For Members of Community Evangelical Free Church…Read and Weigh this Comment

I was working on another post about Community Evangelical Free Church when an outstanding comment came in. I decided to take it and turn it into a quick post. If you attend Community Evangelical Free Church under Steve Estes please read this comment and weigh the truth. Consider what is being said here. If you live in Elverson please share this on Facebook. Post this on your bulletin boards.

“If you shut up truth and bury it under the ground, it will grow, and gather to itself such explosive power that the day it bursts through it will blow up everything in its way.”

Emile Zoella (Letters to Dreyfus)

“Truth is generally the best vindication against slander.”

Abraham Lincoln

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. ³² And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32 NLT

The day that Hurit FILED for divorce, was the day that Steve Estes determined her fate. Steve warned her previously of what would happen if she filed for divorce. Steve wrote the script and directed the play and the Elders acted it out. The narrative had been written. Steve would begin The Tongue Project The The day that Hurit FILED for divorce, was the day that Steve Estes determined her fate. Steve warned her previously of what would happen if she filed for divorce. Steve wrote the script and directed the play and the Elders acted it out. The narrative had been written. Steve would begin The Tongue Project series in preparation for what he knew would be forthcoming.
The congregation was told to contact their Shepherding Elders if they had any questions about the situation. Those with questions followed the ‘process’ of contacting their Shepherding Elders respectfully and professionally only to be met with defensiveness, irritation, frustration and resentment that they did not trust their Elders. On multiple occasions, the congregation was told to ‘trust their Elders’ no matter what.
Trust the Elders??
 Trust the Elders because they fully disclosed what was going on?
 Trust the Elders because Steve had recused himself entirely?
 Trust the Elders because Uncle Dave and Uncle Merle had recused themselves   entirely?
 Trust the Elders because those who followed the process by contacting their Shepherding Elders were met with defensiveness, frustration and anger?
 Trust the Elders because the Elders already had their minds made up and the decision was already made?
 Trust the Elders because they sought to shut all inquiries down instead of seeking to understand?
 Trust the Elders because they fasted and prayed – yet never considered that maybe God was answering their prayers with the questions and concerns of the congregation?
 Trust the Elders because they were more concerned with Brock losing his job or going to jail then they were with protecting Hurit?
 Trust the Elders because they dismissed the requests of many people to postpone the excommunication service until questions could be answered?
 Trust the Elders because they jumped to conclusion and made assumptions about people only to find out that their assumptions were wrong yet never sought forgiveness and/or making it right but continued to go down their intentional path of rebuking an innocent individual?
 Trust the Elders because when approached they were only interested in ‘who told you that?’ or ‘where did you hear that?’ and shutting it down, vs. asking themselves if what was being stated true?
 Trust the Elders because whatever they said trumped the facts?
 Trust the Elders because they protected the Pastor/Shepherd instead of protecting HIS sheep?
Proverbs 26:1-12
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be just like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn bush in a drunkard’s hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so fools repeat their folly.
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.

