| Author | Message | ||
| Richardtinker Board Administrator Username: Richardtinker Post Number: 42 Registered: 4-1999  |
Dear FAF family, Today I received what I have been expecting for several years but hoping would never happen--termination from my job at Loma Linda University. Here is a portion of the letter, written by Dr. Charles Goodacre, dean of the School of Dentistry. (I hold nothing against him.) "You have performed some excellent work as an employee of the School of Dentistry. However, your activities with regard to Adventist teachings and the philosophy, objectives and policies of the University are incompatible with and overtly hostile to the mission of the University. "You have stated that you are 'unable to provide...a written response as to how I can end my public involvement with Life Assurance Ministries and Proclamation magazine.' You cannot continue to serve as an employee of the University. You are terminated for cause effective immediately. A check for two weeks pay is enclosed." Please pray for me as I seek God's wisdom and guidance. And pray for all of those that I leave at Loma Linda. | ||
| Snowboardingmom Registered user Username: Snowboardingmom Post Number: 110 Registered: 11-2005 |
I'm SO sorry, Richard. I'll be praying for you and Colleen. Grace | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 201 Registered: 12-2004 |
Richard, I am awfully sorry to hear this news. You said you were expecting this, but that hardly lessens the blow. You have joined an elite group of people who have pointed out the errors in Adventist theology and paid the ultimate price with their livelihood. Even seeking truth has a cost, when your employer's justification for existing is undermined by the exposure of that truth. Give Colleen a hug and sleep on it . God will provide an opportuniy and a door will open. Prayers for peace of mind, Randy | ||
| Esther Registered user Username: Esther Post Number: 331 Registered: 5-2004 |
Richard, I am so sorry! What a hard thing to so abruptly have to leave behind the familiar and the friends. We will be praying for you as you seek the new path God will lead you on. He will strengthen you and provide for you! I sure appreciate all you and Colleen do for FAF and LAM...for us! This place means so much to me. I'm terribly saddend that your involvement with us, has affected your situation. | ||
| Robby Registered user Username: Robby Post Number: 3 Registered: 2-2006 |
Richard, Your work with this web site and Proclamation have had more impact on both former and present Adventists than you might know. My busy schedule keep me from posting on this board very often, but it was here that I found encouragement from others who had come out the complex legalism of Adventism to find the beauty and simplicity of God's amazing grace. So be of heart my friend. He has been working through you, and this is just the next step in His plan for your life. For a quick background, I am the son of an SDA minister, and forth generation. I went through the entire Adventist school system (first grade through college) then ran as far as I could get from God and the whole Christian scene. But He never stopped knocking, and in my middle life I found a God that I never knew existed. One who loved me and accepted me back with open arms. I praise His name and applaud you and Colleen for your work in His cause. God is on the move Richard. Warm Regards, Robby | ||
| Mrsbrian3 Registered user Username: Mrsbrian3 Post Number: 50 Registered: 8-2005 |
Sorry to hear this happened Richard. Funny, on the Motto Ö Vision Ö Mission Ö Core Beliefs published on their web-site, I canít find anything youíve violated. Many things theyíve violated by your termination on your off-duty activities of exposing SDA. Must be another set of policies they are looking at  MOTTO: "Service is our Calling" VISION: LLUSD is a preeminent health-care organization seeking to represent God in all we do. We are enthusiastically committed to excellent, innovative, comprehensive education of students and whole person care of our patients. Our students, staff and faculty are empowered through an enabling environment that honors the dignity, diversity, and worth of everyone. Our graduates are exemplary professionals and progressive clinicians of integrity. Our Lord's example inspires us to enrich our local and global communities through service. This is our calling. MISSION: LLUSD seeks to further the healing and teaching ministry of Jesus Christ wherein: Students learn to provide high quality oral health care, based on sound biologic principles. Patients receive competent care, which is preventive in purpose and comprehensive in scope, provided with compassion and respect. Faculty, students and staff value the patient relationship, respect diversity and share responsibility by working together toward academic, professional, spiritual and personal growth. Scholarly activity and research provide a foundation for evidence-based learning and enhance whole person care. The workplace environment attracts and retains a superior and diverse faculty and staff who motivate, educate and serve. Our communities--local, global and professional--benefit from our service, stewardship, and commitment to lifelong learning. CORE BELIEFS: Belief in God Respect for the Individual Principled Spirituality Student Focused Empathetic Care Commitment to Service Pursuit of Truth Progressive Excellence Analytic Thinking Effective Communication You and your family are in my prayers. Kim | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 526 Registered: 8-2004  |
Oh Richard! So the blow has finally fallen. Dear Father in Heaven, Please give Richard and Colleen an abiding sense of Your presence and the 'quietness and confidence' that comes only from You. Hold them in Reality. Hide them in Your heart and use them for Your glory. Provide for them exceeding abundantly above all that we could possibly ask or think, according to Your power that works in us, In Jesus' precious name, AMEN | ||
| Benevento Registered user Username: Benevento Post Number: 107 Registered: 4-2005 |
Richard--So sorry, praying for you and Colleen, and I feel sure that there are better things ahead. We appreciate so much the work that you are doing, and this website has been such an encouragement to so many people. God is faithful, do not be discouraged!! Peggy | ||
| Leigh Registered user Username: Leigh Post Number: 94 Registered: 2-2003 |
Richard, I'm praying for you and Colleen. I am so grateful for this ministry. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Proberbs 3:5,6 Leigh | ||
| Freeatlast Registered user Username: Freeatlast Post Number: 481 Registered: 5-2002 |
