In ShepherdingWords.com there is an article: Were Max Rapoport and John Ingalls “Forced Out”? The article is not even worth quoting at this point. I quote it enough in my video: Shepherds, Don't Lie (Part 2, Regarding John Ingalls).
This morning, I received a comment on a different video, from John Ingalls' son, Sam. I am so grateful for his reaching out. It literally makes all the suffering worth it to be able to connect with such precious ones. We interacted a bit today, and Sam shared with me this heartbreaking account of his father's last experience on a "church" property. I asked for his permission to share it, and obtained that. It has already been shared on localchurchdiscussions.com.
Sam Ingalls wrote to me today:
I shared this story, deep in another thread, in response to a question by Jo [Casteel] as to whether or not my father had ever been asked to repent, or given the opportunity to do so. It was suggested that I repost this to the main page [in localchurchdiscussions.com], as more may be interested in seeing it. Here is my earlier response to her question:
Well, there is a story there, Jo; one that rather brought closure for my father (and one that I have related to only a few privately, but never told publicly). For context, this would have occurred a couple of years prior to his passing [in 2016], so call it about five years ago.
A small group of door-knockers came to his door in Anaheim. He recognized them for who they represented, but they didn’t have a clue who he was or any of his background. He graciously invited them in and they fellowshipped very nicely, seated in his living room for an hour or two. They were very focused, of course, on having him come to an upcoming LC meeting, and suggested a Saturday night love feast. He agreed to think about it and they parted warmly, they still not knowing that he had ever had any relationship with the LC.
My father loved people, and he loved talking about what he was enjoying in scripture and wanted to hear the same from them. While he had never thought about ever returning, I think that their warm invitation caused him to think that just maybe he could see and fellowship with a few that he had known so closely over the years. It was certainly a tempting thought. He just had no idea how he would be received.
After running it by another one with whom he was very close, they agreed (this other one with quite some reservation), that my dad could try making a visit, but should not go alone. Someone was identified to go along with him.
So... Saturday night, they show up. People there were SHOCKED (to understate the case) when he walked in—His first time in the building in more than 25 years. My dad was very warmly welcomed by some of the Older folks that he had known long ago, who eagerly helped him get food and find a seat. However, alarm bells were going off. I’m sure phones were ringing at the highest levels. It was a Blended Brother’s alert of the gravest kind! John Ingalls had the temerity to enter their building. How had this been allowed to happen?!
He was descended on quickly by Benson Phillips and others (who kind of just appeared out of nowhere). He greeted them very warmly; they had difficulty reciprocating (or even faking) that warmth. They aggressively demanded to know why he was there. (“I was invited to come.”) “WHO invited you??,” they demanded to know. Interestingly enough, the small group of door knockers was nowhere to be seen, but he related that he had had such wonderful fellowship with them, that he thought he would come, as invited, and visit with others. “And, by the way, my dinner is getting cold—will you join me? Pull up a chair, Benson.”
He was quickly reseated at another table, well-separated from the other kind folk that had warmly greeted and seated him. Benson and team ran to grab food and quickly returned. (Side note, my dad and Benson had traveled the world together, ministering, etc. They had often stayed in each other’s homes. (Benson was a very frequent visitor to ours; I knew him very well, and my dad likewise knew all of his kids quite well.).
Accordingly, my dad started asking about Benson’s wife and the kids, by name. That loving, personal approach rather disarmed him and they were able to catch up on each other’s families.
However, as dinner finished up, my dad was told, somewhat harshly that he couldn’t stay there in the meeting, or talk with others, he would have to come downstairs for further interrogation—I mean, ahem, “fellowship.”
They quite harshly questioned him as to his intent in being there. It didn’t seem that they believed his simple (and true) story of having been invited. In any event, they told him that he would have to either repent or leave. He was rather confused: what exactly was there to repent of? What had he ever done, but stand firm in the Lord? What, besides speaking the absolute truth in love?? He told them that he couldn’t think of anything that he had to repent of. But, he suggested, as their tone and tenor had become so aggressive, that they just stop and all pray together. That was a great suggestion, but one that he reported they seemed irritated at. They did all pray though.
After a bit more discussion, it was clear to all that no headway was being made. They told him, rather rudely, that he would have to leave the property, and escorted him to his car, ensuring that it was duly driven off-site. He was explicitly asked not to return, unless the express purpose of a future visit was to repent.
This entire event provided some pretty significant closure for my father. He was so very disappointed in their tone and action, knowing how close he had been personally with them, and then to be treated so rudely by them. He was clearly still the enemy, in their eyes, and they didn’t have the decency to even have a reasonable conversation, for the most part. At that point, he knew he would never see or talk to them again on the earth. He felt very sorry for them; their eyes had been blinded. He also took that opportunity with me to apologize and say how sorry he was that he had any part of being harsh with those that had departed in his LC days. (I can’t imagine that he was ever rude in the manner that they were. I never ever saw that growing up. He was ever kind and gracious, even in situations when he had a right to be upset.)
I hope that this answers your question, Jo. I suppose that RK is right in saying he did not repent. But of course, he had nothing to repent for.
I heard this story from him multiple times. I have tried to relate it just as he did, as factually and lovingly as he did. He always—to the very end—spoke the truth in love.
By the way, it occurs to me that had Benson (or any of the others) shown up during the few days that he was in home hospice care, visiting joyously with others prior to his homegoing transition, he (and we) would have welcomed them into his home and bedroom with arms wide open. He truly loved them, just as he did all others—and I write this with tears in my eyes, remembering the depth of love that was evident and expressed in so many ways in that room over those days.
Stand firm; speak the truth in love—always love!
I personally have heard many words spoken from podiums disparaging John Ingalls, even mocking him, imitating his low voice, for saying that he had to deal with his conscience. He is publicly named in The Fermentation of the Present Rebellion as being "rebellious." But he has asked, in what was he rebellious? If he did not speak up to (and with) responsible ones in his church community about gross sins being practiced and covered up in leadership positions in the church/Living Stream Ministry office, and about deviation from God's Word, he would be rebelling against God. I can't find a hint of rebellion in his tone, words, or actions.
So, readers, I ask you, according to this account, and the book Speaking the Truth in Love and your conscience.... Was John Ingalls forced out of "The Lord's Recovery"? And if he was, why are brothers in Christ continuing to lie about him and about our church history?
I wrote the following today on John Ingalls' obituary:
Nearly exactly 8 years ago, you went home to be with the Lord, dear Brother John. I hope you are now able to fellowship more fully with my dad, who had been misled to believe you were "negative" and "poisonous" and who even, I remember, asked you to leave when you visited our home in 1988. I'm so sorry. We were such beneficiaries of your genuine care and your deep, thorough knowledge of the Word of God that you lived out... We were cheated from the last nearly 30 years of your life and ministry because of false witness borne against you.
I met you when I moved to Anaheim around 1984. As a young teenager, I was so deeply touched that you called each and every brother and sister, including me, by name, after meeting us for the first time, and no matter how much time lapsed between encounters. I spent multiple times in your home with Viola and sisters who lived there, who needed parent-figures in their lives.
You were true to your conscience, which none of us should ever neglect but which must be ignored to submit to the "deputy authority" in the Christian community that rejected you.
Thank you, brother. Thank You, Lord, for this gift to Your Body who treated every believer like the precious gifts we are.
More cases where Lord's Recovery Leaders defamed the late brother John Ingalls.