Resistance to Change and the Doomed Fate of False Brothers and Sisters

“Lying to ourselves is more deeply ingrained than lying to others.”
— Fyodor Dostoevsky

Those who have friends who go to Blue Sky Church and those who go to Blue Sky Church have fervently defended Blue Sky, saying things like “Things are changing”, “This hasn’t been my experience”, “I know [Name], [Name] would never treat someone like that”. These responses are unfortunately predictable and in actuality spoken by design [50].

In [47], “In hindsight, I think to myself about how blinded I must have truly been. It is almost like I had Stockholm syndrome, an emotional response that happens to some abuse and hostage victims when they have positive feelings toward an abuser. You find ways to excuse behavior or defend and justify things that are said or done. But if you are able to distance yourself a bit, you can begin to clearly see how twisted some of the practices, beliefs, and mentalities are.”

The reality is that change at Blue Sky Church and its network churches is simply not possible. The reprehensible mental and spiritual abuse which its False Brothers and Sisters reap upon unsuspecting victims are literally written into the DNA of how Blue Sky Church “Does church”. How to make people feel unvalued, how to make people feel excluded, how to make people begging for approval — these behaviors have been happening for years and will continue to happen for years to come.

Deeper Dive into Network Church Bylaws

Let’s go into the first defense of “Things are changing.” Perhaps maybe outwardly one might feel that things are changing. Maybe new pastors are coming in, new small group leaders are appointed; however these changes simply are not real. Even though outwardly things might seem to be changing, the actuality is that the bylaws and the written documents which dictate how people are treated remain unchanged. Any semblance of change is merely an illusion and distraction which has no ground in reality.

As members of Blue Sky Church and its network of churches, you have literally no power to make a difference. First, let us look at the membership commitment forms [11, 12], simplifying everything down as a member you are required to pay 10% of your annual income, consistently attend and give your time to the church, be faithful to the network churches beliefs and values. Next let’s look at the network church bylaws and try and see what power members are afforded [8,9,10].

Explicitly stated in the membership section of the church bylaws [8,9,10]— Members are not entitled to vote. Decision making regarding beliefs, programs, leadership, direction, and plans of the church are the responsibility of the staff pastors and the Board of Overseers. Members are allowed to have pastors officiate their wedding and their funeral. That is all. Essentially members of these network churches have no power to offer any meaningful change.

What about the lead staff and lead pastors? Again, these are simply worthless men who have surrendered their wills over to Steve Morgan as acting puppets. In the Network Membership section of the church bylaws [7,8,9,10] it states that “The Network Leadership Team reserves the right to remove any church from membership that departs from the Network Affirmation of Beliefs and Values or any church that is unwilling to follow the leadership of the Network Leadership Team”. Essentially even the leadership is at the mercy of Steve Morgan’s control. Even if the lead pastor at the local church wanted to make change, puppets hold no authority.

As members of Blue Sky Church, you have no power to create any meaningful change. As staff, you have no power to create any meaningful change. Change must start from the very top, which unfortunately will not happen. For any one to make the claim that change is possible within the Blue Sky Church and its network churches — it just shows that they do not understand or have not read the bylaws of how their church operates.

Dismissive Attitudes at Blue Sky Church

Many of the responses which members of Blue Sky have given me are unfortunately so predictable and it is incredibly obvious that these responses have been programmed into them. The general attitude which has been cultivated is an attitude which is insular and protects the leadership from any sort of criticism or discourse. As Steve Morgan shares in his overseer training [43,44] “when the overseers get around me and protect me and say, “Speak truth to me. We got this. It’s okay. We’re together.” All of that stuff, well, then I’m safe. But if I wonder about that, I’m not safe, and I can’t lead.”

There is a type of dismissive attitude which is cultivated within these network churches. Rather than actually deal with the issues, the puppets at Blue Sky Church and its network churches will deflect and dismiss to avoid any sort of meaningful conversation. Steve shares about the attitude of how his right hand man Sándor Paul: “Once he learned to say, ‘Listen, it sounds like you have a problem. I know Steve, and I trust Steve.’ Once he started saying that, that you’re going to have to work through your problem and discerning when it was something big enough that it became from a leader or something like that when he had to send them to me. And when it was something to say, ‘Your heart’s not right. You have a problem. You better just deal with it and get over it and not send them to me.’”