Richard, you have taken a stand for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and it has come at a cost. It is appropriate that you are not surprised by this unjust punitve action that LLU has taken against your conscience (so much for reliious liberty, eh?). I'm very sorry that you are going through this right now. I pray that God will draw near to you and guide you with His own hand to whatever is next. May God richly bless you and Colleen with His grace and wisdom! Then Peter said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?" And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:27-29 | ||
| Richardtinker Board Administrator Username: Richardtinker Post Number: 43 Registered: 4-1999 |
Thank you for your supportive comments and prayer. This morning I had my men's Bible study with two friends and had a wonderful walk with my wife. The policy that I violated is printed in the employee's handbook and was stated in my termination letter: "A listed conduct that violates the University's expectations for its employees is 'Overt disharmony, subversion, or demonstrated disrespect of the philosophy, objectives, and policies of the University and the teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.'" I stayed this long at the University because I felt God was calling me to stay and show Christ's love to my fellow employees. I never hid my ministry activities or my new-found security in the Lord Jesus and His finished work on the cross. I always sensed that God would remove me from Loma Linda when it was His time, and with mixed feelings I praise God that my assignment there is over! | ||
| Seekr777 Registered user Username: Seekr777 Post Number: 534 Registered: 1-2003  |
Richard, my prayers are with you and Colleen. Your ministry is/has been important to many individuals and your gentle spirit has been an inspiration to me. God is in, even this trial. You might not have been surprised but I was to hear it. I didn't know that statement was in the employee handbook. I thougth that your activities on your on time would be out of their control. Bless you, Richard rtruitt@mac.com | ||
| Cw Registered user Username: Cw Post Number: 79 Registered: 4-2006  |
Richard, I am so sorry to hear this news and I will be praying that God opens new and even better doors for you and Colleen. Even though you say you have been expecting it the shock of it in reality must be overwhelming. One of my favorite scriptures in times like this is Phil 4:4-9 explaining "the peace of God which transcends all understanding". This web site has been such a source of comfort for me in my turmoil over my daughter and her SDA boyfriend that I honestly feel hurt for you. And that is not generally my style, especially for someone I've never met. I will be on my knees for you Brother. CW | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1733 Registered: 3-2005 |
Richard, Marti and I will continue praying for you and Colleen during this difficult time. Even expected news is not easy to deal with, and may God's grace continue to be with you to guide you and sustain you. Stan | ||
| Violet Registered user Username: Violet Post Number: 393 Registered: 2-2001 |
Richard, you must be a very special person for God to use you in such a way. Everything is right in God's timing. I will be praying for you and Colleen. V | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 486 Registered: 7-2004  |
Richard, Sorry for this difficult time in your life. We're also praying for you and Colleen and it's comforting to know that God is in control. Thanks for providing this ministry and standing up for Jesus no matter what. I pray that God's peace is very real to you at this time. | ||
| Tdf Registered user Username: Tdf Post Number: 91 Registered: 11-2004 |
Richard, Although I don't post frequently, I have benefitted from the ministry of Former Adventist Online, and I am so sorry to hear of your termination. Although you were concerned that it might happen, I'm sure the reality of the termination has been difficult to process. When my wife and I left SDAism, we left behind our entire support system and even members of our immediate family. The cost can sometimes seem very great. However, I can testify that God has more than made up for anything that we have lost. He will do the same for you and your family. I would not be at all surprised if you look back one day and view this chapter as an important turning point that led to an even more compelling season of ministry. Even so, I'm sure there are a million immediate questions to answer about how to move forward from here. May God grant you strength, peace and wisdom as you begin to answer these questions. God bless, TDF | ||
| Jonah Registered user Username: Jonah Post Number: 1 Registered: 3-2006 |
Richard, Thank you for your ministry. I KNOW that God will find new means for you to fund your ministry. I hear He owns the bank. you and Colleen are in my prayers. Stay faithful. Jonah | ||
| Jackob Registered user Username: Jackob Post Number: 246 Registered: 7-2005  |
Richard, When I saw your news today I experienced also mixed feelings. Feelings about the fact that it's an injustice done to you, and also that you were liberated from an adventist business. I was praying for you to be "be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects" Colossians 1:9-10 Reading my Bible today I was impressed by what the apostle John said about the prophetic words of Jesus about the death of apostle Peter
Dear Richard, by your termination you are glorifying God in a special way. Everything you will lose for His sake gives Him glory, because it shows to the world that you value Him more than anything else, more than a job, and more than life. You are honoring Him in the world by your position. You are elevating Him above anything else, and this is encouraging for me to be faithful to the Lord I'm with my prayers with you and Colleen. Even if we are thousand of miles away, in Christ all the walls are broken, and our spirits are united in His Spirit. May God bless you abundantly and may His smile be known and feel by you in this dark day! | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 251 Registered: 6-2005 |
Richard and Colleen, Thank you for your witness in standing for truth. Matthew 5 comes to mind, you are BLESSED for your faithfulness in many ways. You and your family are in my prayers. Jeremiah 32 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. 40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul. 42 "This is what the LORD says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. May God grant you understanding of what it means to be PLANTED by the Lord in this land with ALL of HIS HEART AND SOUL. Lori |
