A PLEA TO ANY WHO MIGHT READ THIS BLOG
Having experienced the manipulation, slander and hurt that goes on in the Petra Bible Church I too would like to give my thoughts. I am wondering if some of those still in Petra perhaps may read this post and I would like to offer some help. Everyone else outside can see the situation you are in except you. I would start by saying kudos to Jared for managing to carry on such a long campaign of manipulation and amass such a large number of manipulated people as he has been able to over twenty or so years. It is really staggering. Although that number builds and collapses thankfully as people come to light. Jared has compared himself in his sermons to the great teachers, even those who have been persecuted. However I do not think any of those teachers "helped" people discover hidden abuse, nor could those teachers spot an abuser as Jared claims to, nor were any of them known to disenfranchise people from their loved ones or families. He snags people in by "helping them" discover abuse, then uses their secrets shared in confidence to manipulate them. I would first like to say to anyone who has truly suffered abuse, I am sorry you experienced that. However if you are of those who think it might have happened, and have learned of it by Jared, I would suggest that he may have "contrived and helped you discover it" and be using it to manipulate you. I am sorry that he has done this to you. To any of the parents and estranged loved ones to whom Jared has caused separation, I am sorry you've had to experience this. I also think of his close family members who may read this post and be bewildered at what to do. I would encourage you to get some space between yourself and Jared and Petra temporarily. I would agree it will be very difficult, and you may question whether it is right to get the distance. If you have the presence of mind to recognize these symptoms and are compelled to trust the Lord, realize it will be better in the end. It is extremely abnormal to see the separation, the isolation, cutting off families. No great preachers of the past (no matter how far back you go) dealt like this. Early church, reformation church, great awakening church, none could report as those who have experienced Jared and Petra. Jared is not being persecuted.....He is being exposed. Jared doesn't need you to protect him, he is using jargon to manipulate you. He uses things like "no one loves you like I do" as a way of manipulating. (Yes we wonder Is he aware of it?) Finally a word about reaching out to the board who oversees the Petra International Ministries. I'm sure this has been done by a number of people with little yield. Jared knows how to pick such men, and in their minds they would never be part of something untoward. The most they will do is take themselves off the board. I am grateful for people who have done whatever they could, but I am guessing they are just individuals trusting Him and doing what they believe is right.