Beware of False Brothers and Sisters

13 min readJan 11, 2022

Previously I have touched upon the proliferation of snakes as well as the menagerie of pests; however today I will share about the most insidious, toxic and dangerous types of people — False Brothers and Sisters.

False Brothers and Sisters draw you in on the pretense of care, love and community. They sucker you up to make you feel welcome and that you belong. The longer you are involved with them, the more they start to exercise control over you — slowly eroding your mental and spiritual health — turning you into a shell of who you once were. It is incredibly hard to identify and recognize the behavior of these False Brothers and Sisters. However, a very simple tell is that False Brothers and Sisters serve an organization without genuinely caring for the people they bring in — the people they bring in are tools to further the organization’s vision and the care that is administered is legalistic and manufactured.

I had an experience with false brothers and sisters, back when I was setup and mistreated at a small group. After that traumatizing experience, something never quite sat right with me. The group which mistreated me was Blue Sky Church in Bellevue. As much as I had wished that something like that was simply a one time occurrence, my heart dropped into my stomach after realizing just how many people have been mistreated by the people at Blue Sky Church and its network of churches. After the summer of 2019, so many more stories have come out recounting the mental and spiritual abuses which have happened at Blue Sky and its network of churches— abuse after abuse, testimony after testimony, lives ruined one after another. All the while these persons act like they have done no wrong and have made no attempt to correct or improve their behavior.

Many former pastors, small group leaders, and members have come forward with their truths and have shared their testimony on the website LeavingTheNetwork.org. Many have tried to make a change, but to no avail. With power and authority, I — Frank Liu — publicly rebuke and condemn Blue Sky Church in Bellevue along with its network of churches for a systematic theology and practice of mental and spiritual abuse.

Author’s Note: You might say, Frank, isn’t this defamation? Can you get in trouble? No. For this to be defamation, then what I will be sharing needs to be false. With the help of LeavingTheNetwork.org, I have primary documents from the Founder of Blue Sky Church, actual documents and bylaws of the church, as well as testimonies of those who have been hurt. Every claim will be backed up by corroborating evidence to establish and show a pattern of abusive behavior. Significant evidence for significant claims. Evidence is available on LeavingTheNetwork.org, as well as linked in the appendix.

Background and Leadership Structure

Blue Sky Church and the network of churches were founded by Steve Morgan. In the history of the network [1], Steve founded Blue Sky Church in 2004.

While on the outside looking it, it might look like each of these network are independent of each other the reality is quite the opposite. As stated in the the bylaws [7], Steve Morgan has all authority when it comes to adding and removing staff within the network churches as well as deciding what can and cannot be taught at Blue Sky Church and its network churches. “The Network Leadership Team has authority to amend the Team’s Operating Bylaws, the Bylaws used by the local churches, Articles of Incorporation, and any policy of the network as needed.” In the local churches bylaws [8][9][10], “A new Lead Pastor will be appointed by the unanimous choice of the remaining Board Members and by the Network Leadership Team.” Essentially the local pastors have to be fully under Steve Morgan’s headship and conform completely to Steve Morgan or else they will be removed [23].

It’s all about control

Nothing that you share with your trusted “friends” at Blue Sky Church is safe. Not with your small group members, not with the leadership, not with anyone. Casey H. [19] writes, “Decisions were still being scrutinized, and by this point it had become normal to run all my personal decisions past my leaders for approval.”

As a confession from Jeff Irwin who was formally a small group leader in [21], he shares that “I would regularly discuss private details of my small group members with Luke or Eugene Chang (who was my best friend and is also a small group leader — I was in his small group for years). Luke required reports on each person in the small group — recommending half a page per person. Eugene and I would talk about details of the people in our groups. Occasionally there was gossip with other small group leaders as well. Finally, small groups have a “core group”, which is unknown to the others in the group. I would talk with this group about how best to serve those who weren’t yet in the core group.”

This type of behavior is supported in the small group training material [13][14][15][16]. Especially so in [16], we see in Figure 2. that small group leaders need to be very controlling and in knowing all that the members are up to. We also see in Figure 1 that Blue Sky Church considers loyalty is the most important thing. We do not see any of the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5. This should be a huge red flag. Blue Sky Church and its network of churches only care about loyalty and how the members can be used for the church.

From [22], “Real relationships in many ways became second to attendance, obedience or what you could do for the church. Showing up when they wanted and becoming who they wanted them to be earned you a spot in the inner circles. Small groups and small group leaders that could grow, gather people, and multiply groups like crazy were held up and verbally praised for their shining example.” Eric’s story from “Obedience and Loyalty” [17] recounts how Steve Morgan manipulated him to stay on staff when Eric wanted to leave.

