Do you need help or support?

If you have left Gracepoint or one of their affiliated ministries recently or a while ago and need help, please reach out. Talk to a trusted friend or family member. Leave a comment on this blog. Therapy can help as well. Don't isolate yourself.

I complied the list of folks who have indicated that they are willing to be contacted. Some are very old so may not be valid anymore. If you are on this list and want to be removed, just submit a comment. If you want to be added, submit a comment.

1. quentin0111 at gmail dot com (former UCI a2f attendee)
2. parkys229 at gmail dot come (no longer in Gracepoint but believes Gracepoint is a God-driven church)
3. r a d I a n t j u b I l e e at gmail dot come (with no spaces, left many years ago currently in Seattle) 
4. Jaydubya2020 at gmail dot com 
5. Truth dot seeker2100 at gmail dot com
6. Zacherylovesthelord at gmail dot com (former UC Riverside)
7. sk1nnyzebra at yahoo dot com (used to attend)
8. gracepoint dot reject at gmail dot com
9. danielyee517 at gmail dot com (attended Berkeley for 4-5 years, willing to help people in the Berkeley area or be added on Facebook)
10. leavegracepoint at gmail dot com
11. formergracepointmember at gmail dot com (was with Element and an undergrad group at Berkeley from 2014-2017. Left in 2017. Currently living in San Diego. Added on 1/12/2021) 
12. iyoon22 at gmail do t com (currently lives in Southern California, graduated from Berkeley in 2015, see comment below.) (added on 2/1/20201)

This is an especially hard season with COVID, decreasing daylight, and the holidays just around the corner. Take gentle care of yourself and be well.

Guest Post - Gathering Stories

Hello Readers,

A fellow ex-Gracepoint person is making an effort to gather stories and help those who are still hurting. Please see info below:

"My friends and I were part of Gracepoint Berkeley (classes of 2015 and 2017). We are heartbroken by the damage that Gracepoint has done to people whether they are believers in Christ or not. We are going to be collecting stories and then going public with them, as well as directing people to support groups for processing what happened. If you would like to tell your story or talk to us about other things we are doing to force Gracepoint to take responsibility, please fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/zD3VC1646QnJfuNT7"

Hope everyone is staying safe.

Self Love and Self Compassion

Did you know that we are to love others, as ourselves? I find it curious that the "as ourselves" part was hardly ever, if ever, the focus of any sermon or bible study during my more than six years  experience at Gracepoint/Berkland.

Or any other traditionally evangelical church.

I was taught that self love was selfish. I didn't even know the term self care until I left. I was taught that I was a worthless sinner, not worthy of God's love, or any other kind of love as a matter of fact. The only correct opinion I could have of myself was that I was a piece of shit. (But of course I couldn't say that word since, you know, no cussing.)

I find it curious how conveniently the "as yourself" part was and is left out. But it makes sense given that it would be a huge obstacle to do church according to Gracepoint's model if everyone actually loved themselves.

The older I get, the more I understand that I cannot love others any other way. I can only love others as I love myself. I am not made to be able to have a double standard for myself and for others. Thus, I can love others only as myself. If I love myself based on my accomplishments, talents, abilities, service to church, level of closeness to God, or anything else, I will love others this way too. And if I love others based on these, then I will love myself this way too.

During these present times, I hope that you can find time and space to practice self love and self compassion. Today's an especially good day to practice radical self acceptance.

You are only human. You do not need to be perfect. You are allowed to make mistakes. You are already enough. God loves you just as you are. God wants you to love yourself, just as you are too. You are already accepted. You are very good. You are not a mistake.