When we are accused of something, the question that we all must ask ourselves, is what is being stated true?
If Brock was repentant then why did he tell someone that ‘he would have signed the divorce papers as soon as he received them, but they (the Elders) wouldn’t let him’?
Which is the greater sin – to file for divorce OR to sign the divorce papers? Three days, no less, after the excommunication service and 12 months prior to when the state of Pennsylvania would have declared the couple divorced if one did not sign!
Why was CEFC in such a hurry to excommunicate Hurit and why did the Elders support Brock in signing the divorce papers three days after the excommunication service?
What is Hurit to come back to? Brock signed the divorce papers with the support of the Elder board. Brock no longer attends CEFC. Brock has had a new girlfriend since signing the divorce papers if not before.
One would think that Steve would be thanking Hurit for not going to the authorities about Brock – because had she gone – he would have been put in jail for pointing a loaded gun at her.
How is it that Hurit who was raped by her husband, verbally abused by her husband, put in a headlock on multiple occasions by her husband, denied intimacy from her husband, asked to leave the bedroom so that her husband could be with another woman on the computer. How is it that the Elders can accuse her with charges of not applying Mathew 18 when in fact she did go to her husband about her concerns, and she did go to her father-in-law who was also her Pastor. How is it that the Elders can wrongfully charge Hurit with false accusations and then get offended when questioned?
Question:
 What did Brock repent of? Who did Brock repent to?
 Why didn’t Brock have to repent to the congregation?
 Why did the Elders get offended when asked these questions?
 Why was it okay for Brock to hide behind his father and the Elders?
 Who was protecting Hurit?
Why would the Elders dismiss recommendations to seek outside counsel due to the severity of the situation? How is it that Steve Estes was fully aware for years of the ongoing issues with Brock including his marriage and yet move forward with charging the victim with the following charges?
(a.) When Hurit Estes experienced marital difficulties with her husband, rather than follow the Matthew 18 path of confrontation that pursues reconciliation, she initiated divorce on ground that are unbiblical and violated her wedding vows.
Fact: Hurit did go to her husband on multiple occasions re her concerns with his drinking, pornography, their marriage, etc.
Fact: Steve Estes, Hurit’s Pastor and father-in-law was well aware of the issues and concerns that Hurit had re her marriage.
Fact: Hurit did speak to someone in her small group about her concerns and chose not to bring it up again based on the feedback that she received.
Fact: Hurit left her husband whom she loved and still loves because he wasn’t interested in her anymore, because he abused her, because she wasn’t good enough anymore, because his drinking was out of control and he wasn’t interested in seeking help, because he pointed a loaded gun at her, because their finances were in trouble, because he preferred to be with a woman on the internet instead of wanting to be with her, because he pointed to the door when she told him this isn’t working.
Fact: Husband denies his wife of intimacy making it clear that he prefers to ejaculate when watching a woman on the screen than to be with his wife.
Fact: Husband pointed a loaded gun at his wife.
Fact: Husband threw a loaded gun across the room.
Fact: Husband waved a loaded gun in the presence of his wife.
Fact: Wife requested husband to go to counseling together on multiple occasions.
Fact: Husband not interested.
Fact: Brock violated his wedding vows – NOT Hurit.
Fact: Elders declare that Steve Estes was the ‘quarterback’ for the entire situation.
(b.) There has been a refusal to reconcile with her husband despite his contrition for the sins he brought into the marriage, his seeking her forgiveness, and his significant attempts to win her back.
Fact: Husband follows the direction from his father and the Elder board to apply the Love Dare challenge.
Fact: Husband had no interest in reconciling his relationship with his wife.
Fact: Husband admitted that he mistreated his wife for the 3 years while they were married.
Fact: The Elders advise Brock that ‘he’s done all he can do’ after completing the 40 day Love Dare challenge.
Fact: A repentant man does not need anyone to tell him what to do and/or how to win his wife back.
Fact: A repentant man seeks to protect his wife. A repentant man pursues his wife.
Fact: A repentant man does NOT sign divorce papers.
Fact: A repentant man does NOT engage in a relationship with another woman shortly after signing divorce papers.
Fact: A repentant man seeks help immediately when he finds that he has hurt his wife due to sleep disorder.
Fact: A repentant man gets rid of his guns when he finds out that he pointed a loaded gun at his wife while he was sleep walking
(c.) Throughout, in violation of her membership vows, Hurit has pursued outside counsel that supports her pursuit of divorce while substantially dismissing the counsel of her church leaders and her family.
Fact: Steve Estes, Hurit’s Pastor and father-in-law was well aware of the situation and disengaged with her when for her own protection, left his son.
Fact: Steve Estes sought to ‘woo’ his daughter-in-law to return to her abusive husband by forming a secret committee of 5 women to secretly encourage Hurit to return to her abusive husband.
Fact: Steve Estes did NOT tell the Elders anything about what was going on until Hurit filed for divorce.
Fact: Hurit IS the victim.
Fact: Steve Estes declares that Brock is the most repentant man he’s ever seen in 30 years.
Fact: Elders declare that Brock has repented.
Fact: Brock declares that he has no interest in pursuing Hurit.
Fact: Brock declares that if he would have signed the divorce papers as soon as he received them but the Elders wouldn’t let him.
Fact: Brock declares that he wanted to throw his wedding ring in the ocean.
Fact: Brock admits that he mistreated his wife.
Fact: Brock continues to drink.
Fact: Brock signed the divorce papers shortly after the excommunication service.
Fact: Brock had and has a girlfriend.
Fact: Elders protect the Pastor.
Fact: Steve Estes protects his son.
Fact: CEFC members request to remove their membership yet will still attend.
Fact: Elders declare that if you rescind your membership you are unable to worship at CEFC.
Fact: Elders protect the Pastor.
Fact: The Pastor protects his son.
Fact: The sheep are lost.

Why would the Elders be upset with people from the church who met with Hurit on the evening of her excommunication service to pray with her?
If Brock was repentant then why was he in a relationship with someone else so soon after he signed the divorce papers? Many have alleged that Brock was in a relationship with this individual in the fall of 2014.
If Brock was repentant then why would he respond to an individual who pleaded with him to pursue his wife – that he has ‘no intention of pursuing Hurit’?
Why would the Elders be angered when confronted with questions? Why would the Elders declare that they were really mad when Hurit sent her letter? Why would they be mad if they have nothing to cover up? Why would some of the Elders communicate that Brock hasn’t repented and/or imply that Brock has given the Elders a run for their money? Why hasn’t Brock been disciplined?
Why have the Elders not excommunicated a former pastor’s daughter-in-law who is a member of CEFC who recently left her husband and children? Why the double standard?
Was Hurit an unbeliever when Steve had her give her testimony on Easter Sunday a few years ago?
Was Hurit an unbeliever when she became a member of CEFC?
Can a church excommunicate a non-believer?
It is easier to be told what to do than to think for yourself.

To the person in Pennsylvania who posted that, I have to say the following. You rock! You’re amazing. The next time you are in the Washington, D.C. area I will buy you a sandwich.  🙂