Blatant Negligence During a Global Pandemic & Putting their members at Risk

Very simply, Blue Sky and its network of churches do not take the global pandemic seriously and endanger lives.

From [24], “Another instance that influenced my decision to leave was when three leaders caught COVID at the Leadership Conference in Dallas, then returned home and infected a bunch of people at JC. The fact that the conference even happened in 2020 was disrespectful to the people these men were supposed to be “leading.” Their poor decision-making endangered entire congregations throughout the Network, and the wider communities to which those churches belonged. Also, after Steve Morgan recovered from COVID, he returned to the pulpit and spread disinformation by saying you can only get the virus once, which is objectively false.”

From [21], “In November 2020, when the church announced that singing would resume, they cited a passage in Ezra for biblical support to disobey the state’s mandate against it [COVID]. Unfortunately, they misread and incorrectly described what had happened in Ezra. A correct reading did not backup the decision they had made. Quick side note: Vista Church was meeting outside, and the government mandate, at least by that time, did not apply to outdoor singing — it was allowed, no biblical justification was needed. I told them this as well, which they did not correct to the church, even though they acknowledged that I was correct. My concerns about this decision were not that singing was to resume, but the Biblical error used to justify it.”

From the current Lead Pastor at Blue Sky [26] at 13:30, “If I could push your buttons a little, where are you with regards to COVID, does it frighten you so much that you don’t do anything? We’re close to the end of this, so it looks like. Oh Lord we have to be together.”

No heart for the Lord

Many young impressionable men have been groomed into puppets for Steve Morgan. In [22], “Things like guilting and shaming people into coming to conferences, and if they couldn’t, were unable, or simply didn’t want to, people were shamed, guilted, and shunned in manipulative ways. Young men with charisma and an all-in attitude (including my own relative) were groomed and “called out and set apart.” Now there is nothing wrong with young men who have a heart for the Lord to lead; under the condition that they respect and live out the word of God.

The problem is, the word of God is not placed as the highest authority in the Church and instead Steve Morgan is. To quote Steve Morgan directly in [5], “This is why we raise up our leaders from within rather than ‘hire’ them from outside.” As seen earlier, it’s all about loyalty and control. Jeff Irwin shares in [21] that “The stakes of this meeting were insanely high for me — respecting the Bible is a non-negotiable for me, and I had hoped deeply that either I was wrong or that they would be repentant. If neither happened, I did not know how I could stay at Vista Church because it would mean that the Bible would not be the highest authority in the church. And to lose Vista felt like it would be losing everything that mattered to me aside from my family.”

You don’t belong here

To directly quote from Blue Sky Church’s website, “Blue Sky Church is one of the many Seattle area churches sharing the truth and love of Jesus with all people. We’re made up of families, young professionals, college students from universities all over the area, and lots of children and youth.”

Families, young professionals and college students. Quite a very specific target audience. Why? Because 1) Income potential, 2) Income potential and 3) Income potential. In [25] “In October 2019, while I had a friend visiting Blue Sky with me, Krsh said on a Sunday morning, ‘If you have been with us for three months, you need to take steps toward membership, or I need to ask you to leave Blue Sky Church.’ ” It’s very clear where Blue Sky Church’s priorities lie. If you can’t pay, you can’t stay.

Who doesn’t belong? Steve Morgan shares this himself in [4] People who have disagreements with the lead pastor’s understanding of scripture (pp. 9); members starting an independent Bible study in their own homes which is not expressly sanctioned by the church (pp. 11); people causing “church values confusion” (pp. 11); someone who could be labeled an “odd-ball” (pp. 10); being religious (pp. 10); people who are judged “socially/emotionally unhealthy” by the lead pastor (pp. 11); Christians with a church background (pp. 11); people using Christian language which is “foreign to” the pastor (pp. 12); older people (pp.13).

Very clear to see a codified and systematic theology which is ingrained into Blue Sky Church and the network churches theology and practice. Exclusion is the norm. Abuse is the norm.

How the Founder of Blue Sky Church treats people

Here is one simple example of how the founder of Blue Sky Church, Steve Morgan treats people. This is from Morgan M’s story, “Labeled a Sinful Woman” [20]. Morgan was a part of Joshua Church, another one of Steve Morgan’s churches where he is lead pastor.

