Letters re: Marked and Shunned
When we published Richard Hudson's Marked and Shunned, we received a number of e-mails from people who wrote in telling us of their support for Mr. Hudson and his mission to expose a hyper-authoritarian church in the state of Texas. The leaders of this church appear to have taken an extreme and incorrect interpretation of a passage in the Bible with which they use to justify their ostracizing and shunning of former members of the church. Indeed, these fear tactics seem to firmly place the church in the realm of "cult", and we will be publishing more articles and stories of this church in the hopes of exposing it and liberating the remanning members of the church who are currently under bondage to their extremist leaders.
From: J.A.C.
Date: December 30, 2003 5:19:31 PM PST
To: Battered Sheep Ministry
Subject: Marked and Shunned by Richard Hudson
I have known Richard Hudson professionally and as a friend for more than 7 years, and I know him to be a man of integrity and honor. He is honest, straightforward and fair in his business dealings and he is a caring and trusted friend.
I know he has been terribly torn and has agonized over this situation with his family and the Community he has been a part of for many years. He helped his son and for that he has been marked and shunned.
Tragic!
J.A.C.
From: J.E.T.
Date: December 31, 2003 2:19:19 PM PST
To: Battered Sheep Ministry
Subject: Richard Hudson
I've known Richard Hudson for many years and in those years I have come to admire him for his continuous desire to draw closer to God. Those desires have often brought him under fire by the very ones who consider him to be rebellious, and nonconforming--ie., those leaders of his very own fellowship. I watched him as his family grew and as he strived to be a good father, provider and teacher of Gods word, in essence to be a good servant. That is what we as Christians should strive for. I've watched as his family was torn from him, and the agony he suffered for his stand. No one should have to suffer that. I know that Richard will do the right thing in bringing his family back together.
I've met some of these, so called leaders, and in observing, found them to have overstepped their boundaries in the leadership role, implementing their own teachings in order to have control of the congregation. I often wonder what would make people so insecure as to want to have so much control, to want to tear families apart instead of drawing them near, and subjecting the congregation to their interpretation, (fitting their own needs).
It always bothered me when we were told to, "not questioned the leadership." God has given each of us a mind, body, and spirit, and for what? To have someone come in and set up a hierarchy over us, without us being able to question that move? Are they saying that we can't read the bible and discern those things of God, that it is their job? If that is so, where does that put Martin Luther, Paul, and Peter? It is each individual's duty to "study to show themselves approved unto God."
In all that I have seen and heard of this group, I have one consolation, and that is: God will judge the leaders harder than he judges the followers.
Thank you,
J.E.T.
12-28-03
Dear Brother Richard,
Lou Carol and I have just returned from visiting in the Fort Worth Dallas area over a three week period. During this time we've spent time with Mozell and a short visit with Milton and Linda. They told us about what is going on in your life and your effort to get your children back and expose what is going on in the assembly. May you be used to this end.
Enclosed is a copy of a letter I sent to the Fort Worth Star Telegram News Service. I heard nothing back from them. I believe they put such material in file.
I have you (sic) cell phone number so one of these days we can talk.
May the Lord bless your endeavor.
Don Steven
5270 Pedley Rd.
Riverside, Calif.
Telephone 909-685-4069
7-6-97
Fort Worth Star Telegram News Bureau
3730 N. Stemmons Frwy, Ste. 211
Forth Worth, TexasDear Sirs,
While visiting in Dallas recently, I read two of your newspaper articles dated 5-1-97 and 5-3-97, concerning Modesto Rodriguez, a first grade school teacher accused of molesting one of his students.
I'm sure your readers would like a "human interest" story on the religious group Modesto married into and therefore rallied to his support.
This group is one of several close-nit (sic) assemblies from Virginia to California who believe they are a "more viable" part of the Body of Christ and will not associate with other Christians who do not believe as they do.
In the mid-eighties, several dissatisfied families returned to their previous fellowship in a Baptist church which resulted in the withdrawal of fellowship from them and all who openly disagreed with this type of treatment. Several hundred of us were put out or just left this group. From that time on, family members in the group were threatened with expulsion if family or friends were visited outside the group. This type of treatment is supposed to make us want to return to their fellowship. Needless to say, I know of no one who has returned or stayed. One young man outside the group had to promise not to see his parents after the wedding in order to marry a girl within the group.
I am giving you this information to help you "find the fact" on your own, if you wish to interview Jeff Grove. His address is: 9001 County Rd. 1019 Burleson, Texas. Telephone (817) 297-9629. Jeff's father, Robert Grove of Fredericksburg, Va., spear-headed this division in order to be a ruler and not just a shepherd in the group.
Some unwritten rules are: Don't listen to other radio preachers; obey those that have the rule over you, even if you believe they are wrong; all must speak the same thing; don't allow your children to play in sports; don't eat turkey on Thanksgiving day; etc, etc.
I do not wish to jeopardize Modesto's chance of a fair trial by giving you this information. I wish to remain anonymous as information giver because my wife and I still have family members in the group.
As a whole these Christians are God-fearing people who are being mislead by the misuse of Old Testament scriptures for today's living.
Sincerely,
Donald A. Stevens
52701 Pedley Rd.
Riverside, Ca.
92509
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