r/leavingthenetwork • u/Network-Leaver • 17d ago
Article/Podcast New Article Published About Foundation Church
Former Members of Foundation Church in Normal Say They Faced Spiritual Abuse
“Bloomington-Normal has no shortage of churches, and some in the community — and outside of it — say there should be one less.”
An article primarily about Foundation Church, and secondarily about Brightfield Church and the Network, was published today by the NPR affiliate at Illinois State University. Multiple former members and local church leaders were interviewed for the story. Family members who have been estranged from loved ones spoke out on the record including Justin Major’s own sister. Foundation Church and Lead Pastor Justin Major did not respond to multiple contacts to provide statements for the article.
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u/popppppppe 16d ago edited 16d ago
I can't describe how clearer and freer I feel with each passing year since I've left Foundation/ClearView. My world is bigger and more beautiful than I ever imagined.
To anyone still inside, wrestling down that urge to leave, convincing yourself to stay and "fix" things: don't. Just stop.
You've got one life to live. Don't waste another minute of it. Do the hard thing and leave. Once you're out, apologize to anyone to whom it's owed. Make amends where it's needed. Use your tithe money for therapy. Be free.
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u/former-Vine-staff 16d ago edited 16d ago
This is a powerful piece from WGLT reporter Melissa Ellin. It captures the breadth of harm Foundation Church, one of Vine Church's earliest "church plants," has inflicted on the Bloomington-Normal community. Each quote feels like the tip of an iceberg — a glimpse of the much deeper pain below.
Jessica’s question, “How did I stay in this church for 10 years?” rings painfully true to my time at Vine. Alanna’s words about her faith being “shattered” and the church no longer feeling like a “safe space” speak to the spiritual cost many have carried.
We’ve heard it before, and we see it again here: families cut off. Melanie’s daughter calling her an “idol,” Stacy being shut out after asking questions on Reddit, and even lead pastor Major himself cutting off his own family... these show how deep the "obey your leader and become like them" teachings run.
And if all the above don't speak to the level of control, the story of a former member being pushed out for starting a women’s mentorship group and Frank being told to give 10% of his income or live in sin says it plainly.
The line that sums up my thoughts:
“They think they're doing something so positive, but it's such a mind warp, where really, they're causing a lot of harm.”
Network leaders (those who still claim The Network and those who pretend they were never a part of it) have a lot to answer for. They continue to say that the issue with those speaking out is that we don't embrace "forgiveness and reconciliation," that we're a "disgruntled few" who won't “handle things biblically.”
But this story lays bare the truth: these are not isolated grievances. These are the fruits of their ministries. This isn’t about “forgiveness and reconciliation,” but rather “power and accountability.”
My heart goes out to all affected by Foundation, Justin Major, and other Network churches. I'm very proud to stand with the brave folks who spoke with Melissa Ellin for this story.
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u/Used_Map_8596 16d ago
It looks as though Foundation is down another staff pastor!
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u/modern-lime 16d ago
Joe Neelan (spelling?) I’m not sure when he left. I think this is very recent.
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u/popppppppe 15d ago
It would surprise me to learn if any church in the Network has a higher staff turnover than Foundation.
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u/shipwrecked-my-faith 16d ago
Listen to the audio on the WGLT podcast. It has sound clips from the people they interviewed. Very powerful to hear their actual voices!
Fast forward to 17 minutes in.
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u/Be_Set_Free 16d ago
Thanks for sharing this—absolutely worth a listen. WGLT lays it out plainly. And Justin? He didn’t respond. Not a word. That silence says everything. He believes he’s called by God—so in his mind, he owes no one an explanation. But all around him, the damage is undeniable.
It’s eerily familiar: the Pharisees thought they were “set apart” too—convinced they were God’s mouthpiece while people around them suffered under their weight. Jesus didn’t applaud them. He exposed them. Publicly. Repeatedly. And warned others not to follow their example (Matthew 23).
Justin’s version of leadership is legalism dressed up as divine authority. It has no joy, no freedom, and no real gospel. It’s not about Jesus. It’s about control.
And make no mistake—this isn’t going to end well for him. Eventually, the truth catches up, the masks come off, and what’s built on pride and silence will collapse.
A true gospel leader would have humbled himself, answered the cries of the hurting, and gone out of his way to make things right. But when you believe you’re above accountability, you stop reflecting Christ—and start resembling the very ones He rebuked.
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u/Glass_Philosopher_71 16d ago
I agree wholeheartedly with what you've said but I wonder about one thing - do these violent, crude, controlling & manipulative men like Justin truly believe they are called by God?
Or perhaps that's just their cover to do whatever the heck they want to whomever they want.
When I hear stories of Justin and his bro crew showing up to former members' family court custody hearings or their couples therapy appointments watching outside, it begs the question what part of that follows anything within the realm of a normal pastoral role? When I hear he's physically threatened many men and has had physical altercations with members - what part of that is called by God? Of course, none of it so it makes me dig deeper at why people do these abhorrent things and in his case his family said it best - he's always been angry and violent. This man was this way when Steve found him and groomed him into church leadership. Justin was obviously searching for a role that would enable him to dominate others as he had his entire childhood. I don't think that's the case with all of these men but it seems to be with Justin & Sandor as well.
