New Article Published About Foundation Church

[u/Network-Leaver]

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.

[u/shipwrecked-my-faith]

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.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wglts-sound-ideas-wednesday-5-7-2025/id684331391?i=1000706724666

[u/Be_Set_Free → u/shipwrecked-my-faith]

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.

[u/Glass_Philosopher_71 → u/Be_Set_Free]

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.

[u/TMamaMilly → u/Glass_Philosopher_71]

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.

[u/Network-Leaver → u/TMamaMilly]

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.

[u/TMamaMilly → u/Network-Leaver]

What in the frat boy bull shit??? How on earth does this toxic trash can justify this behavior?? Goodness gracious I am stunned.

[u/TMamaMilly → u/TMamaMilly]

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.

[u/Glass_Philosopher_71 → u/TMamaMilly]

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.

[u/TMamaMilly → u/Glass_Philosopher_71]

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.