Blue Sky Church and its network of churches is also incredibly dismissive of people who are low income. The primary document Blue Sky Church uses, which was written by a previous Blue Sky Church staff shares that the love of money should not be encouraged and that the “poor” are merely lazy [42]. Imagine how disrespectful this attitude is while paying the staff a minimum wage salary of 30k a year [45] and also depending on unpaid labor of church members [34, 35,36].

Blue Sky Church and its network of churches is dismissive of women and do not allow women ministries [46]. Blue Sky church and its network of churches is dismissive of leadership qualifications and would choose looks and charisma over experience and truthfulness. In [47], “There was a younger man in our small group who said the right things and looked the part that our pastor wanted to “fast track” into leadership. We would often jokingly refer to this as the boys club. You’d typically fit into the club if you were good-looking, charismatic, served, and said all the right things. Pastors would tend to gravitate to these individuals in order to vet them for potential leadership opportunities and either you were in or you were out. After a few months of being around, his wife confessed to some women in our small group that he was verbally abusing her which was heartbreaking to hear…What often mattered was how you looked, your age, and if you had charisma. And once you are looked over, examined, and then bypassed, leadership would move on to their next prospect.”

Body Count

How many testimonies will it take for people to realize how insidious these false brothers and sisters are? In [49], there are more than 20 testimonies of abuse from Vista Church — a church plant of Blue Sky church. This has just been in the recent months and there are likely hundreds of cases which have been unreported or where the victims are too afraid to come forward.

From [48] “The pastor had taken our private conversation and used them for teaching material without my knowledge or consent. I was so angry that my leader had betrayed me that way, but I didn’t say anything because I wanted to be a good follower… Over time, I realized that he would use time spent with him as a manipulative tool. If I did something he disliked, he gave me a cold shoulder. If I did something that he liked, he gave me encouraging words or would talk to me for more than a few seconds. It was an unstable reality for me at a time when the uncertainties of the church plant were all around me. Since leaving the Network, I have learned that the Network trains pastors to withhold time and energy from those who are not seen as being of leadership potential or worthy for the overall mission of the church. I lived that reality for several years…It was an extremely lonely time of life. Many times I would sit at home alone and cry until I could cry no more. Although I did not seriously consider suicide, I wanted so badly for God to take me to heaven to escape the pain.”

In Conclusion

Blue Sky Church and its network of churches will not change. It is written into the very DNA of how these churches operate. In order to act actual change, the answer is very simple — vote with your feet. Believers, be leavers.

The evidence is clear. The truth is clear. 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. This abuse and treatment of others is absolutely unacceptable.

Franchise God, Disenfranchise People — Blue Sky Church probably.

What’s Next?

I have now presented significant evidence against Blue Sky Church and its network of churches about its abusive behavior towards its members and towards people in general. This will be my last blog about Blue Sky Church and its network of churches.

For my next steps, I have already shared many of these pieces of evidence with local Christian leaders and groups in Seattle. Additionally, I have circulated my blogs to my friends and also within the UW community. More and more testimonies will continue to come out. More and more recorded sermons, primary documents will come to light. The resistance to change will lead to the doomed fate of these False Brothers and Sisters.

Luke 8:17–18 “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

“If the truth kills them, let them die” — Ayn Rand.

Question and Answer with Frank

Q: Why did you wait two years to share this instead of 2019 after the small group incident?
A: I had a hunch that Blue Sky Church had a culture of dismissal and that its members would try to gaslight or discredit me as soon as I shared my story. In order to prevent this from happening, I did extensive and thorough research on this group for two years — gathering first hand documents, bylaws, and testimonies — before coming out with my stories and my blogs.

Q: How much evidence do you actually have?
A: I joke with my friends that I am as thorough as the FBI. I’ve presented 50 unique pieces of evidence in the blogs I’ve shared. However, there are far more pieces of evidence I have not made public.

I’ve been incredibly systematic in my evidence gathering. I’ve learned their mannerisms. I’ve learned their defenses. I’ve learned their excuses. I know the who’s who and the what’s what. In my opinion, no stone has been left unturned.

Q: Aren’t you afraid of getting trouble?
A: If I were to get in trouble, I would have to be sharing lies and slander about Blue Sky Church. If I literally have their first hand documents, bylaws and testimonies from former network church members, then everything I have is the complete truth. They have no ground to stand against me.

My rebukes and my dealings are surgically thorough and fully absolute. I rebuked the UW’s Greek Row in the Fall of 2020 for their excessive partying during the COVID pandemic. UW’s Greek Row has since then learned a healthy respect for others. I met with Greek Row leadership to discuss positive ways to move forward. If the entirety of UW Greek Row and its thousands of members has learned a healthy respect of consequences, why should I be afraid of Blue Sky Church — as it has far less reach, power, and social influence compared to that of the entirety of UW Greek Row.

