Open Letter on Abuse in Foursquare

Not sure why everyone is still so silent about this. People like Tim Clark and Karen Tremper knew about this ongoing abuse and stayed silent. I was verbally assaulted and harassed by Mike Larkin. He openly spoke about his masturbation habit and constant battle against lust. Completely inappropriate to tell a group of young women in his classes. I'm sure there are other abusers in Foursquare and they manipulate their victims to keep them silent. DO BETTER FOURSQUARE!!

My family and I experienced a very negative and ungodly situation at the Four Square church in Wofford Heights with Neal and Amy Preston as Co- pastors. It became a cult like setting, where if you were not doing exactly what they wanted you to do whether it be financial, their personal chores, participating in their clicks, etc., you were shunned, ridiculed, talked about, and not included. I do not want to rehash the trauma from the year 2015 through 2018. Since this time, my daughter and her husband, divorced, myself and my husband, divorced and many others around, who is not receiving any spiritual support for the situations. Neal Preston, and sometimes Amy would preach from what I considered a feel good sermon with no reference to the Bible. It seemed these sermons were not from God or not out of the word, but there, funny comedy stories of their life tied in with Jesus loves you. The sermons never seemed well thought out but just what was on their mind as soon as they walked up on stage. There was a spirit of confusion in the sanctuary most times. My family and I have not been back to that church since then. I have been a foursquare member for 30 years and also attend a new life center in Bakersfield, which seemed to have the same cult like issues. I believe, especially in this day, That we do our best to appoint pastors were properly trained and of spiritual mind to be able to manage the flock. Our time on this earth is short and I know that there were many people that came to this church for the first time got a very bad taste in their mouth of what God really is and has never furthered their personal relationship with Christ, but instead turned away and didn’t want anything to do with christianity because of what they experienced. It is a shame and a tragedy to see this happen in God’s house.

I am here because of the Lynwood publication. Mike was so grotesque in his language to young women and I am nauseated by what others have experienced as well. He was very demeaning in his speech. I hope all the victims find support and I stand with them.

He destroyed Howard and Terry Manthe in South Africa, the Foursquare Church there we fought to preserve. Terry Manthe

I was abused by a Foursquare pastor and I reached out in 2006. They are now investigating the abuse allegations after decades of being ostracized by family, friends and the perpetrator's family. Both she and her husband are licensed Foursquare Pastors. Our devastating experience of being ignored let us beyond emotionally, physically and psychologically harmed. Although the INVESTIGATION began in earnest this past October, it has been beyond overwhelming to present the factual and medical documentation, the police reports, the psychological reports and the countless letters to the FOURSQUARE CHURCH. No one did anything...and it's been now just the beginning of potential healing "if" they are now proven to have been negligent in doing nothing....we have a lawyer involved and are waiting the LEADERSHIP ABUSE INVESTIGATION to finally admit and pay for their lack of protection from this serial Munchausen by Proxy abuser, using the guise of Pastor Joan Purdue. This is just another example of how lacking in abuse protocols the church has been fraught with lacking consequences for those of us who've been assaulted.

This is so sick. Can’t believe how many in the church are defending Mike and his behavior. The denomination and the college knew about his abusive and aggressive nature for so long yet refused to act. Why did it take so long for them to suspend his license? This should have been done so long ago.

Abuse of any kind by those in spiritual leadership roles should never be tolerated or ignored or covered up and the victims should not be made to feel guilty or unimportant because they bring to light the devils work. God bless you Heidi!!

I have experiences Mike Larkins abuse of power first hand. I was never an ignite student, but I had Larkin personally intimidated and threaten me in college. So it’s very interesting to hear about all this now!

The ball is in your court, Foursquare. Don’t stay silent about the abuse that was caused by Mike or Roxanne. Stand up for the women who were abused at their hands.

While I'm saddened to learn of this failure, I'm not surprised. I worked at Foursquare Central Offices when Mike Larkin worked there. I reported verbal sexual abuse of a manager that was under Mike Larkin and nothing was done to stop this individual from continuing in his behavior. Other women were afraid to come forward. I was the only one that reported the abuse. He was spoken to but there was no counseling, removal from his position, etc.

Almost 1k signatures and still not a word, Signing in hopes that this petition doesn’t die down.

This is long overdue. I 100% believe Heidi. Her story is consistent, and she has nothing to gain, only lose by going public. Get right with God, Foursquare.

I hope this helps. There has been abuse in leadership in the churches. I won't go into details as my father used to be the regional coordinator for African ministries, and I would never do anything to draw negative attention to him. It was a Foursquare church in Oklahoma and I haven't attended church in over 20 years. I don't trust pastors and it has shattered my faith.

As a former Foursquare Pastor (LIFE 1982), they need to repent of a spirit of control, rampant in the Foursquare Church - that is what is behind the issues they are experiencing. Many good ministries and ministers there, could be many more but the “mindset” of “don’t touch Gods’ anointed” is polluted with control and manipulation. I know first hand - kicked to the curb in 2003.

I spent two years at Life Pacific University (2019-2021). While the staff were kind and well intentioned, I experienced LPU as an unhealthy work environment that praised workaholism. I am saddened by the ways this toxic culture has impacted both staff and especially students. Spiritual language was often used to manipulate students to be silent with their frustration. I left LPU to protect my mental health. I wasn’t planning on sharing this, but in my recent conversations with former student leaders, I found students burnt out and jaded towards the four square church. They felt exploited, overworked, and undervalued. One student specifically who had a dream to lead in the four square church, after their time as a student leader at LPU, stated how they would never work at four square again. Another student said, “leadership does not care about me, they only will use me to grow their numbers.” I have spoken with three generations of student leaders, and the theme of burn out and feeling undervalued is the same. I am frustrated that student leaders continue to experience this level of abuse, and I only speak up because I’m concerned about these future student leaders experience. I’m sad that they are dedicating their time and energy to the university, to only end their time feeling disappointed and exploited. Thank you for creating a space to share my experience.

My daughter was a student at Ignite and experienced, much heavy handedness and verbal, and personal character abuse from Mr. Larkin, to this day...she is not trusting of leadership or pastor's and does not attend a church regularly anymore.

I grew up in the four square church and am still involved in the current church I am at. What the board is doing is a disgrace and I am sad foursquare has become this.

What are you going to do now to fix it then? Are you a pastorfor Foursquare?

this is a lie. Mike is an abuser. Don't cover this up

Larkin was and still is a predator. Everyone at school knew he was a bully. Shame on Foursquare for covering it up