“ He [Steve Morgan] preached on loving others and bringing people closer to Christ but I didn’t experience him living this out…

Joshua Church was next door to a housing unit that housed individuals with special needs. We had a few individuals who would stop by service and they were almost ALWAYS met with isolation and/or police. I know this first hand because for the last year and a half I was at Joshua Church I served as a greeter. I was there when they called the cops on a woman in a wheelchair wanting warmth. I sat and talked to a man in a wheelchair with tears in his eyes after the sermon because nobody talked to him or welcomed him. I was there for a couple of team meetings when Steve Morgan stood in the pulpit asking for prayer that the halfway house next door would get torn down so “those people” wouldn’t “bother us anymore.” There isn’t enough room in this story for me to write out or say every example of hatred, prejudice, and pride that I saw at Joshua Church, not only with the “staff” members, but the elders, and members they lead who live out their lives with bias and hatred.”

This is how Steve Morgan treats people. Steve Morgan is the headship of Blue Sky and the rest of the network churches. All the lead pastors learn directly from Steve and emulate his behavior as they are hand picked by Steve [2][21].

Rebuttal to the Excuses, Lies and Gaslighting

I believe that many people who are a part of Blue Sky Church or part of other network churches will find some way to excuse, lie or gaslight others about their behavior. This is my response to potential arguments or accusations which may come up.

“You are being a divisive Christian”
If divisive means informing the public and other believers about the long history of abuse which has happened at Blue Sky and its network of churches, then call me the Berlin Wall, or the Great Wall of China. I am a man of integrity and I will speak out the truth. There is nothing wrong with being divisive especially when it comes to protecting the well being of others.
“You are hurting Jesus by hurting our Church”
Are you saying that speaking out against the Church == speaking out against Christ? Are you implying that the Church == Jesus Christ. This is heresy, and you must be genuinely stupid. In Ephesians 5:22–33, Paul compares Christ and the Church to a bride and bride groom. The Church and Christ are in union in the sense of marriage, but no where does it say that the Church and Jesus are one and the same. To imply such is to deny the basics of the Trinity. Three in one, not Four in one.
“The leaders are young, and they are learning.”
Abuse is tolerated because the lead pastors and staff are young? Do you know when abuse should be tolerated? The correct answer is never. The reason why so many “leaders” are young is because they keep getting replaced. The ones who question, the ones who have doubts, the ones who have a passion for the Lord, they are all fired and removed.
“What you are sharing are half-truths.”
Are they half truths? Which part is untrue? Be very specific. If you can not elaborate on which specific part is untrue and which part is true, then your response has no validity or weight.
“You must be bitter and have something against us because we told you that you aren’t welcome.”
I do have something against Blue Sky and its network of churches. I am appalled and horrified that the members would so flagrantly mentally and spiritually abuse others. This type of behavior is absolutely unacceptable. I would never want to be a part of a community who treats others in such a way.
“This isn’t my experience. I’ve never seen something like what you described happening so it must be false. In my experience, my leaders are so kind and nice!”
Just because the police haven’t given you an issue, doesn’t mean police brutality doesn’t exist. Stop invalidating other people’s experiences. If you genuinely believe this, you are an abuse apologist.
“You are satanic!”
Even Hell is warmer than how cold and cruel you treat people. I’d rather be in hell than in a church like yours.

I’m sure there will be other accusations against me and my character. I would say “Get back Satan!” But this is incredibly unfair to Satan, because Satan actually knows the word of God while the members of Blue Sky and its network churches unfortunately do not.

In Conclusion

Say it with me, abuse is bad. Abuse is bad! Unfortunately, many of the members who are part of Blue Sky and the network churches are unwittingly led by false brothers and sisters who have normalized mental and spiritual abuse. They have unwittingly put themselves under the guidance and mentorship of unqualified and worthless leaders who have no heart for the Lord and serve their “god” Steve Morgan. That is the true insidious nature of false brothers and sisters. These false ones are unrepentant. Can they change? Of course they can, but they are under the abusive headship of their “god” Steve Morgan. Puppets have no power nor authority.

If you have been hurt by the network church, know that you are worthy of love. All your feelings are valid and the trauma you faced is real. There is a community for you. If you are currently part of Blue Sky church or part of the network churches and feel like the things you are seeing and experiences aren’t right, hold true to those feelings. Recovery resources are available here. If you are questioning, then do your due diligence and research. If you have a story to tell, I want to listen.

Franchise God (pp. 241 of [5]), Disenfranchise People — Blue Sky Church probably