Q: Aren’t you afraid of losing friends from speaking up?
A: It is true, I had friends who went to Blue Sky Church. I had friends who went to Blue Sky Church. How much effort had I put into showing them bible verses about the full body of Christ? How much time did I put into preparing and fellowshipping with them? How long did I pray for them to see the light and error of their ways? Far too much for far too long, just to be dismissed, ignored and mistreated. I do not have any friends who attend Blue Sky Church or its network of Churches.

First and foremost, I am a man of integrity. Any form of abuse is never ok. I can not stand with anyone who condones, overlooks, or justifies these abuses. When people would rather choose to associate with abusers and abuse apologists over what is right, then they’ve made their decision. If I lose friends because I stand for treating people right, then nothing of value was lost.

Q. Do you have anything against the members of Blue Sky Church?
Please understand that it is out of great compassion and care with which I have written these blogs. It is out of great compassion and care with which I have been incredibly thorough with the evidence I’ve gathered. My main point is how the system with which Blue Sky church is broken and corrupt and I primarily blame the so called leaders for taking advantage of people. I have nothing against the members who have unknowingly been led astray.

Q: Why should I believe you, Frank?
A: It is your decision whether or not to believe me. As a simple litmus test if you are a member of Blue Sky Church, ask your lead pastor for the Blue Sky Church bylaws. Read through the bylaws and see whether it is in line with the evidence which I have presented — then you will receive your answer.

If your lead pastor does not let you see the bylaws and you are a member, that should be a serious enough red flag to give you an answer as well.

Bonus: Comebacks & Roasts

These will be some of my rebuttals to the responses of Blue Sky Church members.

1. “Frank, you are being demonic!”
   Comeback 1: I am literally just sharing your own primarily documents and bylaws. If I am being demonic doing so, I think that’s quite the self report.
   Comeback 2: Takes one to know one.
2. “Frank, you are no longer welcome in any of our social circles”
   Unlike you, I actually have social skills and I don’t need to pay for my friendships. Also, I know your numbers. Social circles? More like social dots. Relax, be humble.
3. “Frank, I’ll be praying for you”
   Sure, but don’t you dare touch my shoulder without my permission. I don’t consent. Please respect my boundaries — I know you guys have a lot of trouble understanding boundaries.
4. “Frank, you are so bitter”
   I mean, I’m not very happy when you mentally and spiritually abuse my friends. Bitter is quite the understatement.
5. “You are mad you weren’t cut out for our church.”
   Why would I want to be part of a group of socially inept spineless cowards who have no courage in standing up for the truth. You don’t even stand up to your friends when obviously incorrect things are shared during small group.
6. “I’m going to make it personal.”
   It would not be profitable to do so. For your own sake, please stand down. If you are so bold to try and defend Blue Sky Church — at the very least take a look at your own bylaws. I don’t want to completely humiliate you in cold blood.
   Second, let’s imagine this scenario — because I am as thorough as the FBI, let’s imagine that I have gone out of my way and collected interviews and testimonies about the abusive behaviors of your dear friends, small group leaders and leaders. Let’s imagine that these interviews show quite damning and cancellable behavior. It would be quite unfortunate should these be released. Of course, we are just using our imagination here — so let’s keep it that way.

Appendix

More Primary Documents
42. How to help the Poor, Brian Schneider — Stoneway Church Lead Pastor
43. Overseer Training, Steve Morgan — Founder of Blue Sky Church
44. Audio of Overseer Training
45. Vine Church Salary

[4] How we do church (From Previous Blog)
[7] Network Leadership Team Bylaws (From Previous Blog)
[8] Vista Church Bylaws (From Previous Blog)
[9] Rock Hills Church Bylaws (From Previous Blog)
[10] Clearview Church Bylaws (From Previous Blog)
[11] Clearview Church Membership Commitment Form (From Previous Blog)
[12] Vista Church Membership Commitment Form (From Previous Blog)
[34] Excel Sheet for Staff (From Previous Blog)
[35] Website Screenshots (From Previous Blog)
[36] Stoneway Worship Leader Job Ad (From Previous Blog)

More Testimonies
46. Kicked out for suggesting a women’s ministry, Aaron M.
47. Church Planting at Any Cost, Anonymous
48. The Good Follower, Anonymous
49. On the evidence of two or three witnesses

Other Resources
50. Defense for defense of abuses