AStatementfromBillGothard IhavewithheldthisstatementinordertohonortherequestoftheBoardofDirectorstowaituntil aninitialreviewhastakenplace.Asthereviewcontinues,Inowwanttomakethisstatement. Godhasbroughtmetoaplaceofgreaterbrokennessthanatanyothertimeinmylife.Itisa grieftorealizehowmyprideandinsensitivityhaveaffectedsomanypeople.Ihaveaskedthe LordtorevealtheunderlyingcausesandHeisdoingthis. FormanyyearsIhavebeenbuildingtheInstitutebutlosingmyfirstlovefortheLord.Godwarns Iknowthyworks,andthylabour...NeverthelessIhavesomewhatagainstthee,becausethou hastleftthyfirstlove.Rememberthereforefromwhencethouartfallen,andrepent... (Revelation2:2,4,5).Iwasfindingvalueandaffirmationfromtheaccomplishmentsofthe ministryandthoseinvolvedinitinsteadoffillingthisvoidinmylifewithGodandHislove.Ihave repentedindeepsorrow.However,overtheyearsmanypeoplehavebeenoffendedindifferent waysbecauseofmylackofgenuinelove. IputtheInstituteanditsgoalsaheadofpeopleandtheirneeds.Standardsbecamemore importantthanrelationships.

ips.Peoplewhodidntmeasureupwerecutoffandthosewhowere notseenasaddingvaluetotheministryweretreatedasthoughtheywereexpendable.The moreIhavelistenedtopeopledescribetheirexperiencesthemoregrievedandsorrowfulIhave become. Mywrongfocusproducedafurtherconsequence.Familiesweremadetofeelthattheymust measureup.Thisresultedinsomeparentsputtingunduepressureontheirsonsand daughtersinorderforthefamilytobeaccepted.Whentherewasalackofloveorconsistency, sonsanddaughterssawthisashypocrisyandrejectedit.Also,manyfeltthattheexpectations wheresohighthattheycouldnevermeasureuptothem.Thisresultedinafeelingofdeep defeat. Thisemphasisonoutwardappearancewasalsomanifestedbybringingselectedyoungpeople toserveattheHeadquartersandcausingotherstofeelrejectedandoffendedbymyfavoritism. Myactionsofholdingofhands,hugs,andtouchingoffeetorhairwithyoungladiescrossedthe boundariesofdiscretionandwerewrong.Theydemonstratedadoublestandardandviolateda trust.BecauseoftheclaimsaboutmeIdowanttostatethatIhaveneverkissedagirlnorhaveI touchedagirlimmorallyorwithsexualintent. IhavefailedtoliveoutsomeoftheverythingsthatIhavetaught.Iamcommittedtolearningfrom myfailuresbyGodsgraceandmercy,anddowhatIcantohelpbringaboutBiblical reconciliationasJesuscommands:Thereforeifthoubringthygifttothealtar,andthere rememberestthatthybrotherhathoughtagainsttheeLeavetherethygiftbeforethealtar,and gothywayfirstbereconciledtothybrother,andthencomeandofferthygift(Matthew5:2324).

MorethananythingIwanttomakerightwhatIhavedonewronganddeepenmyrelationshipwith theLord.ItrustinGodsundeservedmercyandpraythatthosewhomIhaveoffendedwouldfind gracetoforgiveme.IknowthatIdonotdeservethis.Iwouldcertainlyappreciateyourprayers duringthistimethatGodwouldbringhealingtothosewhohavebeensodeeplyaffectedbymy actions.IamgratefulfortheopportunitiesIhavehadthusfartobereconciledwithindividuals anditismygoaltocontactasmanyothersasIcan,fullyhearthem,anddowhateverIcanto bringaboutBiblicalreconciliation. MygreatestoffensehasbeenagainstGod.IhaveearnestlysoughtHismercyandforgiveness andhaveaskedHimtoallowmetoexperiencemoreofHimandthepowerofHisresurrection. Sincerely, BillGothard