When one checks www.factnet.org you will find over 75,000 posts concerning Greater Grace World Outreach, Maryland Bible College and Seminary, The Bible Speaks and Stevens School of the Bible, as well as other organizations, institutions, and individuals related to the ministries of Carl H. Stevens Jr.

There are other websites dedicated to this history as well. www.carlstevens.org which states: “This website is dedicated to providing information about Greater Grace World Outreach (GGWO), headquartered in Baltimore, MD. A predecessor organization was The Bible Speaks (TBS), located in Lenox, MA.”. The site does contain a plethora of information and some interesting details and insights into the ministries of Carl H. Stevens.

Ironically what you will not find to a large degree is an understanding of how many people and families have been affected, abused, hurt, and destroyed by this so called: Evangelical Church which declares itself a: “family-oriented ministry with a strong emphasis on the unity of the family.” www.ggwo.org/intro_to_ggwo.html

In his book “Spiritual Authority” Watchman Nee states: “the primary focus of a Christian and Godly life is total obedience to your pastor.” It is generally accepted that Carl H. Stevens Jr. and the ministry as whole taught and held to this belief. Currently for correspondence courses at Maryland Bible College and Seminary the text book lists Watchman Nee’s “Spiritual Authority” as one of the textbooks. www.mbcs.edu/files/Forms/Distance%20Learning/Order_Form.pdf

While one can find hundreds of testimonies of the affects of the abuse on the internet one cannot grasp the numbers by merely the posts and documents. Almost on a daily basis a new post on any given site concerning GGWO an individual will relate what on the surface appears to be an unbelievable and unreliable story about some past event that transpired at GGWO or its predecessor The Bible Speaks. Usually under an anonymous name the writer will often give enough details so that others can piece together like a large puzzle the time and characters to have a good understanding of the story.

In the decades of his Ministry Carl H. Stevens Jr. has moved or restarted in various locations, often with hundreds of individuals following him. While this is well known what is often overlooked or underestimated is the affect on the families and individuals involved that were left behind or decided not to move with the ministry. Families were often torn apart with spouses; children and other relatives told or encouraged not to have fellowship with those who “were not in the geographical will of God”.

In 1996 I met a woman who had followed Carl H. Stevens Jr. since his earliest days. She had worked at GGWO, TBS and other ministries related to the church. She outlined in a detail conversation one day how she and one of her children had become estranged from one another. She would use catch phrases like “She wanted nothing to do with God”, and “She didn’t follow Pastor”. This in her understanding was following God was the need to separate herself from her children.

There is without a doubt a huge amount of families that have been affected by this. It has been written about in papers, even reported on 60 minutes. What you don’t see is the actual damage.

About 6 months ago I heard of a lady who had serious mental problems when she was at GGWO becoming homeless and living in a local homeless shelter. Few know of the story and while it is incredibly sad what happened to this lady what is hardly known is how the whole family including children were greatly affected.

A majority of the staff of both GGWO and MBCS have left in the last two and three years. A great percentage of these individuals are now estranged from their spouses and families. To many within the ministry this is seen as God’s wrath for being disobedient. Again catch expressions like “Following your one Pastor/Teacher” and: “Being out of the geographical will of God”.

The experience of loosing a love one under any circumstances is difficult but when it is done in the name of God it is overwhelming. Individuals and whole congregations became dependent on Carl H. Stevens Jr. every word. Historically affiliated churches would deliver the same message about how “Pastor” was their “spiritual father”.

In an interesting article www.apologeticsindex.org/a08.html by Dr. Ronald Enroth he states: “The leaders of many of these groups consciously foster an unhealthy form of dependency, spiritually and otherwise, by focusing on themes of submission and obedience to those in authority. They create the impression that people just aren't going to find their way through life's maze without a lot of firm directives from those at the top. "Apostle" John Robert Stevens, founder and leader of an aberrant Christian group known as The Church of the Living Word (or "The Walk") puts it succinctly: "People are not going to make it unless they have a man like Moses to intercede for them."

How does one argue with God? If you are instructed by God’s delegated authority not to have a relationship with your spouse, parent or your child what are you to do?

More importantly how does this affect children who have no way to comprehend the tactics and the methods used?

Former members often write in online blogs how long and difficult it is to get over the affects of their involvement in GGWO/TBS. For many the journey has been a couple of years, for others decades. One cringes when new allegations are made against the ministry, especially when it involves an old friend, teacher, or collogue. But reading and even hearing cannot begin to express the actual damage done.

In the recent months the media has highlighted the events and stories about Scientology and the Warren Jeff’s Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Certainly there were multiple media reports on both groups and the damage they had done.

Ironically postcards and internet blogs were what help generate the new stories about GGWO in the press. It is hard to imagine that some of these anonymous posters testimonies will not make it into the media eventually. The constant remarks by many are “this is old news or repeated news”. I think those who have been hurt and continue to be don’t hurt feel this way. L. Ron Hubbard the writer and creator of Scientology passed away in 1986. Simply put Scientology and its ideas continue to influence the lives of others. Should we not expect the same out of such an organization as Greater Grace.

To this day GGWO claims the following in terms of its Mission program:” A missions program that has currently reached more than 180 countries, with over 600 missionaries serving on the mission field.”

On its introduction page www.ggwo.org/intro_to_ggwo.html it makes many other claims including 52 affiliated churches and its Noah Ark Bible study program that involves hundreds of children on Saturdays.

75,000 posts about the goings on of one ministry is hard to imagine. That somehow the stories are true and based upon real events is hard to accept. In realty many of the blogs are at best full blown arguments about everything from music to theology but you often see a post that you can visualize as being real, the pain unimaginable, and the details sickening.

But at the end of the day can you really comprehend what it was like or is like for those hurt or hurting? While multiple media groups are investigating the story of GGWO, the real story is the one that haven’t been seen or heard.

One of the former leaders of MBCS told me how one of his supposed best friends and colleague told him how his marriage was over when he picked him up at the airport. Nobody should have that kind of influence on people’s lives.