As I saw different people abandon the VBM ship I wondered what was going on though I had my suspicions that it flowed from the things I had seen personally and did not like or approve of."

• "Brother I am thankful for your stand and courage."

• "I’m thoroughly disappointed with those in leadership in other churches who will not even consider there being a problem - like no one at Vision could ever do anything wrong. Some of the young people in our youth group [spent time at Vision]. When they came home they were thoroughly disgusted. [A friend] attended a meeting there once and was appalled at what he heard. I could go on."

• "I just wanted to reach out to you and say thank you for you courage and character during these events that have unfolded in your life. I have known Austin Gardner for over 20 years, have had my good times and difficult conversations with him. Sent *** to college there and have known the family well. ... I said all that to say this… unless someone does what you have done this pattern continues. So I appreciate the difficulty you’ve experienced to do that."

• "we discontinued your support several years ago solely because we could no longer associate with anyone connected to Vision / the Gardners and their hypocrisy. I’m sorry that that included you."

• "I’m probably not qualified to speak about the matter but that is probably the main reason I never joined. I always struggled with the pressure put on everyone to become a foreign missionary. Kinda felt second class like you mentioned. And then most recently, a couple years ago, I was approached about [a ministry partnership]. The main reason I didn’t move forward with that was because I struggled with the idea of trying to raise support for something I wasn’t totally convinced of personally - the whole ministry philosophy of it. But underlying that, it just seemed that VBM wanted control of my life. I was to move to Alpharetta, join VBC, and who knows what else. They were totally opposed to working with someone who was not a part of VBM - and that was kind of a red flag to me. I was open to helping them out of my home church and would have had the support of my home church but they wanted no part of that idea. I understand some of it to a degree. But on the other hand, maybe it was God allowing me to get a glimpse of some things under the surface. I was always told VBM would help my family/marriage, but honestly I think it could have hurt my family a great deal."

• "Many yrs ago I had to remove myself from what I call “The Cult!”"

• "Thanks for your bold stand in this tragic situation at VBM."

• "All of this breaks my heart. I am trying to decide if I drop Vision missionaries. I don't want to hurt any families, so I won't do anything hasty. But supporting does not mean agreement.

  I am [experienced]. No doubt in 60+ years there have been problems - but in my 20+ years of association, I've not seen these types of issues. I have been attacked by other.

  From the last thing you posted - it goes deeper than Austin. It is grievously painful."