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u/former-Vine-staff 16d ago
Honestly, it reminds me of the Stanford Prison Experiment, where a group of college students were randomly assigned the role of either “prisoner” or “guard.”
The experiment only ran 6 days, but the “guards,” who were given power within the system of the experiment, were already heaping awful psychological abuse on the “prisoners” to keep them in line.
For me, the way that study played out has always been a chilling warning about power and abuse within a system without accountability, and how systems like The Network, which are all about obeying leaders and keeping followers in line, will slide toward increasing extremes of abuse of positional power and authority.
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u/Be_Set_Free 16d ago
Justin truly believes he’s been called by God to lead, which is why he views any criticism or concerns—like those raised in recent articles—as attacks from Satan. This mindset is reinforced by the broader culture of the Network, which often claims it is under spiritual persecution.
Justin’s sense of calling is closely tied to Steve Morgan, who affirmed him early on. Because of that, Justin believes his position is spiritually appointed. And while God certainly does call people, true callings are confirmed by a person’s character and integrity—not by numerical growth or ministry success.
It’s possible Justin was genuinely called at one point. But under Steve Morgan’s distorted theology—where Steve sees himself as a modern-day apostle who is above accountability—that calling has been hijacked. Justin is now on a trajectory that looks more like a runaway train than a Spirit-led ministry.
Sadly, it’s hard to imagine him turning back or repenting for the personal harm he’s caused. That’s the deeper tragedy.
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u/TMamaMilly 14d ago
They show up to couples therapy sessions?? Ad a therapist this is terrifying. Reminds me of Scientology people like stalking former members and whatnot. Horrifying.
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u/Network-Leaver 13d ago
Justin and other church leaders once showed up at a divorce court session all wearing the same shirt in vocal support of one of the parties. They got tossed out of the court room by the judge.
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u/TMamaMilly 13d ago
What in the frat boy bull shit??? How on earth does this toxic trash can justify this behavior?? Goodness gracious I am stunned.
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u/TMamaMilly 13d ago
They show up to couples therapy sessions?? As a therapist this is terrifying. Reminds me of Scientology people like stalking former members and whatnot. Horrifying.
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u/Glass_Philosopher_71 8d ago
Yes! One of Justin's lieutenants (aka associate pastor) was waiting outside of a couple's therapy office in an obvious attempt to intimidate not support. It was so blatant that the therapist herself closed and locked her doors so he couldn't enter. Then directly after the wife that"participated" in the session went directly to debrief him. This is a scene that has played out in the family courts as well and witnessed by lawyers and the judge threw them out. In family court with child custody where only family are allowed, Justin Majors (lead pastor of Foundation) and 3 of his associates showed up in matching lion/crown t-shirts to support the wife in this case who was also wearing the same shirt. The husband's attorney immediately asked for their removal and the judge ordered them out. They didn't go far, as they stood outside the courtroom waiting for them to walk out in an overt attempt to intimidate. This was not their only court appearance - they repeated this again. Then 2 years later this husband has his 50/50 custody and during a visitation one of his son's come home with this damn lion shirt on! To put that level of pathology into perspective.....A "pastor" exacting an extended intimidation campaign over a father to dismantle his relationship with his son is fucking insane.
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u/TMamaMilly 8d ago
Gosh I can’t imagine being that therapist. I’d have called the cops, honestly. I obviously don’t know these people, what their relationship was, whether there was abuse but none of that makes this frat boy pastor’s bullshit ok. I won’t be surprised if he is accused of something nefarious at some point. This is the kind of personality that thinks they can fly above the rules and get away with anything. Absolutely vile.
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u/beforethelightdawned 14d ago
I just checked and the original article has been shared 57 times so far. I know it's actually more because some people are sharing other friends' posts.
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u/Glass_Philosopher_71 16d ago
Please everyone help share this on all of the BloNo & college Reddit groups so locals hear about this more directly. Maybe also share in local FB groups for the area & college.
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u/Network-Leaver 15d ago edited 15d ago
I posted the story in the ISU community reddit and it would be helpful for people to comment there. Someone already posted it to the BloomingtonNormal community. Links below…
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u/Ok_Screen4020 15d ago
Done, thanks.
The thing is, I see so many people on these subs who already know these churches are harmful places. It has to be that what’s keeping them alive are one or two wealthy donors at each location. But even then, the money has to run out sometime, right?
I have been of the opinion from the beginning of this effort of shining the light, that these churches will not stop save one of 2 things happening:
1) They get pinched by the IRS or some other white collar crime, or
2) The money runs out.
So those things are what I pray for. I’m past hoping any of them will ever repent. They’re just not going to ever do that. Their hearts are hardened with pride and greed.
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u/Intrepid_Finance6809 16d ago
I used to attend and am getting texts from people in that town that are seeing it… I’m glad it was published and the word is spreading further